what is a good submersible sump pump to buy?

[phbate]

I need to replace my submersible sump pump and I was wondering what type of make/model is the best for the money? I have a zoeller 1/3 horse ( I think its a model 53)and the switch appears to be bad. It's only 3 years old but it appears to be getting quite a bit of rust on it. My sump runs about 4 times an hour.

[Cass]

If it's not a finished basement you can easily replace the switch and save a few $$$$$. Zoeller is in my NSHO the best.

E mail here tell them what you need and they can get you the part zcotechnical@zoeller.com (zcotechnical@zoeller.com)

If the basement is finished then I recomend you replace the whole pump.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

That's the only pump I install for many reasons.

If the cycles are short due to water levels in the pit, drill holes in the walls of pit to lengthen the run times so that the pump switch doesn't prematurely wear out.


Then you can get a longer life out of the pump.

Stay away from Flotec or Ridgid pumps.

[phbate]

Thanks for the advice. If I drill holes in the sump pit wont it wash out the sand/dirt underneath the pit and cause issues with the foundation of the house? I have a drain that dumps into the pit and a solid fiberglass basin. One more thing, if I pour water down my basement drain it comes out at the sump pit. Is it normal to connect the basement drains into the sump pit?

[pump]

The switch part number is 004705 and I would also recommend a new gasket 034046. You can order these parts through our customer service at 1-800-928-7867 ext 5.

If you do not want to mess with replacing the switch and just want to purchase a new pump, go with the model BN53. It will come with a piggyback switch and that will allow the pump to run for longer intervals because you set the switch to what ever you desire depending on your pit size!

[Dunbar Plumbing]

Thanks for the advice. If I drill holes in the sump pit wont it wash out the sand/dirt underneath the pit and cause issues with the foundation of the house? I have a drain that dumps into the pit and a solid fiberglass basin. One more thing, if I pour water down my basement drain it comes out at the sump pit. Is it normal to connect the basement drains into the sump pit?



Yes, but the holes I'm speaking of are like 1/8" and overkill is to set the pump in a bucket also drilled with holes to prevent the gravels from entering the pump. Nonetheless, dirt/debri gets into pits and it is unavoidable; you just do not want anything that will jam the impeller/hold the check valve open/shut. You'll have to check that bucket and clean it periodically but not everyone's situation is the same. I've had new construction homes that no matter what you do....gravel/mud/silth keeps entering the pit and will for some time as well.

In your particular case with a solid fiberglass pit, I would follow ZP's lead on the BN53.

I've set pumps on bricks to catch the best range of the float switch to achieve the longest running cycles possible to prolong the life of the switch. The pump itself can last for 13 to 18 years no problem in the right conditions. I've removed them STILL working at that age.

I installed one at an apartment complex once that had a 8 minute run time due to the setting of the pump in the pit.

[master plumber mark]

I have issues with the Zoeller pump..

you can almost bet that the switch will fail on them in

less than a two year period.... then its a real pain to break

down that pump to change out that switch.......

and thats usually after it has flooded out the

really pissed off customers house.......


The Zoeller pump itself will run forever,
its just that shitty switch design.......

So for about another 35 bucks,
I buy the pump only without the switch and then
clamp on my own verticle SJE switch on the pvc pipe


it gives it a much wider range of pump capacity
and its a much more reliable switch....

so I am pretty sure no one is going to be calling me
at 3 am some morning screaming about their 1 year old
zoeller pump failing.....

they can always plug the motor in to direct power
and wait till about 9 in the morning when the calavary
will finally arrive,,,

because I am not comming at 3 am.

[plumber1]

Went through the stuff with the Zoller sump too. Started using Hydromatic sump pumps and had a whole lot less trouble with the float switch.

[master plumber mark]

the hydromatic pump with the

diaphram switch was the only brand that I installed for years

then recently in a batch of 12 of them I bought I had

dead motors in 7......adn I have a few others jsut die and quit

on me that were in only a year or so.......

something going on withthe quality that I dont like....



