How To Add Distilled Water To Sump Pump Batteries

Sump pump batteries are used as emergency backup power to the pumps. Different types of batteries are employed for backup power, but most typically a deep cycle battery is used, which is not the same as a regular car battery. Maintaining an optimum fluid level in the battery is crucial to the longevity and proper performance of the backup power source. You can only add distilled water to the separate cells of an unsealed battery, which is identified by removable caps on the top of the battery.

1. Take Safety Precautions

Put on safety glasses and rubber gloves to protect yourself from any possibility of spillage from the acid water mixture. Remove all electrical power from the charging system to the battery. In most cases, this is simply pulling the plug from the AC charger that feeds the battery.

2. Clean the Top of the Battery

Clean the top of the battery with a paper towel. Discard the towel immediately as it might contain dried acid.

3. Remove the Battery Caps

Remove the caps of the battery. Various unsealed batteries may have different caps. Individual screw-on caps will cover each separate battery cell, which will be six in total for one battery. Unscrew the separate caps and set to the side. Use the slotted screwdriver to pry off the caps if they are part of an assembly. Most typically, these pry-off caps will cover three cells. There will be two caps for one battery.

4. Check the Fluid Level

Look inside the openings of the battery. There will be a plastic ring that extends down inside each cell. Check the fluid level of each cell. The fluid height must be kept to just below the level of the interior ring.

5. Add the Water and Replace the Caps

Add just enough distilled water to raise the fluid level in each cell to the height of the lower end of the interior plastic ring and replace the caps on the battery.

6. Wipe the Battery Dry and Power the System Up

Thoroughly wipe the top of the battery dry with the paper towels. Reenergize the battery charging system.