Introduction
Increasing wastewater issues in both urban and rural areas have driven Sump Pump market in the past two decades. Especially, the top-rated submersible sump pump brands. You can help that market grow even more and in your detriment if you buy a low-quality sump pump(Just to clear one point: Cheap sump pump doesn’t mean its a low-quality sump pump) or if you don’t exactly match the pump with your needs. In practice, you can find two main types of sump pumps, submersible sump pumps and, pedestal sump pumps.
In this article, our main focus in on submersible sump pump models that are among the best on the market’s sump pump ratings with regards to performance, features, and price. To clarify, our main goals are to show you the best examples of the variety of sub pump models that are suited to your individual needs and that get unwanted water out of your basement floors, crawl spaces or even the whole home. The most important feature of submersible pumps is that they are submerged into water, which makes them operate quietly compared to pedestal pumps. On the other hand, they have higher prices than average submersible sump pump price. Imagine having a device which runs on electric power in addition, is submersible. The watertight isolation of that device has to be perfect, so this bares additional costs.
PRODUCT COMPARISON CHART
Zoeller 57-0001 M57 Basement High Capacity Sump Pump
Price: $$$$$$ | Hp: 3/10 | Product Dimensions:11 x 11 x 8 inches | Item Weight:27.1 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
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WAYNE CDU800 Submersible Sump Pump
Price: $$$$$ | Hp: 1/2 | Product Dimensions: 9 x 9 x 12 inches | Item Weight: 17.25 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
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WAYNE CDU1000 Submersible Sump Pump
Price: $$$$$$$ | Hp: 1 | Product Dimensions: 8 x 8 x 12 inches | Item Weight: 18.5 pounds | Material: Stainless Steel
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WAYNE WWB WaterBUG Submersible Pump with Multi-Flo Technology
Price: $$$ | Hp: 1/2 | Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 13 inches | Item Weight: 19.46 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
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Superior Pump 92250 Submersible Sump Pump
Price: $ | Hp: 1/2 | Product Dimensions: 10 x 10 x 13 inches | Item Weight: 19.46 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
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Superior Pump 92341 Submersible Sump Pump
Price: $$ | Hp: 1/3 | Product Dimensions: 7.2 x 7.8 x 11.5 inches | Item Weight: 16.95 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
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Little Giant GIDDS-521252 12393 Automatic Sump Pump
Price: $$$$ | Hp: 1/3 | Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 10.3 x 9.7 inches | Item Weight: 17.66 pounds | Material: Cast Iron
for latest prices and detailed information
Reviews
Zoeller 57-0001 M57 Basement High Capacity Submersible Sump Pump
Zoeller basement sump pump is a flagship device that is designed and manufactured in the US. Since the Zoeller 57-0001 is a submersible pump it is very important to point out that it is fully corrosion-resistant with powder-coated epoxy finish. The shell(Motor Housing) is made out of stainless steel, which includes, for example, screws, guard, handle, switch arm, etc. So, there are no metal parts that can rust or corrode. In conclusion, if you need a strong and stable device, we advise you to look closely at this device and our best sump pump reviews specified on power and materials. The weight of the device is 27.1 pounds with dimensions of 11 x 11 x 8 inches, which conserves space and gives you a powerful device that can fit small spaces.
The strength of the Zoeller pump is 1/3 Hp, which is strong enough to pump even larger amounts of water, during heavy rains or floods. Zoeller also has a great reputation among the customers, which is for sure an important decision-making argument.
- Great reputation – Certainly, it’s a rare thing among customers of technical products
- Good construction and engineering
- 2-year limited warranty – the warranty date is counted from the moment that the device was manufactured, not bought
- Not eligible for international shipping
WAYNE CDU800 1/2 HP Cast Iron and Steel Submersible Sump Pump With Integrated Vertical Float Switch
This Wayne sump pump model CDU800 is a 1/2 HP submersible device made out of cast iron. It weighs 18.5 pounds, with 9 x 9 x 12 inches dimensions. Since this is also a vertical float device it discharges 5100 gallons an hour with its 1/2 HP motor on zero feet height. When the float goes up to 10 feet the device can pump up to 3840 gallons per hour, and on 20 feet the discharge drops to 2040 gallons per hour.
The ceramic mechanical seal is there to keep the pump working in very demanding surroundings with added 1 ½ inch discharge for maximum flow. It also has an automatic overload mechanism designed to prevent damage to motor windings, ball bearings don’t need oiling and have a waterproof three-prong grounding wire with an 8-foot extension.
Also, a two-pole switch is installed to prevent basement flooding if one pole sticks. The device is assembled in the US with mixes foreign and domestic parts, while it stays limited to only US shipping. Wayne has also offered a three-year limited warranty, which is a notable feature for the device.
