Hurricane season in Broward
What happens to a well or sump pump when the power goes out
Wind and rain get most of the attention before a storm, but for a lot of Davie homes, the plumbing risk is simpler than that: two pumps that only work with electricity, right when electricity is least reliable.
What actually happens to a well or sump pump when the power goes out during a storm?
Both a well pump and a sump pump are electric by design, and neither has a manual backup built in. Lose power and a well pump stops delivering water the moment the pressure tank’s stored reserve runs out, usually within a load of laundry or a couple of showers. A sump pump stops moving water out of whatever low point it protects at the exact moment a heavy storm is putting more water into that low point than usual.
Neither failure is dramatic on its own, which is part of the problem: a well running dry is just a tap that stops, and a sump pump sitting idle is silent until the water it should have moved has somewhere worse to go. A generator sized and connected ahead of time is what keeps both pumps running through the outage instead of forcing a household to wait it out.
Two pumps, one shared weakness
Why power loss is the real plumbing risk in a storm, not the storm itself
A hurricane’s wind and structural risk gets covered everywhere, and rightly so, but the plumbing side of storm prep in Davie comes down to something narrower: how many systems in the house depend on electricity to function, and what happens to each one the moment that electricity stops. Two are worth planning around specifically, because they matter most and get the least attention beforehand.
A well pump has a shorter grace period than people expect
A private well pump relies on electricity to run, full stop, and the pressure tank sitting between the pump and the house only stores a limited reserve, typically enough for normal use over a short stretch rather than an extended outage. Once that reserve is drawn down, water pressure drops off, and a household on a well loses water entirely until power returns or a generator picks up the load. For a household planning around this, that means stored drinking water and a plan for basic sanitation matter here in a way they simply do not for a home on municipal water, where the utility’s own infrastructure keeps the system pressurized independent of any one house’s power.
A sump pump fails at the worst possible moment
A sump pump exists specifically to handle water at a low point, a sunken garage bay, a mechanical pad, a low corner of the yard, faster than it would drain on its own. That is exactly the job that matters most during a storm, and it is exactly when a power outage takes it offline. Without a battery backup or a generator connection, a sump pump with no power is just a motor sitting in rising water, doing nothing until service is restored.
What a generator can and cannot fix on its own
A generator, whether a portable unit brought out for the occasion or a permanently installed standby system, can keep both pumps running through an outage, but only if it is sized for the actual load and connected correctly. A well pump’s startup draw is meaningfully higher than its running draw, and an undersized generator that handles the running load can still fail to start the pump at all. A transfer switch installed ahead of time, rather than an extension cord improvised during the storm, is what keeps the connection safe for both the house and anyone working on the lines afterward.
Checking a system after the power comes back
Restored power does not automatically mean a system came back the way it left off. A well pump that ran dry during the outage can develop problems from running without water moving through it, and a sump pump that sat idle in standing water for hours is worth a direct look rather than an assumption that it is fine simply because the light on the panel is back on.
BEFORE THE STORM
Worth checking while there is still time
Test the sump pump with a bucket of water
Pour water into the pit and confirm the pump actually kicks on and clears it, rather than assuming it works because it did last year.
Confirm the generator can actually start the well pump
A pump’s startup draw is higher than its running draw, and that gap is where an undersized generator fails.
Store drinking water if the household is on a private well
A well stops delivering water once the pressure tank’s reserve is used up and the power has not returned.
Check that the sump pump’s discharge line is clear
A blocked or disconnected discharge line means the pump can run constantly and still not actually move water away from the house.
AFTER THE POWER RETURNS
Worth a direct look, not an assumption
Listen for unusual noise from a well pump that ran dry
A pump that lost its water supply mid-cycle can be damaged even after power and pressure are both back to normal.
Look for water intrusion where the sump pump sits
Standing water at a garage bay or mechanical pad after an outage is a sign the pump did not keep up, worth understanding before the next storm.
Get an actual inspection if either pump behaved oddly
Unusual noise, reduced pressure, or a pump that will not shut off are worth a real diagnosis now, before the next storm asks the same pump to work again.
Watch drains and toilets for anything unusual for a few days
A heavy, sustained rain event can put extra strain on a septic drain field or a municipal line already carrying more water than usual.
Before you call
Questions about pumps and power loss in a storm
How long can a household on a private well actually go without power?
The pressure tank’s stored reserve is usually good for normal use over a short stretch, not an extended outage, so stored water is worth having regardless of generator plans.
Is a battery backup enough for a sump pump, or does it need a generator?
A battery backup can bridge a shorter outage on its own, but for an extended one, a generator connection is what keeps the pump running for as long as it is actually needed.
Can I just run an extension cord from a portable generator to the pump?
That is not a safe or reliable connection for either pump. A properly installed transfer switch is what makes a generator connection safe to use.
Should I have the well pump checked every year before hurricane season?
A pre-season check is a reasonable habit, particularly for confirming the pressure tank’s air charge and the generator connection actually work together.
The power came back on and everything seems fine. Do I still need an inspection?
Not necessarily, but a pump that ran dry or sat in standing water for an extended stretch is worth a direct look even without an obvious symptom yet.
Related
Where to go from here
The two service pages this article connects to most directly.
Storm on the way, or already past?
Get both pumps checked before it matters
A quick check before the season starts, or a real look after an outage, catches a problem while it is still a small one.
Serving Davie and South Florida, 24 hours a day.