Battery backed up sump pump systems

A battery backup system is an essential component of the sump pump system which protects your basement or cellar. Homeowners spend a great deal of money converting their basement to a den, game room, a spare bedroom for guests - and then totally neglect a backup power source for the sump pump that protects the newly remodeled room. Leaving a basement remodel at the mercy of the local power grid can be risky - especially when you need it the most - during powerful storms.

A powerful storm can take out the power in towns and cities for a long period of time. Homes in low lying areas are at the most risk from flooding.  A sump pump is an essential tool in the battle against flooding or the ingress of groundwater into low lying areas of your home, such as a cellar or basement. A battery backup system will provide enough power to keep your basement dry in the event of a fairly short power outage. In the worst of situations, a battery backup can provide power long enough for you to enable more long term solutions such as getting a power generator started and on-line.

A battery backup system is not a large bulky addition, or even a terribly expensive one. Common marine batteries, otherwise know as deep cycle are used most commonly. A deep cycle battery is different from an automotive one in that automotive batteries are designed to provide short bursts of high amps for starting the engine. Deep cycle batteries are designed to provide a more steady supply of power over a more sustained period of time.

A float switch controls the supply of power from the battery to the pump. When the main system fails and the water starts to rise, the backup system is initiated and begins pumping. A normal battery backed up sump pump will operate for several hours on one charge, and when the power starts up again it will switch off when the water lever drops and start recharging.

The battery backups come in sealed and unsealed types.  The sealed batteries can run on a charge for about three hours and the unsealed type for up to seven hours.  They are much the same as sealed an unsealed automobile batteries, the unsealed able to hold a higher charge and the fluids able to be checked and topped up.

A battery backup sump is essential if you live an area where your basement is prone to flooding and where the power system is prone to being interrupted by weather conditions. You could also use a generator system, but a battery backup is considerably less expensive than a generator and does the job just as well while the battery holds up. It also takes up less room and you don't need to store gasoline for it to run.

Your battery backup system should be tested regularly by switching off the regular sump pump.  Once the water level rises to the level of the float switch it should complete the circuit with the battery and start pumping.  You should let it run for a while then check the battery status.  Many have a battery status indicator, but if yours does not then you can test the available power with a circuit tester or test the Hg with a hydrometer. You can then switch on the main pump and check that the backup stops when the water level drops below the level of the float switch.

Also, don't forget to monitor the state of charge and make sure that the battery is being recharged.  If everything is working as it should, you can rest assured that your backup system is operating correctly, and your basement or cellar remodel / conversion is safe from even the most adverse of conditions.

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