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A countryside house under a starry night sky

For the Night the Power Goes Out

Battery Backup Sump Pump for Newmarket Homes

The same spring storms that dump heavy rain tend to knock out the power. A battery backup pump sits beside the main one and keeps the pit from overflowing when the lights go out.

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  • A plumber on the line when you call, not a call centre
  • Options explained before anything is cut or replaced
  • Parts for common repairs carried on the van
  • Older Main Street homes and newer subdivisions alike
  • Licensed trade plumbers
  • 7-day call line
  • Newmarket & York Region
  • Residential & commercial
Service
Battery Backup Sump Pump
Category
Basements and sumps
Where
Newmarket and nearby York Region
Booking
By telephone

Clues that point to battery backup sump pump

  • The lower level is finished, or stores things you could not replace.
  • The primary pump runs often during the spring melt.
  • Your street loses power in summer storms.
  • You travel and the house stands empty for days.

Our method, in order

A backup system has a second pump, a deep-cycle battery and a controller that charges the battery and sounds an alarm. We set the backup pump slightly higher in the pit than the main one, so it only runs when the primary pump cannot keep up or has failed.

  1. Measure the pit and choose a system that fits alongside the primary pump.
  2. Install a separate check valve and join the discharge to the existing line, or run a separate line where flows are large.
  3. Mount the controller and battery on a shelf above the floor.
  4. Test by unplugging the main pump and topping up the pit.
  5. Show you the alarm, the battery check and the reset.

Bench note

Batteries do not last forever. Most need replacing every three to five years. Write the install date on the case.

Newmarket houses and this job

Rural homes north and east of town often have longer outages after storms, and many also rely on a well pump that stops when the power does. For those properties, a backup sump pump is one part of a broader plan that might include a generator connection.

In town, the main concern is the finished basement. Many Newmarket homes built since the 1990s have finished lower levels with carpet and drywall, and even a short overflow from the pit can be costly. A backup is modest insurance against that.

Other options

Water-powered backup pumps use municipal water pressure to empty the pit and need no battery. They can work well on town water, but they use a lot of water while running and call for a proper backflow preventer. They are not suitable for homes on a well. We explain which suits your house.

Arranging a backup

Call us to look at your pit. If the main pump is also aging, a replacement and backup together save a second visit. See also basement flood prevention.

Phoned-in questions

For how long can the battery keep the pump going?

It depends on how often the pump cycles. A good battery can handle many hours of moderate use, though a heavy storm drains it faster.

Will the alarm tell me if the main pump fails?

Most controllers sound an alarm when the backup starts running, which usually means the main pump needs attention.

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