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Whether you need to replace a failing sump pump, or you’re looking to install a new sump system, knowing what to look for, and in which products to find it, is essential. Check out our list of the best sump pumps to help make your decision an easy one.

We’ve reviewed the top contenders to determine the five best sump pumps for your money. To make our decisions, we considered factors such as, power, capacity, price and what customers had to say about them. This is our list of winners, along with important things to consider as you decide which one is right for you. Advertisement THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary. Compare Quotes From Top-rated Water Heater Installers Free, No-commitment Estimates Find a Water Heater Installer

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First up on our list of the best sump pumps of 2022 is the Wayne CDU1000 Sump Pump. Home Depot customers rate it at 4.7 out of 5, and it earns a 4.6 at Amazon. That’s not surprising. After 70 years of building high-quality pumps, Wayne has it figured out.

This pump, with a moderate price tag, delivers a full horsepower of pumping capability. That’s enough power to pump 6,100 gallons of water per hour, without clogging, due to its unique top suction design. Float switch interference is also eliminated by way of a float guard that keeps things moving.

The cast iron body, heavy-duty polycarbonate impeller and steel drive shaft are all designed for longevity. Wayne shows off their confidence with a five-year warranty. Its only drawbacks are its lack of ability to move large solids and a short, eight-foot electrical cord.

Zoeller pumps show up on our list more than once. They’re known for their extensive line of water-pumping products. Their Model 63 Sump Pump earned our second spot for good reason. It’s a powder-coated, cast iron, lightweight workhorse, packed with features.

Everything about this pump is designed for durability. It has no vulnerable sheet metal parts to corrode, along with a stainless steel switch guard and fasteners. The cast iron impeller moves up to 2,580 gallons of water per hour under the power of its 3/10 horsepower, thermally protected, motor. It doesn’t skip a beat when passing solids up to one-half inch in diameter through the screenless design, either.

All these features are protected by a 60-month warranty, but they don’t come cheap.

Another Zoeller pump, their Model 57 Sump Pump, is our third place holder. At 3/10 horsepower, it moves up to 2,580 gallons of water per hour along with any one-half inch diameter solids that happen to get sucked into it.

At 27 pounds, its cast iron construction is a bit heavier than its competitors. Once installed though, it shouldn’t need to be moved for quite a while. There is no screen to clog that would require cleaning, and the stainless steel float guard will keep the float from getting hung up.

The Model 57 carries with it a 36-month warranty and can be purchased at a good price.

Red Lion has created a series of sump pumps designed for both energy efficiency and budget-friendly pricing. The Red Lion Cast Iron Sump Pump, model #14942746 makes our list in fourth spot. Not bad for a one-half horsepower sump pump capable of moving 4,300 gallons of water.

Its semi-open style impeller allows solids with up to a one-half inch diameter to pass through, while only requiring 5.3 amps of electrical power. The unique body design, built of cast iron, keeps larger solids out of the impeller’s reach, so frequent clogging won’t be a problem.

Red Lion provides a 36-month warranty on its line of pumps. Our only concern is the tethered float switch that could get hung up if the pump isn’t installed with that fact in mind.

In fifth place is the Liberty Pumps 287 model Sump Pump. We like it for its vertical magnetic float switch with a protective shield that won’t get clogged or hung up by floating debris. We weren’t as excited about its relatively high retail price. However, it can be found online, and it does come with some nice features to justify the cost.

The pump is a solid 29 pounds with a cast iron body, and its one-half horsepower motor can move 3,780 gallons of water each hour. It has a removable stainless steel screen to keep out small debris. Remove the screen though, and the pump easily passes three-fourths inch solid chunks through its vortex design impeller.

Stainless steel motor shaft and fasteners round out its many features. The family-owned Liberty Pumps company stamps a 36-month warranty on it.

The first decision to make is how much pumping capacity your sump pump must have. Pumping capacity is determined by two variables. The horsepower rating is the amount of power the motor can generate presented in terms of maximums. Three-tenths horsepower up to one horsepower motors are common for residential use. The diameter of the discharge outlet is the other important number.

These two things will determine how much water the pump can remove from the sump, and how high and far it can get the water away from the home’s foundation.

