Sump pump power outage: Four words a homeowner never wants to hear. Heavy rains and thunderstorms can knock out the power to your home, and if you rely on a sump pump to keep up with rising groundwater, your home could be at risk for severe flooding — and you could be in danger, too. In areas prone to flooding, it’s especially important that homeowners learn how to safely deal with a downed sump pump.
What is it?
A sump pump is designed to pump water out of the basement and shuttle water away from the foundation at the groundwater level. But a sump pump needs electricity to work, and will shut down if the power connection fails. This scenario is common during powerful thunderstorms and heavy rains.
A sump pump can also fail due to improper sizing. If you experience a sump pump power outage and the water level rises over the float, the pump may not be able to handle the volume of water even if the power was off for only a short time. A technician can evaluate the size of the pump to ensure that it has the capacity to address the necessary volume of water.
The solution to the problem is simple: Hire a professional to install a properly sized sump pump and a backup sump pump powered by batteries. These tips are only helpful, however, if you take action before the next storm brings the power lines down. If you find yourself facing rising water levels in your basement after the power has gone out, here’s what you need to know:
Stay safe
If there is even a few inches of water in your basement, know that it could be “live” if an appliance or outlet that holds energy comes into contact with the water. You should assume that the danger of electrocution exists, and stay out of the basement.
If you can access your home’s main power source, turn it off. Then, you can safely enter the basement. If don’t turn off the power, and the power goes back on while you’re in the basement, you could put yourself at risk for electrocution.
Get expert help
Most experts advise that homeowners get expert help to securely shut off the home’s main power supply. Call an electrician or a plumber — or a contractor that offers both services — to handle the task. It may be tempting to rush into the basement to save the things you’ve stored there, but don’t. Instead, contact your local service provider first. Your safety is worth it.
Once the power is off, the contractor can safely move through the flooded area, and diagnose the problem.
Backup
If you don’t already have one, talk to your contractor about installing a battery-powered backup sump pump, a comprehensive solution to power outages. Battery-powered pumps are expressly designed to keep sump pumps working in the event of a power outage. Work with your service provider to choose a sump pump that can run on battery power for at least six to eight hours. You also have the option of connecting the pump to a designated circuit to bypass a system malfunction when another appliance on the same circuit causes the breaker to trip, cutting off power to the sump pump.
Eliminating problems from a sump pump power outage is easy. Get in touch with the professionals at Reliable Heating and Air to schedule an appointment today, and ensure continuous power to your sump pump tomorrow!
Image Source: Flickr