Stop worrying about basement floods. A simple DIY project can send a sump pump alarm notification right to your phone, giving you total peace of mind.

It’s one of those quiet little fears every homeowner with a basement has. You’re at work, on vacation, or just out running errands, and deep in your basement, a critical pump has failed. The local alarm on the panel is probably blaring away, but who’s there to hear it? This exact scenario used to keep me up at night, which is why I finally figured out a reliable sump pump alarm notification system to get alerts right on my phone.

Whether you have a sump pump for groundwater or a more serious sewage ejector pump, the problem is the same. The built-in alarms are great if you’re standing right there, but pretty useless otherwise. I wanted a way to bridge that gap—to know the second something went wrong, no matter where I was.

Why You Need a Sump Pump Alarm Notification System

Let’s be honest, the cost and headache of a basement flood are massive. We’re talking ruined flooring, damaged furniture, and the dreaded possibility of mold. A simple pump failure can quickly spiral into a five-figure problem.

The alarm on your pump’s control panel is a last line of defense, but it has one major flaw: it’s a local alarm. If a tree falls in the forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound? Who cares! But if your pump alarm goes off and you’re not home, you’re in for a very unpleasant surprise.

Setting up a remote sump pump alarm notification isn’t just a fun smart home project; it’s a practical insurance policy against disaster. It provides peace of mind that is, frankly, priceless.

My Solution: Using a Smart Relay for Sump Pump Alarm Notifications

After a bit of research, I landed on a wonderfully simple and effective solution: a smart relay. I was looking for something that could tap into my pump’s existing alarm system. The goal wasn’t to reinvent the wheel, but to make the wheel text me when it started spinning.

I ended up using a Shelly relay, a tiny and versatile smart device that connects to your WiFi. The concept is straightforward: wire the relay to the alarm circuit on your pump’s control panel. When the pump faults and the panel sends power to the alarm light or buzzer, it also sends a signal to the Shelly relay. The relay then uses your home network to send an instant notification to your phone via the Shelly app.

A Quick Disclaimer: I am not a licensed electrician. Working with electrical panels can be dangerous. This information is to show you what’s possible. If you’re not 100% confident and comfortable working with wiring, please hire a professional. It’s the safest bet.

The beauty of a device like the Shelly Plus 1 is its flexibility. Many pump control panels have both high-voltage (120V) and low-voltage (24V) circuits available, and a versatile relay can often work with either.

The setup looks something like this:

• The relay is powered by a constant power source from the panel.
• The relay’s “switch” input is connected to the wire that powers the alarm’s indicator light.
• In the app, you configure the relay to send a notification whenever that switch input is triggered.

Now, instead of just a blinking red light in an empty basement, you get a clear, immediate alert on your phone that says, “Hey, you need to check the pump!”

Other Easy Ways to Get Pump Failure Alerts

Don’t want to open up your control panel? No problem. There are other, less invasive ways to get the job done.

• Smart Water Leak Sensors: This is the simplest approach. Place a smart water sensor (from brands like Govee, Aqara, or YoLink) on the floor near your pump. The moment it detects water, it sends an alert to your phone. While this tells you after a leak has started, it’s far better than finding it hours or days later. It’s a great, affordable first step. The Verge has a great rundown of popular options to get you started.
• Acoustic Sensors: Some smart devices are designed to “listen” for the specific sound of a smoke alarm or carbon monoxide detector. You could potentially place one of these near your pump panel to listen for the audible alarm.
• All-in-One Smart Pumps: If you’re already in the market for a new pump, consider buying a “smart” one. Many modern sump pumps come with WiFi connectivity and a dedicated app for monitoring and alerts built right in.

Ultimately, it doesn’t matter which path you choose. The important thing is to have a system in place. That nagging worry in the back of your mind will disappear, replaced by the quiet confidence that if something goes wrong, you’ll be the first to know.