Quietest Sump Pumps
Quietest Sump Pump Reviews and Buying Guide
Home flooding happens. Maybe the dishwasher flows over, or something could be backed up in a pipe and cause the water normally flowing freely to go the opposite direction. Or maybe the backyard pool has overflowed into the basement, something that can cause extra damage due to the chemicals that are typically found in swimming pools.
But there is a solution! Sump pumps, or pumps that are designed to collect water in sump basins, pull the water out and pump it to a safe, external location. Sump basins are typically divots found in basements for water drainage. When these basins become clogged and unable to drain on their own, water can back up into the rest of the basement or even parts of the house, depending on the design and construction.
So how do you decide on a sump pump? What options are quietest, and which are most powerful? Read on to learn about five options that are sure to get the job done.
Quietest Sump Pumps Reviews
1. WAYNE CDU980E 3/4 HP Submersible Cast Iron and Stainless Steel Sump Pump
- INDOOR USE ONLY – This 3/4 HP WAYNE basement sump pump is perfect to keep your basement dry during heavy water flow. Whether it’s rain, snow melting, etc. WAYNE model CDU980E can pump up to 5,490 GPH to keep your basement dry.
- TOUGH AND DURABLE – Corrosion-resistant stainless steel motor housing and fasteners come with a cast-iron volute that provides long life in tough sump pump applications.
At a compact 8x8x12 size, this sump pump is fully submersible with no sacrifice to effectiveness. Despite its diminutive size, this pump is cable of using its 2.0 horsepower to pump out 4,600 gallons of water per hour at full power. For the average home, this is more than enough power, and even smaller industrial locations can be fully cleared by this pump.
But what are the main points of appeal?
One positive of this pump is that it is meant to be fully submerged. For deeper sump pits this is an essential feature, as it can be difficult to use a non-submersible pump in deep standing water. In only a few seconds, the water levels will go down as this powerful little pump sucks the water up and out with very little headache on your part.
Wayne’s CDU980E has top suction, which means that for it to work being fully submerged is required. However, the top suction means that debris that has settled on the bottom of the pit is less likely to rise up and clog the intake. Furthermore, the pump will not suction to the floor and lose effectiveness like some bottom suction pumps have a tendency to do.
2. Thermoplastic Portable Electric Water Removal Pump
- Heavy-Duty Removal – This 1/2 HP WAYNE multi-use pump is perfect to keep your area dry during heavy water flow. WAYNE model VIP50 can easily pump water away along with debris up to 1/2″.
- Tough And Durable – Corrosion-resistant and sealed thermoplastic construction is fully submersible and provides long life in tough outdoor and indoor applications.
Bottom suction sump pumps tend to be less expensive than top suction pumps, but they do not sacrifice quality and workability to achieve this. Instead, sump pumps with bottom suction like another Wayne product, the VIP50, are geared towards smaller jobs and smaller levels of flooding.
Wayne’s VIP50 Thermoplastic Portable Electric Water Removal Pump is perfect for on-the-go jobs, whether it is kept in a vehicle for emergency use or used as a camping or hiking tool when a cabin or lodge is visited. The bottom suction enables this pump to get even the shallowest of puddles, useful for when there is a small flood but not so much the pump has to be completely submerged.
At a compact and portable 6.8 pounds and 6x6x8 inches, this is a pump for smaller, more precise jobs. Where a larger pump may not be able to get into all the nooks and crannies that may be flooded, this pump can. An electric cord and 100 volts of power support the .5 horsepower, making this pump a quieter option for residential areas and smaller industrial areas with lots of activity that could be disturbed by a loud sump pump.
3. Superior Pump 91250
- 1/4 HP Utility pump moves up to 1,800 gallons per hour; pump will lift water up to 25′ of vertical height
- Tough thermoplastic construction; 10′ cord length
With a removable suction screen, this pump is perfect for consumers who need something powerful but more affordable than some of the mainstream options. With the ability to pump out 1,800 gallons in an hour, this thermoplastic pump with a ten-foot cord can push water vertically as high as 25 feet, which is a useful feature to have for deep, narrow areas like pits dug for pools or even wells, if the well is no longer functional.
