Storms and hurricanes often put Americans at risk of flooding. But there's plenty you can do to prevent flooding in your home. Sump pumps can help save your basement from water damage and prevent the clean-up nightmare that comes with a flooded basement.
Time and again, our research pointed to the Wayne CDU980E as the best sump pump for most houses. Its durable cast iron and stainless steel construction and powerful motor make this Wayne sump pump worth its higher price tag.
Keep reading to see all of our recommendations for the best sump pumps. And check out our FAQ to learn more about sump pumps and their benefits.
Best sump pumps of 2021
- : Best overall
- : Best value
- : Best battery backup
- : Best pedestal pump
- : Affordable power
Sump pumps remove excess water from basements in areas where flooding regularly happens. This may be due to heavy rains or a high water table. They reduce the likelihood of water damage ruining your home and your items.
Most sump pumps sit in a sump basin or pit below the basement floor, allowing the pump to function before water levels enter your home.
*Amazon.com price as of post date. Read full disclaimer.
Horsepower is a measure of a motor's power, or its ability to move things. It affects anything that uses a motor, like cars, vacuum cleaners, and sump pumps. By installing a sump with higher horsepower, you can pump more water than a model with low horsepower.
Compare sump pump specifications
There's a lot more to sump pumps than horsepower. The vertical lift, flow rate, pipe connector size, and construction materials all make a difference in how effective and long-lasting your pump will be.
|
Sump pump
|
Maximum vertical lift
 |
Flow rate
|
Pipe connector size
|
Construction
|
Learn more
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wayne CDU980E | 21 ft. | 5,490 GPH (0 ft.), 4,600 GPH (10 ft.) |
1 1/2 in. | Stainless steel, cast iron |
View on Amazon |
| Superior 92250 | 25 ft. | 1,800 GPH (0 ft.), 1,200 GPH (10 ft.) |
1 1/2 in. 1 1/4 in. |
Thermoplastic | View on Amazon |
| Wayne WSS30VN | 15 ft. | 5,100 GPH (0 ft.), 3,840 GPH (10 ft.) |
1 1/2 in. 1 1/4 in. |
Cast iron, thermoplastic |
View on Amazon |
| Superior 92301 | 20 ft. | 3,000 GPH (0 ft.), 2,280 GPH (10 ft.) |
1 1/2 in. | Stainless steel, cast iron |
View on Amazon |
| AmazonCommercial AB-P100 | 29 ft. | 3,060 GPH (0 ft.), 2,620 GPH (10 ft.) |
1 1/2 in. | Thermoplastic | View on Amazon |
Flow rate is one of the most important aspects of a pump. It measures how much water a pump can move in gallons per hour (GPH). But the pump’s performance changes as the vertical lift (pump head) increases, so we listed two numbers for different lifts in our table above. To learn more about vertical lift and flow rate, check out our FAQ: What is pump head?
1. Wayne CDU980E: Best overall
The Wayne CDU980E consistently ranks among the top sump pumps in online reviews, and it’s easy to see why. This pump comes with a powerful 3/4 hp motor that moves up to 5,490 gallons per hour (GPH), which is more than other pumps we researched, including several more expensive models.
Quiet operation Stainless steel and cast iron construction Powerful 3/4 hp motor Five-year warranty
Relatively expensive Harder to maintain than pedestal pumpsIt’s a submersible sump pump, making it quieter than pedestal-type pumps. This is useful if you spend a lot of time in your basement and don’t want a noisy pump to interrupt your movies and projects.
Durability is another standout feature of the Wayne CDU980E. It has a cast iron and stainless steel body that protects the internal motor from water damage. Wayne is confident enough in this design that the pump has a five-year warranty, the longest warranty among sump pumps.
Because this submersible pump rests in the bottom of a sump pit, it’s harder to reach for regular maintenance than a pedestal pump. This isn’t enough of an inconvenience for most folks but matters if you have trouble bending down or laying on the floor for occasional debris removal.
The Wayne CDU980E costs around $170, making it more expensive than most competitors we looked at. Still, we think the powerful motor and durable design are worth the extra cash.
The Wayne company has over 70 years of experience making water pumps, making it one of the most experienced companies we reviewed. The company takes its name from Fort Wayne, Indiana, where it operated for the first 63 years of its existence.
2. Superior 92250: Best value
Superior Pump touts 20+ years of experience, making some of the most affordable sump pumps on the market. Our favorite pump from this company is the Superior 92250 because it costs around $60—almost one-third the price of our top pick from Wayne.
Affordable Light, compact size Automatic power switch
Plastic construction Low horsepowerWe chose this pump because it’s an upgraded version of the popular Superior 91250. The main difference is that the 92250 has an automatic switch, so you don’t have to activate it manually when water starts to build up. It’s around $10 more expensive, but the automatic operation is worth every penny.
This small sump pump doesn’t have a particularly powerful motor, only 1/4 hp, but moves up to 1,800 GPH. This is almost as much water per dollar as more expensive pumps. We also like that this unit has a small size that’s easy to move and lift out of the sump basin for maintenance.
Unfortunately, the cheap sump pump’s light frame comes from a plastic construction that isn’t as durable as the metal casings on other brands. You might replace this more often than an expensive model, but it’s an excellent option to save money for other home improvements.
3. Wayne WSS30V: Best battery backup
The Wayne WSS30VN is actually a bundle of two pumps: a main pump and a backup pump. Together these pumps allow you to have flood protection, even when the power goes out. You can buy the battery backup pump separately, but we wanted to highlight that battery backup pumps aren’t a stand-alone solution.
Comes with a primary and backup sump Battery backup during power outages Quiet operation
Expensive Battery sold separatelyMost battery backup pumps don’t offer a high flow rate to pump water and last only as long as the battery does. Essentially, you’re paying for redundancy to keep water out of your basement when the primary sump pump loses power. Like other submersible sump pumps, you can expect quiet operation from the Wayne WSS30VN. The primary pump has a powerful 1/2 hp motor that can move up to 5,100 GPH, almost as much as our top pick, the Wayne CDU980E.
For such an expensive bundle, it doesn’t come with some vital components like a battery and a check valve. The check valve is usually a separate $10–$30 purchase for sump pump installations, but buying a battery for the backup pump adds around $275 to the overall cost. This is a big detractor if you want to save money.
A check valve is a one-way valve between your sump pump system and the discharge pipe. It keeps leftover water from flowing back into your home after the pump turns off.
Even though the battery backup sump pump is a nice feature, it’s unnecessary unless your house has a history of simultaneous power outages and flooding. Still, if you must have a battery backup, we think the Wayne WSS30V is an excellent option.
4. Superior 92301: Best pedestal pump
The Superior 92301 has a different design than other pumps on our list. Its motor rests on a pedestal at the top of a tall shaft—not at the bottom of a sump basin like a submersible pump. This keeps the motor far from the water below, which results in a longer-lasting pump design. It qualifies for a five-year warranty because its electrical components have less exposure to water.
Easy to maintain Long warranty Powerful 1/3 hp motor
Noisy operationBecause the motor is above floor level, it’s easy to adjust the vertical float switch that turns on the unit and makes it easier to look for motor problems. You still need to clean out the sump basin as debris builds up, but it’s less of a hassle when your motor casing doesn’t have gunk all over it.
The 1/3 hp motor on this pedestal sump pump isn’t as powerful as it would be on a submersible pump, but it has an excellent output of up to 3,000 GPH to keep your basement dry. Since the motor isn’t down in a sump pit, it’s noisier than submersible models, but the noise isn’t a problem if your pump doesn’t run very often.
While we prefer submersible pumps for their power, the easier maintenance of this pedestal pump makes it a useful alternative for folks with limited mobility.
5. AmazonCommercial AB-P100: Affordable power
Amazon is a fairly recent entrant in the basement sump pump market with its AmazonCommercial line of products.
In general, the company has an excellent reputation for customer service, and its white-label AmazonBasics products are surprisingly effective, given their lower prices. The AmazonCommercial AB-P100 is a superb example because it offers a high flow rate for an affordable price.
High flow rate More affordable than similar products Vertical lift up to 29 feet
Plastic construction Short warrantyThis submersible unit can pump up 3,060 GPH thanks to a 1/3 hp motor, making it an excellent intermediate pick between the ultra-cheap Superior 92250 and the high-flow Wayne CDU980E. The motor also has an impressive vertical lift of 29 feet, which means it can pump water higher than any other pump on our list.
Even though this pump has a high vertical lift, the amount of water it can pump at that height is very low. In general, we don’t recommend pumping water much higher than 20 feet with this pump to get a flow rate of at least 1,740 GPH.
One of the reasons this pump is so affordable is because its plastic body isn’t as durable as steel or cast iron. Still, Amazon sells a more powerful cast iron variant for about $25 more if you want something more robust. These pumps have a one-year warranty, which isn’t as long as the five-year coverage you get with more established products like the Wayne CDU980E.
In any case, we think Amazon crafted a solid product that provides excellent performance for a relatively low price.
More sump pumps we considered
Liberty Pumps 257
The Liberty Pumps 257 (about $198) is more expensive than our top pick, the Wayne CDU980E, but doesn’t quite match the flow rate. Even though it’s less powerful, this pump can handle solid particles up to 0.5 inches, something that our top pick can’t do. This makes Liberty Pumps suitable for moving dirty water with lots of debris.
Zoeller M53
Zoeller has roots in 1939, making it the oldest company we looked at for our review. The Zoeller M53 (about $176) is similar to the Liberty Pumps 257 because it can also handle solids up to 0.5 inches, making it a heavy-duty sump pump alternative. Overall, we're big fans of this Zoeller sump pump, but we think the Wayne CDU980E is a better fit for most folks thanks its longer warranty.
You can expect to replace your sump pump every 5–10 years, depending on the quality of the pump.
Final word
A flooded basement is expensive and frustrating, but you can prevent it with a reliable 3/4 hp sump pump like the Wayne CDU980E. It has a solid design of cast iron and stainless steel that protects its powerful motor from corrosion. Speaking of powerful motors, it outperforms the competition by a healthy margin, making it quite capable of protecting your basement.
Feel free to browse our FAQ to learn more about sump pumps and why they matter.
Sump pump FAQ
You need a sump pump if your home meets certain requirements:
- Past water damage and basement flooding
- Poor soil drainage after storms
- High groundwater levels in your area
If your home already has an old water removal pump, consider replacing it with a newer model. During our research, we found that most manufacturers and plumbers recommend replacing your sump pump every 5–10 years, depending on the quality of the pump.
Plan to replace your pump on the same schedule, especially if you have a newer home or know the sump pump installation date. If you don’t know how old your pump is, you can replace it without spending a lot of money.
For homes that need sump pumps but don’t have them, you probably need to hire a professional to install the pump.
The machine pumps water up a pipe that drains outside your home. Depending on your property and the local building regulations, the pipe might drain directly onto your lawn, go under your lawn, or into a storm drain. Do not attach a discharge to a storm drain without checking with your local government.
The pump head (or vertical lift) is how high a pump can move water before it stops working. If the discharge pipe is higher than the pump head, water will continue to accumulate in your basement instead of going through the pump.
Pump head matters because the pump’s flow rate decreases as you pump the water higher. Most sump pumps don’t need to pump water more than 5 to 10 feet higher than your basement floor. But more powerful pumps guarantee a flow rate that keeps up with the water accumulation in your basement.
In general, we recommend submersible sump pumps for their power and quieter operation, but there are pros and cons to each type of sump pump:
|
Submersible pros
|
Pedestal pros
|
|---|---|
 More powerful |
Easier to maintain |
|
Handles solid particles better* |
Longer lifespan |
|
Quieter operation |
Generally more affordable |
*Solid particles aren’t usually an issue in a properly-maintained home sump basin but tend to occur more frequently in agricultural and industrial settings.
Sump pumps can cause smelly basements if standing water sits in the sump basin long enough for microorganisms to grow. During the wet season, the water moving through the basin will prevent smells, but you might need to clean the basin occasionally during drier times.
A strong water/bleach mixture (1 cup of bleach to 1 gallon of water) is usually enough to kill bacteria and eliminate undesirable smells. If the smell doesn’t go away, you may need to scrub the sump basin.
In general, there should always be a little water in the bottom of the basin to help prevent stinky gases from coming in through the discharge pipe.
Yes, many brands sell battery backup pumps that sit next to an existing sump pump. The backup pump isn’t very powerful and doesn’t replace your existing pump.
It removes water when the power goes out but eventually stops when the battery dies. Only a primary pump with an uninterrupted power supply can keep pumping in the long term.
If your home doesn’t have the correct sump pump infrastructure in place, you need to hire a contractor, plumber, or sump pump specialist (basement waterproofers). They’ll cut through your basement’s concrete floor to install a sump basin before setting up the pump, valves, and discharge pipes.
You also need an electrician to install a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet to prevent water from creating an electrical hazard. GFCI outlets cut the power if they detect a problem with the electrical circuit, like exposure to water.
Replacing an existing sump pump is an intermediate DIY project you can do in a couple of hours if you don’t want to hire an outside contractor.
How we reviewed
To find the best sump pumps, we spent 24 hours researching information from manufacturers, online reviews, plumbers, and sump pump specialists. We considered 20 products from 11 different manufacturers, ultimately narrowing down our list to our top five with two honorable mentions.
With one exception, we ignored high-performance sump pumps that cost over $200, though many of the brands in our review sell more expensive models for situations that require a higher flow rate or greater vertical lift.
Based on our research, we primarily chose and recommended submersible sump pumps with 1/3 hp motors or higher. We also mention battery-backup and pedestal-type pumps for folks that want alternative options. To learn more about how we review and rank products, check out our full methodology.
There’s a special type of sump pump that doesn’t require electricity to run but uses water pressure instead. A water-powered sump pump is ideal for long-term water disposal without electricity, but it can add to your water bill.
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