Battery Backup Sump Pumps: Not Just for Power Outages

Basement Systems, Inc. explains how a battery backup sump pump fits into a basement waterproofing system, providing an important function in keeping a basement dry, even when the primary sump pump is fully powered.

A sump pump should be always on and continuously available. As a component of a complete or partial basement waterproofing system, the sump pump is key to keeping a basement dry, especially a basement that is prone to leakage, seeping or flooding.

Sump pumps can fail and in those instances, a battery backup sump pump can be a basement-saver. 

When the Sump Pump Loses Power

• When the house loses power, the sump pump also loses power. Weather events that that trigger power outages also often lead to water in the basement (rainwater, melting snow), leaving a homeowner vulnerable to water damage.
• A sump pump can lose power even when the rest of the house doesn't. A circuit breaker can trip or a plug can be accidentally removed from the outlet. Without an alarm, this power loss may go on for days or weeks before a homeowner notices.
• Generator power as a backup solution to power a sump pump during an outage has limitations. A portable generator requires the homeowner to be home (or awake) when the power goes out to connect the generator to the sump pump. Alternative power sources, like generators, often run for a short amount of time or lose their charge if they are placed on a basement floor.

Older Sump Pumps

A sump pump, even the best on the market, is a mechanical thing with a limited capacity. At some point in its life, a sump pump may become non-functional. 

• The mechanical parts in a sump pump can clog with debris or fail over time due to wear or tear. The homeowner may not know the sump pump is not working effectively or at all until it is too late.
• A sump pump can become overwhelmed, for example during a torrential downpour or other instance of basement flooding. If the volume of water rises faster than it can be pumped out, the overflow ends up on the basement floor. In this instance, a battery backup sump pump increases the primary pump's capacity and helps to discharge the overflow out of the home.

A battery-powered backup sump pump is designed to kick on just when a homeowner needs it the most: when there is a power outage, the primary sump pump fails or the volume of water that needs to be discharged is beyond the capacity of the primary pump. A battery backup sump pump gives a homeowner further peace-of-mind when it is installed with a built-in alarm that will sound off when the situation demands more drastic measures.

Basement System’s UltraSump was designed to meet the needs of homeowners with wet basement issues. The UltraSump uses a high-capacity battery that, combined with the primary pump, can remove more than 11,000 gallons of water from the basement on a single charge. It won’t lose its charge sitting on a basement floor and it comes equipped with a WaterWatch alarm that will sound off if the water level rises too high. 

About Basement Systems, Inc. 

With more than 30 patented products and thousands of superior installations each year, Basement Systems, Inc. is a leading nationwide basement waterproofing and finishing company offering a full line of innovative and effective sump pumps.