- The float switch is tested to 1 million cycles
- 3 year limited warranty
- Installing the sump pump is easy and the device operates quietly
- Some customers reported the short life cycle of the device
WAYNE CDU1000 1 HP Cast Iron and Stainless Steel Submersible Sump Pump with Integrated Vertical Float Switch
The Wayne CDU1000 is an older brother of the CDU800 submersible sump pump. As it can be seen from the title, the vertical float switch is integrated and unlike its weaker version, CDU 1000 has a 1 Hp motor. This kind of power enables this device to pump more water from 6100 gallons per hour on a 0 feet lift to 3840 gallons per hour on 20 feet lift. On 10 feet lift, the device is able to pump up to 5100 gallons per hour.
CDU1000 weight 18.5 pounds and has an 8 x 8 x 12 inches dimension. The minimum size of a sump pit that this device can be installed in is 11 inches in diameter. The device is assembled in the US with mixes foreign and domestic parts and it can be shipped outside the US to a limited number of countries.
An improvement to the weaker model is also a 5-year limited warranty against 3-year warranty for CDU800.
- Easy installation and the device is quiet
- 5 year limited warranty
- The engine body is made out of stainless steel, but the pump base material is not
- Some customers complained about a shorter life cycle of the device
WAYNE WWB WaterBUG Submersible Pump with Multi-Flo Technology
The brand brought us this Submersible Pump as a more affordable alternative to some of the more costly models. This device is a 1/6 Hp and it can pump up to 1257 gallons of water per hour on 0 feet in height. The device weight is 7.94 pounds and 6 x 4 x 8 inches are the dimensions. There are two discharge systems, top, and side, which are used for removals from both open and confined spaces.
The clogging is minimized with multi-ring suction strainer, which is a patent coming from Wayne. This is a utility multi-purpose pump, so, it can be used in various situations.
If you need a small pump that should be moved from place to place, this one you should check out. But if you plan to use it as a permanent sump pump in a basement, this might not be the best device for those purposes. Especially because there is no float switch installed. The device is assembled in the US with parts that are both domestic and foreign. WaterBug can also be shipped into a limited number of countries, next to the US.
- Multipurpose
- Low cost when compared to other models
- 1-year limited warranty
- Submersion into hot water can lead to the automatic shutdown of the device (bad for hot tubs)
- No float switch
Superior Pump 92250 1/4-Horsepower Thermoplastic Submersible Sump Pump with Tethered Float Switch
The Superior Pump 92250 is one of the cheaper devices which comes with a quarter of an HP in strength and it is fully submersible. The pump can pump 30 gallons per minute up to 25 feet of vertical height. This is a compact and solid pump, which is designed to have a lower flow rate that will not damage the pump. Also, the pump has a built-in airlock preventer.
At 0 feet, the device can pump up to 1800 gallons per hour, on 10 feet vertical height it can pump 1200 gallons and on a maximum 25 feet it can pump up to 120 gallons per hour.
The device is UL listed, CSA certified and has a 1-year limited warranty, which is a good deal for the low-cost machine. The device even has an adjustable float switch that was made to automatically turn the pump on or off. The weight of the device is 8.1 pounds with the dimensions of 7 x 7 x 12 inches.
- Silent
- Low sump pump cost when compared to other models
- Easy installation
- UL listed, CSA certified and 1-year limited warranty
- You need to check whether the hose adapter fits
- Reported problems with float switch – it can stop working prematurely
Superior Pump 92341 1/3 HP Cast Iron Submersible Sump Pump Side Discharge with Vertical Float Switch
The superior pump 92341 is a stronger device than the one described in the earlier review. It is fully submersible sump pump that creates 1/3 of one Hp. The motor is thermally protected in order to expand the lifespan, and the impeller is made out of stainless steel and it also has a 1-1/2 inch flip discharge. The device features a vertical automatic on/off switch. So, this keeps it smoothly working in narrow sump pits.
The maximum amount of water that the pump can move on 0 feet height is 45 gallons of water per minute, so, 2700 per hour. The same output on 10 feet height is 30 gallons per minute, and on a maximum of 25 feet, the pump can move only 1 gallon per minute. The pump weighs 25 pounds and measurements that are 7.2 x 7.8 x 11.5 inches.
The device is also covered with a 3-year limited warranty so is considered to be a decent coverage for this type, In addition, it is both UL listed and CS certified.
- 3-year limited warranty
- Affordable
- Vertical float keeps getting hung up on the base of the pump housing. Consequently, causing the pump to keep running – this issue can be resolved by adjusting two little screws at the base of the armature where it meets the handle. That way they can be loosened to allow for an adjustment of the float until the float valve clears the pump base.
- Some customers reported low-quality parts such as screws are not made of stainless steel, so they can start to rust.
