Solar, Batteries, and Your Well Pump - Keeping Water Flowing
Last verified: September 2026
On a private well, no power means no water. Here's the honest story on what solar and batteries can — and can't — do to keep your pump running in an outage, and why stored water matters too. On a well? Call (330) 200-8042.
Solar and Your Well, at a Glance
On a private well, an electric pump gives you water — so when the power stops, your water stops too. And plain grid-tied solar won't help: it shuts off in an outage, even in full sun. To keep the pump running you need a battery (hybrid) sized to start it, or a generator. A well pump is demanding — it needs a big jolt to start — so the battery needs enough 'tap,' not just enough 'tank.' And store some drinking water regardless; it's the cheapest backup of all. No pump specs are guessed here. There's a printable 29-page version up top.
Common Questions
1 Will my solar keep my well pump running in an outage?
Not by itself. Plain grid-tied solar shuts off in an outage, so the pump stays dead even in bright sun. Only a battery (hybrid) sized to start the pump, or a generator, can keep your water flowing.
2 Why is a well pump so hard to back up?
Most home wells use a 240-volt pump whose motor needs a big jolt to start — far more than it uses while running. Your backup has to deliver that starting surge, which is why sizing it takes care.
3 How big a battery do I need for my well pump?
That depends on your pump's real specs, which come from the well company or the pump's label — not a guess. The battery needs enough 'tap' to start the pump, not just enough 'tank' to run lights. Bring those specs to your installer.
4 Is a generator better than a battery for a well?
For long outages, a generator handles the surge readily and runs as long as you have fuel. Many well homes use both — a battery for frequent short outages, a generator for the rare long one — plus stored water under it all.
5 What's a soft starter?
A device that eases a pump motor up to speed rather than hitting it with a hard jolt, softening the starting surge. Where it fits, it can let a smaller battery or generator run a pump it otherwise couldn't — ask your installer and well company.
6 How much water should I store?
Aim for at least a few days of drinking and cooking water per person and pet, plus some for flushing, and rotate it to keep it fresh. It costs almost nothing and works no matter what backup power does — do it whether or not you go solar.
Would You Rather I Just Help?
If your home's on a well, keeping the water flowing in an outage is worth planning carefully — and it's one of my favorite things to help rural families with. Call me and we'll make a real, layered plan: the right backup for your pump, plus stored water as the sure thing. $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).