Battery backup: do you need one?

Here's the question: would your basement survive a 12-hour power outage during a thunderstorm? Because that's exactly what causes most flooded basements in Michigan — power goes out, the primary pump can't run, and the rain doesn't stop.

A battery backup pump pumps about 2,500 gallons per hour off a marine deep-cycle battery. That's 8–12 hours of pumping in a typical storm. Plenty for the average outage.

The cost: $400–$700 installed if you already have a sump basin. The math: replacing finished basement framing, drywall, flooring, and contents after a flood averages $25,000 in Southeast Michigan. The decision basically makes itself.

If you have anything finished in the basement — a bedroom, a rec room, a workout space — a battery backup isn't optional. It's the cheapest insurance you can buy.