Backing Up Your Well Pump - A Plain-English Guide for Rural Homes
Last verified: September 2026
Everything you need to know to keep your water running on a generator — why the pump needs a big surge, why cords won't work, and how to size and hook it up safely. Rather have a hand deciding? My number is (330) 200-8042.
Backing Up a Well Pump, at a Glance
On a well, a power outage means no water at all — not low pressure, none — because the pump that lifts water into your house runs on electricity. This guide covers why a well pump needs a serious starting surge, why it can't be cord-fed, and how to size and hook up a generator that can actually start it, with a licensed electrician handling the panel work. There's a printable page-by-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 Why does my well pump need such a big generator?
A well pump's motor needs a large starting surge to get going — often around three times its steady running power — on top of being a 240-volt, hardwired appliance that needs generous headroom to start reliably.
2 Can I run my well pump with an extension cord?
No. A well pump is wired directly into your home's panel at 240 volts, with no plug to reach. It needs a transfer switch or interlock, installed by a licensed electrician.
3 How do I find out my pump's real numbers?
Check the nameplate on the pump's control box or pressure tank setup, or call the company that drilled or services your well and ask for its horsepower. Never guess.
4 What if the power is out for several days?
Keep a generous fuel plan — propane's long shelf life suits a longer outage well — and store drinking water as backup to the backup, in case anything in the generator plan doesn't go perfectly.
5 Do I have to run the pump constantly during an outage?
No. Your pressure tank stores a reserve, so you can run the pump for a while, then switch the generator's attention to the fridge or furnace, rather than running everything at once around the clock.
6 Is this a project I can do myself?
Sizing the generator and understanding your pump, yes. The panel work — a transfer switch or interlock — needs a licensed electrician, which I help coordinate.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
Backing up a well pump is one of the more involved parts of generator planning, and I genuinely enjoy helping rural families work through it — your pump's numbers, the right size, and lining up a licensed electrician for the hookup. $99 flat for a visit, 30-day come-back-free.
Would you rather I just do this for you?
No shame in it — plenty of folks would rather hand it off, and that's what I'm here for. I'll come to your home, set it up right, and make sure it's working before I leave. Flat $99 per visit — no jargon, no upsell, and every visit is 30-day come-back-free.
Not a hardware job? I can often fix it remotely for $49 — a secure screen-share, up to 2 hours, that you watch the whole time and can end whenever (included free for $39/mo Support Plan members, and it counts toward the $99 if it turns out I need to come out).