Home › Guides › Sump pump backup power · Checked Nov 15, 2026
Sump pump backup power: 4 ways to keep the basement dry
The short answer
When the power goes out, the sump pump stops. Here are four ways to keep water moving, from a second pump in the pit to a generator that runs the whole house.
Battery backup pump
$600–$2,000+ installed
- Turns on by itself
- Also covers a failed main pump
- Battery lasts about 3–7 years
- Runs until the battery drains
Water-powered backup
$300–$1,000 installed
- No battery to replace
- Runs as long as water pressure holds
- Needs city water, not a well
- Uses water to move water
Generator + safe hookup
Generator, plus DTE plug or an interlock
- Also runs furnace, fridge, lights
- Days of runtime with fuel
- Someone has to start it
- Outside only, 20+ feet away
Portable power station
Price varies with size
- Quiet, indoor-safe, no fuel
- Doubles for phones and a CPAP
- Must handle the pump’s startup surge
- Hours, not days
Installed costs: HomeGuide; Angi puts the average battery backup at $900 (Angi). DTE’s 30-amp device lists a sump pump among the essentials it covers (DTE plan page).
More detail
How much power does a sump pump need?
For a power station, its surge rating has to cover the pump’s startup and its running rating the pump’s running watts. (HomeGuide)
How long can you go without it?
It depends on how fast your pit fills. Time it in the next heavy rain: count how often the pump runs in an hour. Every few minutes means you need backup that starts itself.
Your plan
- Read the pump label. Note amps or watts and the horsepower.
- Time the pump in a heavy rain. Runs per hour tells you how urgent backup is.
- Pick a path. Often away? A battery or water-powered backup. Want the whole house too? A generator with a safe hookup.
- Test it twice a year. Unplug the main pump and pour a bucket of water into the pit.
Questions people ask
What size generator do I need for a sump pump?
HomeGuide lists a sump pump at about 1,000 running watts, and startup can briefly need up to double. Most portable generators that fit DTE’s 30-amp device cover a sump pump plus a fridge and furnace fan.
Will a portable power station run a sump pump?
Yes, if its surge rating covers the pump’s startup watts and its running rating covers the pump’s running watts. Runtime is the station’s watt-hours divided by the pump’s watts, and the pump only draws power while it runs.
How long does a sump pump battery backup last?
HomeGuide lists backup batteries lasting about 3 to 5 years for wet-cell and 4 to 7 years for AGM or gel. Runtime per outage depends on how often the pump cycles.
Does DTE’s meter plug run a sump pump?
Yes. DTE says its 30-amp Surge Protection Plus device, up to 7,200 running watts, covers essentials like a sump pump, freezer, furnace and fridge, up to your generator’s capacity.
Keep reading
Two rules that save lives
Never run a generator in a garage, porch or near a window. Keep it 20 feet out, exhaust away.
Never backfeed through a dryer outlet. A ‘double-male’ cord can electrocute a lineman down the street. Your plan uses only safe, legal ways to connect.
Not sure which fits your house? A few taps about your home and what has to stay on. Free, and no email needed to see your plan.
Take the quiz: under 2 minutes- DTE: Surge Protection Plus plan details: www.dteenergy.com
- HomeGuide: Whole house generator cost (2026): homeguide.com
- HomeGuide: Sump pump battery backup cost (2026): homeguide.com
- Angi: Sump pump battery backup cost (2026): www.angi.com
Lights Back On is not affiliated with DTE Energy. Educational content only; not electrical advice.