What is a Sump Pump Battery Backup and Why is it Important?

If your home has a sump pump, you may understand that it’s important, but you might not know exactly why it’s so important or how it works within your home. We hope that our sump pump always works and keeps water out of our home when we need it most, but that doesn’t mean it’s always going to happen. If your sump pump fails, it’s important to have a backup battery to keep water out of your basement. Here’s what a backup battery does and why it’s such a big deal to have one for your St. Catharines or Niagara home. 

Why does a sump pump fail?

A sump pump could fail for any number of reasons – they aren’t perfect. As much as we try to maintain them, stuff happens. A sump pump can fail because of a power outage (like what happens in a bad storm), an overloaded pump (if you have a larger volume of water than your pump is designed to handle), worn-out switches or a floating switch. Any of these things can cause a pump to fail and cause your basement to fill with water. A backup battery sump pump can help make sure water will be pumped out of your sump pit.

Is a backup sump pump just a battery?

A backup battery sump pump is not just the battery – it’s a complete system. It is made up of a battery, a pump (that is battery powered), a charger and additional piping. With the higher-end systems, your battery will last longer, and it will likely be more powerful to help keep pumping water out of your basement when needed. If you end up purchasing a better quality charger, the life of your battery is also likely to last longer. 

A battery-powered sump pump should also have an alarm system to let you know the battery has been drained or is no longer functional. For example, if your normal sump pump fails during a power outage while you are sleeping and your battery-powered sump pump kicks in, it is only operational for several hours. The alarm will warn you that something is wrong, hopefully giving you enough time to investigate before any flooding occurs.  

The majority of backup batteries used for a sump pump use standard 12 volt car battery. When the battery has run its course, you can often take the old battery to an auto supply store, such as Canadian tire, and swap the battery for a new one. You’ll still need to pay for the new battery, and the auto store will dispose of your old battery. If you are uncomfortable or unsure how to do this, you can call a foundation company or plumber to replace the battery for you.

We also suggest you keep your battery backup system a few inches off the ground. A few standard bricks would do the trick. In a worse case scenario, this will prevent the system from being damaged should water begin to seep in and hopefully give you enough time to troubleshoot the issue or replace the battery.  

Does my home need a backup battery sump pump?

If you know for sure your home does not have a backup battery sump pump, but you don’t really know where to start with getting one – that’s totally ok! Foundation Fix can help you determine what the needs of your Niagara or St. Catharines home might be. Each home will have different requirements based on location and amounts of water that can get into the basement or under the house. We can help to make sure you get the right back up system for your home, and you won’t be stuck with water in the basement during a massive storm or a winter melt. 

Not all homes require a sump pump, but there are many homeowners that deal with water in their basements every spring as the ground thaws. For any number of reasons, the main sump pump could fail. Installing a backup – and making sure it’s always in working order – could save your home from serious water damage. If you aren’t sure what back up system your home needs, a professional can help you determine the right fit for your St. Catharines or Niagara home.  

To learn more, or to get help choosing and installing your own sump pump battery backup, contact Foundation Fix today.