A sump pump power outage is the storm scenario every Long Island and Westchester homeowner with a basement should plan for now, before the wind picks up. The rain comes in sideways, the lights flicker twice, and then the house goes quiet. The furnace stops, the refrigerator stops, and down in the basement the sump pump stops too, right when the groundwater around the foundation is rising fastest.
November and December bring nor'easters and coastal storms to Nassau, Suffolk, Westchester and the outer boroughs, and many of them bring outages with them. This guide is about the work you do before that happens: checking the pump, choosing a backup, running a generator safely, keeping the discharge line clear in cold weather, and making sure a crew is on call if the basement takes water anyway. If your basement is already wet, start with our guide on what to do when a finished basement floods instead.
Why a sump pump power outage is so risky
A sump pump sits in a pit at the lowest point of the basement. Drain tile around the foundation carries groundwater into that pit, and the pump pushes it out through a discharge pipe to the yard. On a dry day it barely runs. During a long rain it can cycle every few minutes for hours.
The problem is that most primary pumps run on house current. When the power drops, the pump drops with it. According to a Connecticut Insurance Department consumer guide citing the Insurance Institute for Business and Home Safety, power outages were the cause of 18 percent of water damage incidents involving a sump pump. Another 40 percent were tied to problems such as a clogged inlet screen or a faulty float switch.
Read those two numbers together and the lesson is clear. More than half of sump pump water incidents in that research came from things a homeowner can check or plan for ahead of time: power, a clogged screen or a stuck float. That is what this guide covers.
Who needs to plan for a sump pump power outage
Not every New York home has a sump pump, but many do, and they tend to be the homes with the most finished space below grade.
- Long Island homes in low lying areas along the South Shore and near creeks and bays, where the water table sits close to the slab.
- Westchester homes on slopes, especially walkouts and split levels where the yard drains toward the foundation.
- Older homes with finished basements in Queens and the Bronx that had pumps added after a past flood.
- Any home where the pump runs during ordinary rain. If you hear it cycling during an average storm, it will be working hard during a nor'easter.
If you are not sure whether you have one, look for a round pit with a lid in the basement floor, usually in a corner, with a pipe running up the wall and out through the rim joist.
The pre-storm sump pump checklist
Do this on a calm, dry day in early November, not when the storm warning is already on your phone. It takes about 20 minutes.
Test the pump
- Remove the pit lid and look inside. Clear out any gravel, debris or silt you can see around the pump.
- Slowly pour a bucket of water into the pit until the float rises.
- Watch the pump turn on, empty the pit and shut off on its own.
- Listen for grinding, rattling or a pump that keeps running after the pit is empty.
Check the parts that fail
- Float switch. Make sure the float moves freely and is not snagged on the side of the pit or the power cord.
- Inlet screen. Look for a clogged screen at the base of the pump. A clogged inlet was part of the 40 percent figure above.
- Check valve. After the pump shuts off, water should not flow back down the discharge pipe into the pit.
- Power cord and outlet. The pump should plug directly into a grounded outlet, not into a long extension cord.
- Age. If the pump is old, noisy or slow, have a plumber look at it before the season, not after.
Repairing or replacing a pump is plumbing work, and it is separate from any mitigation plan. The goal here is to find a weak pump while you still have time to replace it on your schedule.
Backup options for when the power goes out
A primary pump on house current is only as reliable as the grid. These are the common ways homeowners keep water moving during an outage. A licensed plumber or electrician can tell you which fits your home.
Battery backup pump
A second pump in the same pit, connected to a deep cycle battery, takes over when the primary pump loses power or cannot keep up. It runs for a limited time depending on the battery and how often the pump cycles. The Connecticut guide citing IBHS recommends replacing sump pump backup batteries every 2 to 3 years. Write the install date on the battery with a marker so you know when it is due.
Water powered backup pump
Some homes on municipal water use a backup pump that runs on water pressure instead of electricity. It needs adequate water pressure and a proper backflow device, and local plumbing rules apply, so this is a plumber's call.
Portable or standby generator
A generator can run the primary pump through a long outage. A standby generator wired by an electrician starts on its own. A portable generator needs someone home to run it, and it comes with serious safety rules, covered in the next section.
A water alarm
A battery powered water alarm placed near the pit costs little and sounds when water rises above the floor. Some models send an alert to your phone. An alarm does not move water, but it tells you the pump has stopped while there is still time to act.
Generator safety during a storm outage
A generator can keep a pump running, but used in the wrong place it can fill a home with carbon monoxide. Federal guidance on this is specific, and it is worth reading before you ever pull the cord.
- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission says to run portable generators outside only, at least 20 feet away from the house.
- The CPSC also says never to use a generator inside a home or garage, even if doors and windows are open.
- Keep the generator away from doors, windows and vents, and point the exhaust away from your home and your neighbors' homes.
- FEMA advises turning the generator off and letting it cool before refueling.
- FEMA recommends a proper transfer switch installed by a qualified electrician, following local codes, rather than plugging a generator into a wall outlet.
