Well Pump Battery Backup: What Are Your Options? -Your H2Home (2023)

One thing many people don't think about is how they're going to supply their home with water in the event of a power outage. In almost all areas of the country, well pumps are the devices responsible for sending water from an outside source to your home. These pumps run on electricity, so if the power goes out, it won't produce water.

Well pump battery backups are a great idea if you never want to run out of water. Power outages are becoming extremely common, and many people don't want to spend thousands of dollars on a generator. A good alternative is to have a backup battery for important electronic devices like your well pump.

No matter where you live or what your situation is, everyone needs running water at home. Showering, having a drink, doing laundry and even flushing the toilet depend on running water. In this article, we'll look at good options for battery backup power for your well pump. So if you never want to be without running water again, you've come to the right place.

Well Pump Manual Backup

Depending on the age and size of your sump pump, it can draw more power than a battery or small generator can produce. You may also have limited backup power and want to direct it somewhere else, like a furnace or hot water heater. If that's the case, but you still want running water in your home during power outages, a manual well pump is a great option.

LerThis articleto learn how to power a well pump with a generator.

Hand sump pumps, also known as hand pumps, are extremely common among those who live on property or something off the grid. However, modern handpumps can also be used as a backup pump system, no matter where you live. They can even be installed to work alongside your electric pump, so whenever there's a power outage, all you have to do is get out there and start pumping water.

How does a hand pump work?

The operation of a hand pump is quite simple. Pumping a handle by hand creates a vacuum, or suction, that draws water from your well through a series of pipes. You can set up your hand pump so that the water that rises to the surface is directed to your home through the same pipes that your electric pump sends it.

The only difference is that you are generating the energy that brings water to your home instead of electricity. With that being said, these are some of the best hand well pumps on the market.

Best Sump Pump Battery Backup Systems

Sump pumps and sump pumps are closely related systems in their operation, but they have one fundamental difference. Well pumps are responsible for bringing water into your home, and sump pumps are responsible for getting water out of your home. However, due to their similarities, most well pump battery systems can also be used for well pumps. Here are some of the best options available to you for any of these systems.

Each of these well pump battery backup systems are available for less than $500 and are an excellent investment if you value security and reliability in your home. Backup systems like these aren't huge investments, but they can make a big difference during a long or temporary outage.

Tesla Powerwall Well Pump

Tesla is one of the leading and most popular producers of electric cars and revolutionary batteries. They even have a battery system designed to be a backup system for your whole home's electrical grid. One of the appliances that they specifically designed their Powerwall battery backup system for is the sump pump.

Powerwall is the name given to the batteries that Tesla designed to power appliances and electronic devices in your home. You can have as many powerwalls as you need in your home, and most homes will require at least three or four of them for the entire house. For example, a single powerwall is capable of powering a 1 hp or 20 amp well pump. For a 2 hp or 30 amp sump pump, you will need two outlets.

For any sump pump over 2 hp, you'll need at least three powerwalls, and you can have up to six of them in your home. Most homes have sump pumps that run from ¾ hp to 1 ½ hp, which means you will need a powerwall or two for your sump pump.

Backup battery 220v for well pump

Another option that many people are looking for is to add a 220 volt battery to their existing well pump. Most of the options I mentioned above are battery-operated well pumps designed specifically for the well pumps they are sold with. In other words, it's a package deal. However, if you like your well pump and don't feel the need to upgrade, you also have the option of adding a 220 volt battery as a backup system.

Something to keep in mind with a 220 volt battery backup system is that it might not be big enough to power some well pumps. Well pumps come in sizes from ½ horsepower to over 5 horsepower. A 220 volt backup battery can power up to ¾ or maybe 1 horsepower, which is the size of most residential well pumps.

Solar Battery Backup for Well Pump

One of the most popular backup power options for a well pump is a solar powered battery pack. Solar battery backups are popular because all the battery needs to recharge is sunlight. Something to keep in mind with a solar battery backup is that if you live in an area with limited sunlight, your solar battery will be of no use to you. Here are some of the best solar batteries to back up well pumps.

final thoughts

No matter what type of battery backup you choose for your home well pump, having some form of backup power is a great idea. You don't realize until you run out of running water how many things your well pump is responsible for doing.

Most household chores, personal hygiene, and even drinking water are made possible by your well pump. Make sure you have a working well pump for all emergencies, including power outages andif your well pump freezes up.

Nick Lo Presti

Nick Lopresti is the founder of YourH2Home and a home improvement expert. He has years of experience writing on a variety of home improvement topics, particularly as it relates to water systems.