What you can do first
- Lift the float on your main pump and confirm it starts and empties the pit.
- Walk outside and check the discharge outlet is not buried in snow or blocked.
- Note how often the pump cycles during a heavy rain.
A backup pump handles one threat; a backwater valve on the sewer side handles the other, and read the spring sump check.
Signs you need battery backup sump pump
- Your basement is finished and would be costly to dry out
- The main pump cycles a lot in spring or after summer storms
- Your street loses power during windstorms or ice storms
- The primary pump has several years on it
- You travel and the house sits empty for stretches
We first check the existing pit and main pump: how often it cycles, whether the check valve holds, and whether the discharge line runs clear to the outside.
How we handle the job
We first check the existing pit and main pump: how often it cycles, whether the check valve holds, and whether the discharge line runs clear to the outside. A backup is only as good as the system it sits in.
The backup pump is mounted in the same pit, set slightly higher than the primary so it starts only when the water rises past the main pump's range. It has its own inspect valve and joins the discharge line. A deep-cycle battery sits beside the pit in a vented case, connected to a charger and controller that sounds an alarm when the backup operates or the battery is weak. Before leaving, we hose water into the pit and watch both pumps work, including with the main pump unplugged.
Another approach is a water-powered backup that uses municipal pressure instead of a battery. It is not right for every house, and some codes and utilities have rules about it, so we discuss it case by case.
Pickering homes and this problem
Much of Pickering sits on clay soils that hold water, and the land slopes toward Lake Ontario and the creek valleys. Homes in lower areas near Frenchman's Bay and along the Duffins and Petticoat Creek corridors can see their pumps run hard during the spring thaw. Many newer subdivisions in Seaton and Duffin Heights were built with sump pits and foundation drains connected to them, so pump failure there means water rises quickly.
Job note: Durham Region and the City of Pickering have, at times, offered help toward flood-protection devices. See our subsidy note and check the current terms directly with them.
What affects the cost
Pit size and condition, the existing discharge piping, the battery capacity you choose, and whether you want a controller that can send alerts to a phone. A pit that is too small for two pumps may need to be enlarged or a separate pit added.
Questions callers ask
How many hours will a battery backup run?
That hinges on battery size and how fast water arrives. A full battery may handle a few hours of steady pumping or much longer with occasional cycles. The alarm tells you when to act.
How often should the battery be replaced?
Batteries wear out with age. Test the system each spring and expect to replace the battery every few years, following the maker's guidance.