Another significant benefit to this particular sump pump is that it is quieter than other similarly constructed models. For consumers in residential or other crowded areas, noise should be a prominent concern especially if water-pumping work is being done when neighbors or family members might be asleep. In a matter of hours, an entire pool or hot tub could be fully drained without disturbing anything but the water and perhaps the lawn, depending on where the water is drained to.
Some consumers have reported that this particular pump is reliable in a hurricane. When basement sump pumps fail or are overworked, it is important to have a backup if you live in hurricane risk areas. This item is an excellent choice for its durability, high volume workflow, and ability to function in a wide variety of weather and environmental conditions.
4. Zoeller M53 Submersible Sump Pump
- Professional-grade, 3/10 HP submersible pump for residential dewatering (sump) or effluent (septic tank systems) use.
With a rustic green hue and strong cast iron base and housing, this is a sump pump for heavy-duty jobs. The size of particles that can pass through a pump is an important factor to consider and Zoeller’s pump can pass spherical solids (such as pebbles) up to half an inch in diameter. For rustic outdoor use, this pump is one of the best choices due to both its durability in terms of basic use and its ability to defeat any intruders that may get sucked up into the stream. Where other pumps might break if confronted with debris, this one takes the challenge head-on.
When it comes to power, Zoeller’s pump has 3/10 horsepower and can be used in residential sump pits or the much more challenging septic tank. Obviously, the more hazardous the material the more care should be taken for safety, and so always check and make sure you have proper sealants and there are no gaps where they shouldn’t be.
At 21 pounds and 7.8×10.5×10.5, this pump is small but solid and compact. It is much more powerful than it looks and can handle tougher jobs than other sump pumps due to both its internal construction and the solid iron outer shell. The pump will run consistently as long as it remains submerged and can pump vertically at least ten feet.
5. Wayne WSS30VN Upgraded Combination 1/2 HP and 12-Volt Battery Back-Up System
- Indoor Use Only: This 1/2 HP WAYNE indoor sump system is perfect to keep your basement or indoor area dry during heavy water flow, even if you lose electricity; whether it’s rain, snow melting or more, WAYNE model WSS30VN can keep your basement dry
- Back-Up Ready: WSS30VN will pump up to 5,100 GPH and remove/evacuate/expel/get rid of up to 10,000 gallons on a single battery backup charge; WAYNE WSB1275 75 AH Battery is required for back-up but not included
Even when the power is out this sump pump can run at full speed thanks to the twelve-volt battery backup system. This system functions like a generator or another form of emergency power, as the backup pump will continue to run even with a full electrical outage. Furthermore, this pump is ultra-quiet and will not create a racket when you try to use it discreetly.
At 9″x13x7 and 46.1 pounds, this heavy-duty pump system is best used for large or challenging jobs. It is not as portable as other systems but can handle large gallons of water without sputtering or stopping and can run for a long time thanks to the battery backup. Epoxy coated steel and cast iron hold the shell and framework solidly together as the internal mechanisms stand up to even the heaviest standing water.
This model from pump giant Wayne is one of the simpler units to use, despite its intimidating size and weight. It works quickly, removing small amounts of water instantly and large ones in a shorter-than-average period of time. When unplugged or in a situation where the power is out, the pump senses water and the backup kicks on before the user has time to worry about it.
Overall, there will be positive and negative feedback on any piece of equipment. To ensure you get a good quality item, first determine your need. Is this for when the dishwasher floods the kitchen? Do you need to clear out an entire full-sized basement? How much debris is there in the water or on the floor that can be mixed with the water when the pump is running?
This is not a comprehensive list of questions but it does provide a starting point for shopping for a sump pump. Each pump on this list is on the quiet side, and several of them are low-noise as a primary feature. Choosing the right sump pump for your needs is not a life-or-death situation, but it can make the difference between a working pump and one that sputters and dies.