- Install battery operated carbon monoxide alarms, or alarms with battery backup, outside sleeping areas and on each floor, and test them monthly, as the CPSC advises.
If a CO alarm sounds, get everyone outside right away and call 911. No basement is worth that risk.
Keep the discharge line clear in cold weather
A pump can run perfectly and still flood the basement if the water has nowhere to go. In late fall and winter, the discharge line is where that usually happens.
- Clear leaves and debris from the end of the discharge pipe and any splash block after the fall cleanup.
- Make sure the outlet slopes away from the house so water drains rather than sitting in the pipe.
- Watch for freezing. Water sitting in a discharge line that runs along the ground can freeze during a cold snap. Our guide on how to prevent frozen pipes in a New York winter covers why the outlet where the line exits the foundation is a common trouble spot.
- Do not bury the outlet under snow piles when you shovel the driveway or walk.
- Clean gutters and extend downspouts so roof water is not dumped next to the foundation, where it ends up in the pit.
Your outage plan, written down
When the power goes out at 2 a.m., nobody thinks clearly. A one page plan taped inside the basement door helps everyone in the house do the right thing.
- Where the sump pit is, and what the backup pump or alarm sounds like.
- Where the flashlights, spare batteries and a charged phone power bank are kept. FEMA recommends keeping devices charged and spare batteries on hand.
- Where the electrical panel and the main water shutoff are.
- Where the generator is stored, where it is allowed to run, and who is allowed to run it.
- What to move off the basement floor first if water starts to rise.
- The utility outage number, your plumber's number and the ReadiDry emergency line, (917) 242-5805.
If you travel for Thanksgiving, give a copy of this plan to whoever is checking on the house. Our guide on protecting your home from water damage while away explains how to set up a house check.
When the pump loses the race anyway
Sometimes a backup battery runs down during a two day outage, or the water simply comes in faster than any pump can move it. That is when the work changes from prevention to mitigation, and speed decides how much of a finished basement can be saved.
The ReadiDry Protection Plan is an emergency water mitigation plan for eligible homes in Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, Westchester, Nassau and Suffolk. A failed sump pump is a listed event, and water that enters the home from heavy rain, storms or flooding is covered within the same limits. Within the benefit schedule, the plan includes emergency extraction, removal of wet carpet, padding and drywall when needed, air movers and dehumidifiers for up to 7 days of equipment time per event, sanitation, debris hauling, and daily moisture readings with photo documentation. Members get priority dispatch ahead of non-member calls and a text with the crew lead's name and arrival window.
The plan includes up to 2 events per plan year and up to $10,000 of included services per event, at standard published rates.
What the plan does not do
ReadiDry is not insurance. Repairing or replacing the sump pump, the backup or the generator is separate. Rebuilding is separate. Contents, slow leaks, mold that is already growing and damage that began before the plan became active are not covered. The full list is in the ReadiDry Plan Terms.
The 14 day rule and storm season
A new plan becomes active 14 days after the first payment is confirmed. That waiting period is why storm prep and enrollment belong on the same calm day. Enroll today, Wednesday, November 4, and your plan is active on Wednesday, November 18. Enroll the morning a nor'easter shows up in the forecast and that storm will not be covered.
The ReadiDry plan costs $399 a year or $39 a month, billed through Stripe secure checkout. If you change your mind, the Refund and Cancellation Policy gives a full refund when you cancel within 30 days of enrolling and before using any plan service.
Sump pump power outage FAQ
How long will a battery backup sump pump run?
It depends on the battery size, its age and how often the pump cycles. A pump that runs every few minutes during heavy rain drains a battery much faster than one that runs once an hour. Ask the installer for an estimate for your pit, and replace the battery every 2 to 3 years, as the Connecticut guide citing IBHS recommends.
Can I run my sump pump off a portable generator?
Yes, many homeowners do, but follow federal safety guidance. Run the generator outside, at least 20 feet from the house, never in a garage, and use a transfer switch installed by an electrician rather than plugging into a wall outlet. Keep working CO alarms on every floor.
How often should I test my sump pump?
Test it before storm season with a bucket of water, and again any time a big storm is forecast. It takes a few minutes and tells you whether the float, the pump and the check valve are all working.
Does ReadiDry replace a failed sump pump?
No. Replacing or repairing the pump is a plumber's job and is separate from the plan. ReadiDry handles the water in the basement: extraction, drying, monitoring, sanitation and documentation, within the benefit schedule limits.
Is storm water covered, or only pump failures?
Both are listed. A failed sump pump is a covered event, and water that enters the home from heavy rain, storms or flooding is also covered within the same limits, once your plan is active.
Prep the pump, then put a crew on call
Test the pump this week, check the backup battery, set up the generator plan and clear the discharge line. Then enroll, so the basement has a crew on call if the storm wins anyway. Enrollment takes a couple of minutes, with no forms and no sales call, and your benefit schedule arrives by email within one business day.
Ready before the next nor'easter? Start my ReadiDry plan for $399 a year or call (917) 242-5805 with questions. Water rising in the basement right now? Call the same number and a crew will come out as a standard service call.
