Backup sump pump systems can be several years old and still in use, which means the battery will likely perform below its optimal level. However, these run times are the best case scenario. It will not run out of power like battery backups. Water Commander’s pumping rates can exceed the pumping rates of standard battery backup pumps, but will maintain this pumping capacity for as long as it’s needed. This system runs using your home’s municipal water pressure (see How Does it Work), so no batteries or electricity in any form is used. Water-powered backup sump pump installationīecause battery backup sump pumps have a limited life-span during a power outage, an alternative backup solution is the Water Commander ™ water-powered sump pump. This decline in battery power continues until the pump is completely overwhelmed by the water flowing into the sump pit and your basement floods. The longer the pump runs, the less power it has. Run-time of a new fully-charged batteryĪs a general rule of thumb, during a power outage most new fully-charged batteries will last roughly 5-7 hours of continuous pumping and roughly 1-3 days of non-continuous pumping depending on the frequency. Your backup sump pump is the last line of defense against basement flooding when there is a power outage or your primary sump pump fails, so it’s important that it protects your basement in an emergency (see our article, Why You Need a Backup Sump Pump). So before you invest in a backup sump pump system, it’s important to understand exactly how long the battery in your system will last and consider alternative backup sump pump options, such as a water-powered backup sump pump. More often than not, the culprit is a dead battery. We have talked with hundreds of homeowners over the years who have had their basements unexpectedly flood due to a failed battery backup sump pump system. Before you buy a battery-powered backup sump pump, consider how long it will run during a severe rainstorm.

Voltage on battery backup for sump pump