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How many watts does a Sump Pump (1/3 HP) use?
Running watts
800 W
Starting watts
1,300 W
Startup surge
+500 W
A Sump Pump (1/3 HP) draws 800 watts continuously once it's running, but its motor needs a brief surge of up to 1,300 watts to start. A generator has to cover that starting surge, not just the running load, or the motor won't start. No manufacturer-published LRA found for this size class — only a generic ~6x-running-current rule of thumb exists, which isn't real nameplate data. This figure stays a rough estimate.
Running it 2 hours/day costs roughly $8.16/month at the U.S. average residential rate (~$0.17/kWh, early 2026, per the EIA) — real rates vary a lot by state and utility. Use your own rate in the House calculator →
△ No published nameplate LRA rating exists for this appliance class — starting watts here is a rough estimate, not real motor nameplate data. See the full LRA reference →
Generators that can run this
- Generac GP2200i1,700 W run · 2,200 W start · ~$550
- Champion 2000-Watt Inverter (100692)1,700 W run · 2,000 W start · ~$450
- Honda EU2200i1,800 W run · 2,200 W start · ~$1,150
Prices as of July 2026 — check the current listing before buying.
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