The Best Sump Pump

Buying Guide

• A top feature to look for in a sump pump is reliability. The Superior Pump 1/3 HP Sump Pump’s motor has thermal protection from a split capacitor, which reduces the chances of a malfunction. The Zoeller M53 Mighty-Mate Sump Pump uses stainless steel screws and fastenings, which means less worrying about rust and corrosion over the years.
• Clogs can interfere with your sump pump’s effectiveness. The Zoeller M53 Mighty-Mate Sump Pump has a vortex impeller design that prevents clogging, allowing it to pass solids of up to ½ inch.
• To be effective, you’ll need to make sure you buy the right size of pump for your own needs. For most homes, a 1/3-horsepower pump should be sufficient. The Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump and Homdox Sump Pump go beyond that, at ½ horsepower, while the Superior Pump 1/3 HP Sump Pump and Zoeller M53 Mighty-Mate Sump Pump are both 1/3-horsepower models.
• The capabilities of your sump pump will also come into play. The Superior Pump 1/3 HP Sump Pump is a powerhouse, removing up to 40 gallons of water per minute, while the Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump can move up to 2,400 gallons per hour. The Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump has a 10-foot flow uplift.
• Some sump pumps can overheat, cutting off in the middle of a potential flooding situation. The Zoeller M53 Mighty-Mate Sump Pump has a switch built in that prevents overheating.
• If your sump pump is working, there’s a chance rain is involved. Rain can bring storms, which also means your power might go out. A battery backup will keep your pump operating even without power. The Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump has a battery that will run continuously for up to 26 hours.
• Although you’ll likely have to eventually replace your pump, the Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump is among the most durable on the market today, surviving one million pumping cycles in testing.
• Hooking up your sump pump can be fairly simple, as long as you choose the right one. The Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump is among the easiest to install, taking only minutes to put in place. The Homdox Sump Pump can be tough to attach to a garden hose if the need ever arises.
• Submersible pumps can be tougher to clean. You’ll need to shut off power and disconnect the discharge pipe before cleaning. The easiest way to wash it is to take it outside and use the garden hose.
• Sump pumps can be prone to hammering noises, which will become annoying if it’s loud enough to be heard throughout the house. The Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump is quieter than many competitors.
• Sump pumps range widely in price, from the Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump, which retails for more than $400, to the Superior Pump 1/3 HP Sump Pump and Homdox Sump Pump, which sell for well below $100. Although the Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump is on the pricy side, it is among the best in the industry and the ease of mind of knowing it won’t malfunction in the middle of a rainstorm may be worth the extra expense.
• The pump is only part of the process. You’ll also need a pit or receptacle, known as the sump, to collect the water. The Wayne ESP25 Sump Pump requires a larger sump than most models.
• Many of today’s sump pumps require no intervention on your part to get started. The Zoeller M53 Mighty-Mate Sump Pump starts pumping as soon as the water level reaches 7 inches. It also automatically cuts off once the water retreats to 3 inches. The Homdox Sump Pump uses an automatic float switch, which starts working as soon as the water levels rise above 4.7 inches. However, you will occasionally have to hang the float up for the pump to continue working. The Superior Pump 1/3 HP Sump Pump doesn’t even shut off automatically.

Some areas are prone to flooding and, unfortunately, often those areas have homes on them. A sump pump keeps unwanted water at bay, sending it away from places like basements and crawlspaces, where it could do damage. In addition to keeping your home safe and dry, a sump pump can also reduce your homeowner’s insurance rates.

If you’re in the market for a new sump pump, it can help to understand how they work. The term “sump” refers to a pit that collects liquids. You’ll find them in cars, serving to collect oil. In a home or other building, the sump collects water and, once it rises to a particular level, the pump detects it and begins eliminating it.

Those who have never purchased a sump pump before may wonder exactly how much power they need. A 1/3-horsepower motor should be sufficient for most homes, but you can find more powerful pumps. If you have an existing sump pump, you can test how much water your current pump removes each minute by running your pump on a rainy day until the water level falls below the shutoff point. Disconnect the pump, then measure how much the water level rises in one minute. If you have an 18-inch sump pump, one inch equals a gallon, and in a 24-inch sump, one inch equals two gallons. Add in a little for severe storms and you should be able to find a pump that will keep your home dry.

Automatic operation is a handy feature to have in a sump pump. Some newer pumps kick on automatically when the water level rises to a certain point, then shut off automatically once the water level recedes. Since you likely won’t always be home when water levels rise, you’ll probably be grateful to have it.

Certain things can get in the way of your sump pump doing its job. If it clogs or overheats, you may experience the flooding you were trying to avoid by having a pump in the first place. Some pumps are built to overcome these obstacles, so factor that into your decision.