I dont know what happened to their quality,

(probably something to do with subbing out to mexico)



So, I took the bull by the horns and just made

up my "personal best" pump combination

and its working out pretty good...

[pump]

We sell about 35,000 of these pumps each month, that's a little over 400,000 (53) pumps a year. On average our pumps last anywhere from 5-8 years with many many pumps lasting over 15 years.

Every application is going to be different and that is why some fail sooner than others! More than half the time the weep hole is not drilled causing the pump to burn up, the other half the time the pit is not the recommended 18"X24" minimum causing the pump to short cycle and burn up.

The switch is rated for a minimum of 100,000 start, stop times.

ZP

[master plumber mark]

the zoeller pump is about the best pump
made , but they still have that flaw....

and it amazes me that they have not improved
the way their pump is designed.....

I got to buy my own and make my own up.......

If ZOELLER would go to a two wire system instead of what they
presently have...they would sell like hot-cakes.....



the switch is nothing but trouble and can
really get you into hot water with t he customer


I have always wondered if possibly a power surge
or power comming on and off in the home
while the unit is pumping could possibly pit the metal on
that crummey micro-metal switch at a faster rate...



it really peeves me when one only last 2 years
and its always the switch....

in my opinion 5 -8 years isnt good enough...

I dont care what that stupid switch is rated at....

I am the dummey that has to go down in the nice basement with
hip waders on and has to change out a 2 year old pump......

[Cass]

If the switch is rated at 100,000 cycles then that is 1 cycle every 10 minuets 24/7/730 days or 2 years

[Bob NH]

One reason pump companies like the diaphragm switches is that it makes it more likely that someone will buy a new pump when the switch fails. I have yet to see a good engineering reason to have a narrow range diaphragm switch integral to the pump.

You can buy a mercury float switch that will have extremely long life and if it fails before the pump fails, you just put on a new switch and plug the pump into the back of the plug.

If there is a good reason for a diaphragm switch, such as to work where there is trash, then that switch could be separate with the plug-back connector that is used with float switches.

[Dunbar Plumbing]

You wouldn't believe how many installers (plumbers for sure) don't know to drill that hole to prevent air lock.


New construction plumbers are the worst for not doing that. Let's just say I would imagine it is their hourly help. Nooooooooooooooooobies.


Hey ZP, any clogged drains due to roots yet??

[pump]

You wouldn't believe how many installers (plumbers for sure) don't know to drill that hole to prevent air lock.


New construction plumbers are the worst for not doing that. Let's just say I would imagine it is their hourly help. Nooooooooooooooooobies.


Hey ZP, any clogged drains due to roots yet??

So far so good, I really appreciate you helping me out! That stuff seems like it is worth its weight in gold!

[pump]

[/QUOTE]in my opinion 5 -8 years isnt good enough...

I dont care what that stupid switch is rated at....

I am the dummey that has to go down in the nice basement with
hip waders on and has to change out a 2 year old pump......[/QUOTE]

Mark,

Just to let you know, we appreciate guys like you!

Also just curious, how long should something that is mechanical and man made last when no two applications are the same, in your opinion?

[Bob NH]

Zoellerpump: Also just curious, how long should something that is mechanical and man made last when no two applications are the same, in your opinion?

I have a Walker-Turner drill press in my shop that is about 70 years old that is working fine and I don't expect it to fail. My Craftsman wood lathe is more than 50 years old and still works. I saw an old mine-water pump in Germany a few years ago that was still working after about 150 years.

[pump]

Zoellerpump: Also just curious, how long should something that is mechanical and man made last when no two applications are the same, in your opinion?

I have a Walker-Turner drill press in my shop that is about 70 years old that is working fine and I don't expect it to fail. My Craftsman wood lathe is more than 50 years old and still works. I saw an old mine-water pump in Germany a few years ago that was still working after about 150 years.


And these are turned on and used for 30 seconds and then turned off , lets say every 15 minutes of the day, some more than others? If you could do this with your drill press every 15 minutes how long would the switch last you? Do you think your switch on your lathe has been started 100,000 times?

[master plumber mark]

quote]

Mark,

Just to let you know, we appreciate guys like you!

Also just curious, how long should something that is mechanical and man made last when no two applications are the same, in your opinion?[/quote]




would 5 years be too much to ask for???? I never get it with your normal pump.

all i am saying is i have literally bought hundreds of
hydromatic pumps with the diaphram switches on them
and all have done very well

only recently have i had issues with them

your Zoeller reps in this region could care less what i got to say,

even though they KNOW that they lost out on probably 500 pumps
since 91 they simply dont care one bit at all

i feel any moron could improve on your pump, it would not
an enjeneer with a degree from MIT to figure out what needs
to be improved upon...

I am nothing but a dumb ass plumber and have already made
your pump better, becasue Zoeller would not

I understand that you are in the business to sell pumps and as many as you can so i guess its bad for business if you make one that is never going to break down inthe next 10 years..


I dont like a pump to only last 2 years,

I dont like to have to breakdown a water proof seal on
either a sump pump or a shit pump just to change out those
crummey micronite switches you have on them....

and all you got to do is tackle one nasty
2 year old shit pump switch change out and
you will KNOW what i am talking about


I dont like customers mad at me when their basement floods
and all they had to do was hit the pipe to jarr the damm switch thing
to make it pump.....


I dont like the pump intergrated into the switch and the damm thing
wont come on at 2 in the morning and i have to go out and rescue
the customer ....the two wire system can save the day .....
and you already know why....


Zoeller has written off lots of business because of this fatal flaw...
and I guess they are so big that they dont care...

I dont feel the love or appreciation at all for all my r+d, :( :(



look at all the free advertisement I give you guys and I dont even
get a damn tee shirt for it.....
http://weilhammerplumbing.com/sumppumps/

it really hurts me, deep.......lol

[pump]

Hey Mark,

I have searched your website about a year ago when I first became a member here and I liked it, I even showed it to a few coworkers of and of course we appreciate everything you do for us!

Send me a PM with your address and what shirt size you wear, I'll take care of you with more than just a shirt.

Don't believe me, Rugged can vouch for me!;)

FYI, We do offer the switch that you like so much!

http://www.zoeller.com/zcopump/products/controlaccess/vlfspig.htm

ZP

[Dunbar Plumbing]

ZP is spot on, just get in contact with him.


And if they ever make a size 7X shirt, send one my way. Those mcgriddles are packing on the weight these days.:eek:

[master plumber mark]

Thank you Zoeller guy for the sump pump and the

6 tee shirts I got delivered to me from Federal express....


just put in a Zoeller yesterday and needed one



thanks very much

[juandigital]

I am happy with my basement watch dog setup for a 12v sump pump (http://www.12vsumppump.net/) backup. Gotta keep the backup sump pump weep hole clean thou, otherwise it wont pump.

[Eugene27]

I have issues with the Zoeller pump..

you can almost bet that the switch will fail on them in

less than a two year period.... then its a real pain to break

down that pump to change out that switch.......

and thats usually after it has flooded out the

really pissed off customers house.......


The Zoeller pump itself will run forever,
its just that shitty switch design.......

So for about another 35 bucks,
I buy the pump only without the switch and then
clamp on my own verticle SJE switch on the pvc pipe


it gives it a much wider range of pump capacity
and its a much more reliable switch....

so I am pretty sure no one is going to be calling me
at 3 am some morning screaming about their 1 year old
zoeller pump failing.....

they can always plug the motor in to direct power
and wait till about 9 in the morning when the calavary
will finally arrive,,,

because I am not comming at 3 am.

Mark
Do you sell the sump pump that you are talking about with the better switch in it?? If so how much i need a very good sump pump ASAP!!!!! the only places around me are home Depo and lowes and i don't like home depo because most of the time the people don't know anything when asked a question so Lowes has a Utilitech Pro sump pump model # 0313507 are they any good?