Do You Need a Battery-Backup Sump Pump?

Short Answer: No.

However, do we strongly recommend that New Jersey homeowners install one as part of their sump pump system? YES!

Seen this before? If your primary sump pump fails, you could be looking at severe flood damage.

What is a battery-backup sump pump?

A battery-backup sump pump is the final line of defense for your home in a flood environment. Standard sump pumps run on your home’s general power source, and work wonders for water removal — when the power is on, that is. So, what happens when the power is off? What if severe weather has made travel to a local gas station for fuel to power your generator impossible? That’s where the battery backup system comes in. These sump pumps can remove over 10,000 gallons of water on a full battery charge regardless of the power situation outside of your home, removing the need for constant power in emergency situations. Without a backup system, your basement or crawl space is left in the hands of Mother Nature, a force we in Jersey know all too well.

Benefits of Quality 1st Basement Systems’ UltraSump® Battery Backup System

• Continued protection during no-power situations
• Removes 11,500 gallons of water at an 8-ft. head on a fully-charged battery
• Power failure alarm sounds when main power is out, silences when power is restored
• Additional batteries can be used for additional pumping capacity
• Automatically powers on in situations when the main pump fails

Extreme weather can strike at any time, leaving your valuables in harm's way. Battery-backup sump pumps will safeguard your items even when the power goes out!

Why do you need a backup sump pump?

Simply put, you’ll be covered in no-power, grid-down situations. A battery backup sump pump system provides peace of mind for future extreme weather and disaster situations, like the scenario the 2012 hurricane season sent our way.

During Hurricane Sandy, we saw the worst that weather could throw at us. Roughly 2.7 million businesses and households were out of power in the immediate aftermath, and nearly one million people were still without power a week after the storm. Getting gas was difficult for nearly two weeks, with around 60% of pumps out-of-commission for several days after landfall and limited distribution in effect for more than two full weeks. But sure, storms causing $36.8 billion in damages only come along once in a lifetime, right? Well…

Fast-forward to 2021, less than a decade later, and we were once again hit by extreme flooding caused by Hurricane Ida. Some parts of the state, like Hunterdon County, received over 11 inches of rain in less than two days, causing widespread damage and power outages. It seems that once-in-a-lifetime flooding may not be so uncommon these days.

In any case, extreme weather and power outages can leave your sump pump system high and not-so-dry if you’re not prepared. Battery-powered backup sump pump systems will function without standard power, keeping your basement or crawl space dry in even the worst of scenarios.

The TripleSafe sump pump system includes a primary pump, a secondary pump, and a battery-backup pump to ensure that your home is protected.

How does a battery backup sump pump work?

Battery backup sump pump systems activate when power to the primary sump pump is disrupted. In this event, an alarm will sound alerting you to the main sump power failure, and the backup pump will begin pumping excess water. On a full charge, our UltraSump® Battery Backup System will remove an additional 11,500 gallons of water, which is enough to fill a small swimming pool. An additional battery can be fitted to the system for more capacity. Once power is restored to the main pump, the backup system will disengage.

In Conclusion

All in all, a battery-backup sump pump system is your final line of defense for the worst-case scenario. If you’re looking for peace of mind when the weather goes sour, then a backup is the right call. Quality 1st Basement Systems installs battery-backup sump pump systems across the New Jersey area, and has helped thousands of homeowners recover from — and prepare for — extreme weather and flooding. If you’re interested in one of our patent systems, give us a call.