Which is better to have? Battery backups or transfer switches for easy generator hookup? Is it possible to have both?

We have battery back ups for our pumps. I would think that it would be a lot of unnecessary extra load on a generator.:shrug:

Here's the deal, I'm getting ready to buy a house. It listed duel sump pumps with battery backups AND generator transfer switch. (its a walk out basement). The home inspector couldn't find the battery back ups so when the sellers were asked about it they said they removed them and put in the generator transfer switch. Since it was listed as having both don't they legally have to provide both? Or is it impossible to have both?

To me its like saying in the listing that you have a two car garage and a fire pit but then comes back and says....well we HAD a two car garage but we tore it down for the fire pit.

Here's the deal, I'm getting ready to buy a house. I get first dibs on your grocery cart. :howdy:

It's good to have both since any UPS for the pumps is only going to give you a limited amount of back-up power. Of course this depends on how many pumps there are and how much power they require.

The transfer switch is an convienence if you have a generator. During a power outage however you're probably going to want to provide it's power to your refrigerator, well, etc., the essentials. Unless of course, it's pouring and your basements is taking on water.

Our back ups are powered by a pair (each) of deep cycle marine batteries connected to a trickle charger. One thing to remember about the battery back up is that the pumps do not run constantly, if they do then you have some other big time issues to consider. We've never drained our batteries but then again we haven't lost power for that long a period of time yet either.

I still stand by my opinion that having them hooked to a generator just puts unnecessary loads on your generator.

I still stand by my opinion that having them hooked to a generator just puts unnecessary loads on your generator.

Isn't that what the transfer switch is for? It gives you the ability to switch the pumps in or out of the generators load?

Which is better to have? Battery backups or transfer switches for easy generator hookup? Is it possible to have both?

I like the idea of a generator.

If the storm is big enough to take out your electric you're probably getting a LOT of rain... with no idea when you are going to get your power back.. Batteries do run out.

Next question would be, does it come with the generator, and what size?

If it's a permanently installed automatic generator, it may be a whole house generator that supplies enough wattage to power EVERYthing.

If you are depending on a portable generator then the chances are you are going to have to pick and choose what you want to run.

With regard to the transfer switch... There are automatic transfer switches and manual transfer switches. Each is self explanatory as to their operation. Either way, the switch is required to switch the source of power from standard house current to the alternate power source [generator].

In theory, I guess one could say that if you have battery back-up, you also have a transfer switch [of some kind]. Otherwise, the pump would never know to switch to the battery as a source of power in the event of service interuption.

You can have the battery back up connected to the emergency side of the transfer switch. That way if the generator shuts off for any reason (before normal power is back) the batteries would kick in and run the pumps if needed.

I'm with KOM though, you really don't need them on the generator.

I'm thinking a combo of both. Battery backup, and the batteries are fed from a recharger that's tied to the transfer switch. The charger won't pull nearly the load the sump pump will, and will extend the life of the battery much longer during an outage.

I've seen some stupid things that builders do though that might make some think about redundancy with back-up systems on the sump pump.

I have seen it more then once where a builder will have a set of exterior steps that go down several feet below grade to a landing at the basement door that has a drain. Since you're already several feet below grade, where does the water from the drain go..... to the interior of the house and into the sump pit. :smack:

It never made any sense to me to bring water from outside the house and route it inside the house.... Especially considering when you need that drain to work flawlessly to avoid it backing up and entering the house is in periods of heavy rains and storms [which seems to always coincide with power outages].

It means more work, but why not just extend the drain however far you need to get it to drain to "daylight"? Typical builder trying to say a couple of hundred dollars at the home owners' expense.

Here's the deal, I'm getting ready to buy a house.

Where are you buying?

Where are you buying?


its not in a sub division, its a house out all on its little lonesome.

Thanks all for the opinions. I'd feel better having the battery back ups and since the house was advertised as having both; I feel they should provide both. So back to the nitty gritty :coffee: