3 Reasons for a Backup Water Pump

After 25+ years of emergency calls from customers facing water crises, I've learned one harsh reality: families without backup water systems face expensive, dangerous, and stressful emergency situations. Those with backup pumps maintain their safety, dignity, and comfort during crises.

I've received desperate calls from customers during ice storms, floods, and power outages. The difference between families who prepared and those who didn't is measured in thousands of dollars and family safety.

Real Customer Emergency: Arkansas customer during "worst ice storm in a generation" - two weeks without power, heat, or water. His realization: "I was TOTALLY unprepared... put my family in danger." After installing backup pump: "February 1, 2011... in the midst of another horrible ice storm... I am not the least bit concerned."

Here are the 3 critical reasons every well-dependent family needs backup water access, backed by real customer emergency experiences.

Reason 1: Submersible Pump Failure - It's Not "If" But "When"

25+ Years of Customer Reality: Submersible pumps fail without warning, often during the worst possible times - holidays, extreme weather, or when well service companies are unavailable.

Professional Field Data: Average submersible lifespan is 8-12 years, but I've seen quality pumps fail after 3 years and budget pumps fail within 18 months. The critical insight: pump failure timing is unpredictable and always inconvenient.

Customer Emergency Example: Montana customer's basement flooded with sewage, destroying water tank, hot water tank, and entire plumbing system. During weeks of rebuilding, their backup pump provided all household water needs, "saving us at least a week of motel costs" ($1,050+ avoided).

The Hidden Cost of No Backup: Emergency well service calls cost $300-500 minimum, often with 24-48 hour delays. Hotel costs average $150-200/night for families. Emergency water delivery costs $50-100 per delivery when available.

If your submersible well pump is not starting, here are five troubleshooting steps to try:

1. Check for tripped breakers and blown fuses.
2. Check your voltage, which should be at +/- 10 percent of the motor rating.
3. Check your pressure switch for wear or defects.
4. Check your control panel.
5. Check your splice connections.

In some cases, replacing a fuse or resetting a breaker could do the trick. On the other hand, if your well pump circuit breaker keeps getting tripped, then your well pump could be failing. In addition, a short in the motor or wiring can also cause fuses or breakers to trip or blow completely. Better safe than sorry, so if you encounter any electrical problem, you should call a qualified technician to take care of it since any electrical issue could be dangerous.

Reason 2: Pressure System Failures Leave You Without Water Pressure

Professional Reality: Pressure tank failures are often more disruptive than pump failures because they affect your entire household water system immediately - no pressure means no showers, no dishwasher, no washing machine.

Field Experience Insight: Pressure tank problems typically occur during peak usage times when families most need consistent water access. Weekend repairs are expensive and often delayed.

Customer Success Story: Arkansas customer's backup pump integrates with existing pressure tank through yard hydrant connection, maintaining normal household water pressure to "every faucet, toilet, and shower" during emergencies. This means family maintains normal water usage patterns instead of rationing water from buckets.

A brief inspection of your pressure tank can tell you if something is wrong, so look for:

1. A waterlogged pressure tank,
2. A broken aid bladder,
3. Incorrect amount of air pressure,
4. The tank is heavily pitted or rusty.

Obviously, all of the above issues could require professional repairs, however, if you had the presence of mind to think ahead and have a backup water pump, then your lack of water problem is covered in the meantime.

Reason 3: Power Outages - When You Need Water Most, You Have None

Critical Emergency Reality: Power outages during severe weather events last much longer than people expect. "A few hours" becomes days or weeks, and water becomes the highest priority for family safety.

Customer Emergency Pattern: Every major weather event - ice storms, hurricanes, floods - generates desperate calls from families who assumed outages would be brief. By day 2-3, water shortage becomes the primary crisis.

Arkansas Ice Storm Case Study: Two weeks without power during "worst ice storm in a generation." Customer initially unprepared, faced dangerous conditions trying to manage without water. After installing backup pump for next storm: completely confident and prepared.