Little Giant GIDDS-521252 12393 1/3 Hp Automatic Sump Pump
The Little Giant GIDDS model is designed to work submerged and it has 1/3 Hp to drain water from the sump basin. Since it is a submersible pump, it requires less maintenance – it needs to be designed that way since taking the pump out of the sump basin is difficult. Certainly, the pump is able to move large volumes of water, in addition, it has a diaphragm pressure switch which engages the pump at 7-Inch to 10-Inch water level and turns it off at 1-Inch to 4-Inch. So, the pump can be used for multiple purposes – it can transfer or recirculate water in industrial, commercial and home environments. It is important to point out the fact that it is designed to work only when it is fully submerged, so you cannot use it for example to drain your flooded yard.
One of the few drawbacks of this device is the fact that some people have complained that it produces too much for example, water hammer or gurgling type of noises.
You will occasionally need to pull it out of the sump basin and clean it out since the sludge can clog up the intake hose and make it much less efficient. There have also been some complaints about its efficiency dropping significantly just months after purchase or for example after using it to drain a pool of water. Since it has only 1 year of limited warranty, that could become a problem if it fails after that time.
- Durable and high-quality sump pump
- Can be used for a variety of applications – for example industrial, commercial and home
- Does not require much maintenance
- Makes some noise
- Sometimes breaks down quickly
- Only 1 year limited warranty
Submersible Sump Pump – What are they and how they work?
If you live in an area which sees a lot of rainfall or a lot of flooding, you are for sure familiar with the issues that arise during those times. You might know the issue, but have you wondered how does a sub sump pump work? The best way to explain this is to start by digging a hole called “sump basement“, which will be located in your basement, in order to gather the water there and drain it by the submersible sump pump.
So, this means that the device will be located in the center of the hole. As a result, activated automatically when the water reaches a certain level. Of course, the floods are not the only issue regarding the excessive amount of water. If you have a lot of water, so the humidity gets higher and, you will feel the moisture or see the condensation depending on the time of the year and geographical location. So to conclude, it is very important to remove too much water from your living space.
A submersible sump pump is one out of two types of pumps. We also have a pedestal sump pumps which are not designed to be submerged underwater but rather to stay out and pump the water.
Final Thoughts
Submersible vs. Pedestal sump pumps – pros and cons
| PROs | CONs | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| SUBMERSIBLE SUMP PUMPS |
|
|
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| PEDESTAL SUMP PUMPS |
|
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|
Submersible sump pump
- Location is in sump basin, so they don’t take up much space
- No noise – they are submerged
- More powerful
- More expensive – the motor needs to be isolated constantly
- Expensive maintenance
- More sensitive to solids
Pedestal sump pump
- Cheaper
- Lasts longer
- Easy maintenance
- Less powerful
- Intake can get clogged easier
- Take up space
- Noisier than submersible
Also, what is important to know when choosing a submersible sump pump for your home is to determine your need for the capacity of the sump pump. Minimal pump capacity that you need will be calculated in a way that you will insert a yard disc into the sump to the low water level. After that, you need to measure how many inches the water rises in one minute. But remember there is always a risk of power outages anytime especially in heavy weather conditions and you will have to look for extra backup energy where rain and flooding won’t stop at all.
please click to see battery backup sump pump systems here and combination sump pump backup systems here
Sump water inflow (GPH)
|
Water rise in one minute |
||||||
|
2″ |
4″ |
6″ |
8″ |
10″ |
12″ |
|
|
16″ |
120 |
240 |
300 |
420 |
540 |
660 |
|
18″ |
120 |
300 |
420 |
540 |
660 |
780 |
|
20″ |
180 |
360 |
480 |
660 |
840 |
960 |
|
22″ |
180 |
420 |
600 |
780 |
1,020 |
1,200 |
|
24″ |
180 |
480 |
720 |
960 |
1,200 |
1,380 |
Conclusion
Buying a sump pump is a very good solution for excess water in your basement. But, installation and maintenance of such a submersible pump can be a demanding job, and we have tried to troubleshoot through some of the problems that you might experience as you try to set one up. If you put in some extra money, the number of issues revolving the pump will be lower, and, since this is a long-term and rare investment, it is advisable to buy a higher-quality device if you intend to bury the pump in your basement.
Nobody wants a hustle when the time comes to turn on the switch, or if the switch is supposed to turn on itself, and it didn’t. Therefore, the fail-safes are needed, so it is important to check out other accessories that can come with a pump for instance batteries with enough battery power, sump pump alarms, and sensors, smaller backup sump pumps and spare parts like hose kits, sump pump check valves, backup switches etc. Of course, a little bit mastery on some home improvement techniques might be helping you even further. So all of those can make your life easier and your home safer.
