Every spring and fall, we get overwhelmed with emergency calls about failed sump pumps. And here’s the kicker: we offer FREE help to walk anyone through testing their sump pump; no charge, no catch. Just call us at +1-519-747-1819 and we’ll guide you through it.
We also offer great deals on sump pumps and battery backup systems. In fact, if you want to check them out yourself, our latest offers can be found here: https://schweitzers.ca/offers/. But despite this, we still see the same disasters unfold year after year.
So, in this blog post? I’m not going to write a “real” blog post.
Instead, I’m just going to give you real-life examples of why people need a backup sump pump with a battery. These are the horror stories we hear and they all could have been prevented.
1. The Classic: Power Outage During a Storm
Your power flickers… then goes out completely. Outside, rain pounds relentlessly, and you hear the distant rumble of thunder. Your sump pump, completely reliant on electricity, sits useless while water begins seeping into your basement. Within hours, your carpet is floating, your drywall is soaking up water like a sponge, and mold spores are rubbing their little fungal hands together in excitement.
2. The Final Storm Special
Spring was finally here, until winter decided to take one last swing. A late-season snowstorm dumps inches of heavy, wet snow overnight. The next day, temperatures spike, and all that water rushes into the ground, flooding sump pits across the neighbourhood. Your pump kicks on… but it’s quickly overwhelmed. Without a battery backup, the water keeps rising, until your basement becomes an ice-cold wading pool. Happy spring!
3. Tripped Breaker Disaster
Not all power failures are storm-related. Maybe your sump pump is on the same circuit as your freezer and space heater, and the breaker trips. You don’t notice right away; why would you? The lights upstairs are still on. But when you go downstairs to grab something, your socks squish into the carpet.
4. The “I Forgot to Test It” Gong Show
You haven’t checked your sump pump in a while. Who does? But when a torrential rainstorm hits, the main pump fails, and you’re left helpless. If only you had a battery backup that kicked in automatically. Instead, you’re ankle-deep in water, googling “how to salvage waterlogged drywall” and calling your insurance company.
5. Mechanical Failure at the Worst Possible Time
Even if the power is on, sump pumps are mechanical devices, they fail. Maybe the float switch gets stuck, or the motor just gives out after years of service. Of course, it happens when water is actively pouring into your sump pit. Without a backup, you’re in deep. Literally.
6. The “I’m on Vacation” Horror Film
You’re sipping a margarita on a beach, soaking in the sun. Meanwhile, back home, a massive rainstorm rolls in. The power is still on, but your main sump pump dies. No one notices until a week later when you come home to find your basement looking like an abandoned swimming pool. Welcome back!
7. The Flash Flood Surprise
You check the forecast, just a little rain, they said. Suddenly, it turns into a downpour of biblical proportions. The drains are overwhelmed, water levels rise fast, and even if your power holds out, your main sump pump can’t keep up. A battery backup could have given it the extra boost needed to keep things dry. Instead? Water wins.
8. The Neighbour’s House Got Saved, Yours Didn’t
Your neighbour installed a battery backup last year. Same storm, same power outage, except their basement stays dry while yours becomes a mold-infested disaster zone. Guess who’s paying for renovations? Not them.
9. Sewer Backup from Overwhelmed Systems
During heavy rains, municipal stormwater systems can back up, increasing pressure on your sump pump. Without a backup pump, that rising water could come right back into your home, turning your basement into a disgusting, bacteria-filled mess.
10. Insurance Nightmare
Your homeowners insurance might not cover all the damage from sump pump failure. Even if it does, you’ll be dealing with months of claims, repairs, and the lingering musty smell of what used to be your finished basement.