Georgia RV Park Commercial Success: Business maintains customer service during power outages using backup pump system. Hand pump capability plus generator integration provides multiple backup options for extended outages.

Backup Power For Your Existing Well Pump

One viable option to keep your well water flowing even during a power outage is to have a backup power supply installed. One of the most used backup power sources is a generator. So, what size generator would you need for running your well pump on backup power? If you have a one horsepower submersible well pump; you would need a three to four KW generator for starting up your well pump although 1only one KW is needed for powering your well pump while it is running.

There is a pretty simple calculation for finding out your water pump’s power consumption. Typical water pumps require wattage that can be varying at between 250 and 1,100 watts. So, if you take the wattage of your water pump and multiply that number by the number of hours per day it’s usually running, and you will get the actual amount of kilowatt-hours that your pump uses.

Simple Pump provides a solar power motor-operated water pump that is another option for powering your water pump in case you lose power to your house.

Backup Hand Operated Water Pump Options

In many rural areas, one of the biggest challenges, when the power goes out, is access to your water. Living outside of your municipal water systems’ reach means wells with submersible water pumps for pumping your water into a pressure tank. The problems that arise are pretty basic. When there’s no power, then there’s no water. That’s why it’s so important to have a hand pump installed next to your submersible pump just in case your submersible pump should just stop working for some reason.

If your well isn’t too deep, then a hand pump can be instantly utilized as a back-up option for pumping water to your home. But, of course, you have to have one installed to be ready for that.

Options To Get Access To Your Well Water

A water well hand pump is your best option during a power outage or other event that causes water pump failure. They’re becoming increasingly popular for not only off-grid living but also for homeowners who may be connected to the grid but are also striving for greater resilience. If this sounds familiar, then what you want is easy water access even during a power outage.

HAND PUMPS: THE BEST OPTION FOR BACKUP WATER PUMPING

“Hoping for the best but preparing for the worst.”

This is every homeowners’ mantra, especially if their home is on well water, not municipal water. If you are one of the many savvy homeowners who like being ready for anything, then you need to explore the options for ensuring that you’ll have the ability to pump water no matter what might happen. A hand pump is fairly easy to install right alongside the existing water system, or a backup power supply could be installed to keep your existing pumps running.

Watch our video on how to install the hand-operated Simple Pump.

Having a backup hand-operated water well pump gives you the self-reliance and the water independence that everybody is striving for by providing an uninterrupted flow of water for your animals and garden as well as for cooking, drinking, and even for a relaxing hot bath or shower.

Most hand pumps are in one of these two categories:

• Suction pumps, which have an above-ground cylinder and are good for shallow wells.
• Lift pumps, which have a below ground cylinder and can pump in deep wells.

The Simple Pump Hand Operated deep well pump utilizes a piston rod lift system.

The Bottom Line: Preparation vs Emergency Response

25+ Years of Customer Experience Pattern: Every customer who's experienced a real emergency says the same thing: "I wish I had installed the backup pump sooner."

Cost Reality Check:

• Emergency Response: Hotel costs ($150-200/night), water delivery ($50-100 per delivery), emergency service calls ($300-500)
• Preparation: Backup pump system ($2,500-4,000) provides decades of water security

Customer Validation: Montana flood recovery customer - backup pump provided all household water during rebuilding, avoiding "at least a week of motel costs" ($1,050+ savings in one emergency event).

Professional Recommendation: Don't wait for the emergency to realize you're unprepared. Every major weather event generates desperate calls from families who thought "it won't happen to us." Your backup water plan should be proven, tested, and ready - not hope.

Arkansas Customer's Transformation: From "I was TOTALLY unprepared... put my family in danger" to "I am not the least bit concerned" during the next major storm. That's the peace of mind proper preparation provides.

Ready to Get Started?

Installing a Simple Pump system is easier than you think. Request a free quote to get a custom system recommendation for your well, or contact our experts for personalized guidance.

Questions about installation? Call us at (877) 492-8711 or find a certified dealer near you for professional installation support.