Cost to run

How much does a sump pump cost to run?

A sump pump's cost is weather: it may sit idle for weeks, then cycle constantly through a wet spell. Averaged over a season, the electricity is small — the protection is the point.

Reviewed 2026-07-15 · methodology appliance-energy-1.0.0 · data vintage 2026-04-ytd

Example costs using the Texas state-average rate

These are generated examples for a consistent location. Enter your own ZIP and usage below for a more relevant state-average estimate.

Scenario	Assumption	kWh/month	Monthly range	Most likely/year
Dry month	A few brief cycles daily from groundwater	2.40	$0.26–$0.57	$4.70
Rainy season	About an hour of cycling a day	9.60	$1.02–$2.28	$18.78
Storm weeks	Heavy cycling several hours a day for two weeks	30.24	$3.22–$7.19	$126.77

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.B. Data vintage 2026-04-ytd. State-average pricing is not your exact utility tariff.

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Rated watts (from the appliance label)Duty cycle (0–1; share of time drawing full power)Days per month

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Runtime follows the water table

The float switch runs the motor only while the pit fills, so rainfall, snowmelt, soil drainage, and grading around the foundation dictate cycles. Two identical houses a street apart can differ five-fold in pump hours.

Short cycling wastes energy and pumps

A pit that is too small or a float set too tight makes the motor start dozens of times an hour, and starting current plus wear costs more than steady runs moving the same water. Check valve failures that let water fall back double the work invisibly.

Backup systems and exclusions

Battery backup pumps trickle-charge continuously and water-powered backups cost water rather than electricity — neither is modeled here. Neither is the dehumidifier that often runs beside the sump, which has its own page and its own bill.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my sump pump running with no rain?

High groundwater, footing-drain flow, or a failing check valve can keep cycles coming in dry weather. Persistent dry-weather cycling is worth a plumber's look — this page only prices the electricity.

How much do the storm weeks actually cost?

The storm scenario above runs the engine on heavy cycling for two weeks. Compared with the water damage it prevents, the number reads like a rounding error.

Does a bigger pump cost more per month?

A larger motor draws more per minute but empties the pit faster, so monthly totals converge on how much water arrives — not the pump's size.

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