Most modern homes will get by having a one-third horsepower sump pump with a discharge outlet of 1-¼ inches. In very rainy locations, places with a high water table or houses with unusual amounts of water intrusion, one-half or three-fourths horsepower pumps with 1-½ inch discharges aren’t uncommon. For serious water removal needs a full, one-horsepower motor may be required.

When choosing a sump pump, it’s also important to know the physical size of the sump pump basin . Three types of sump pumps exist. The size of your basin could determine which one you can have. Standard, modern sump basins are between 18 and 24 inches in diameter. Smaller diameter basins can be found in older homes, and in retroactively built sump systems.

For average sized sump basins, submersible sump pumps are the best, quietest and easiest to own. Smaller sump basins may not allow for the size of a submersible pump. For these, a pedestal sump pump, having a smaller footprint, may be needed.

The third kind of sump pump is a battery backup pump. Most often, these are smaller, submersible pumps that need to fit into the basin along with the primary pump. Be sure to account for the size of your backup pump when choosing the size of the main pump.

Another factor to consider when choosing the right sump pump is weather tendencies in your location. Homes built in areas that see light precipitation for much of the year can usually get by on low powered sump pumps for general water maintenance. Houses that need heavy duty water protection during infrequent heavy rainfall events will need large amounts of horsepower to move a lot of water quickly.

It comes as no surprise that flood protection is the first thing that comes to mind when talking about sump pumps. This is especially true of homes with finished basements or below ground living spaces. A sump pump is the tool that can provide you with peace of mind, knowing that your valuables are generally safe from water intrusion.

Some houses don’t readily show that standing water is present. Moisture can be hiding in voids or even exist within the porous surfaces of wood or concrete building materials. It tends to show itself through heightened humidity levels in your home, and damp conditions that could foster mold growth.

Many homeowners can control this issue by using a dehumidifier. Effective against small water intrusions, a humidifier is no match for the effectiveness of a sump pump for getting water out at the source.

Water problems in a home environment are best handled before they become serious. Although your home likely has floor drains on its lowest level, A sump pump keeps water out of your basement or crawl space as it comes in, rather than relying on easily clogged floor drains to prevent water damage to the structure of the building after the fact. Advertisement THIS IS AN ADVERTISEMENT AND NOT EDITORIAL CONTENT. Please note that we do receive compensation for any products you buy or sign up to via this advertisement, and that compensation impacts the ranking and placement of any offers listed herein. We do not present information about every offer available. The information and savings numbers depicted above are for demonstration purposes only, and your results may vary. Compare Quotes From Top-rated Water Heater Installers Free, No-commitment Estimates Find a Water Heater Installer

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To determine the best sump pump ranking, the Forbes Home Improvement editorial team analyzed third-party data on over 30 major products, with each product’s star rating determined by evaluating a variety of metrics, including:

Determining the right-sized sump pump for your home needs is a balancing act. Too small and it won’t remove water fast enough to keep up. Too large and the motor can become damaged.

If the pump is oversized and pumps out water too quickly, it will turn on and off more often than it’s designed to. That’s hard on all the parts of the pump. Worse, it can cause the pump to heat up and not allow adequate time for it to cool, shortening the life of the motor.

The effective lifespan of a sump pump is usually around 10 years. However, start watching for signs of failure after about seven or eight years. Warning signs of a failing sump pump could include strange noises or vibrations from the motor, rust or extended run time after the sump’s water level has bottomed out. Sump pump repair is possible until that time. After that, it may be more cost-effective to simply replace it.

The price of the pump is only part of the true cost of replacing a sump pump. Other costs involved are the discharge hose, backup system, plumbing, electrical and the sump itself. All of those combine to reach an average sump pump replacement cost of around $1,400.

Most houses don’t require a sump pump with more than one-third horsepower. Any more powerful and you may encounter a situation where the pump is too large and will likely have a shorter lifespan than expected. Having said that, houses in locations that occasionally experience heavy rainfall may require the extra water-moving power that a one-half horsepower pump will provide.

Deane is a 30+ year veteran in the contracting, remodeling, maintenance, and home repair industry. His experience ranges from licensed building contracting to property maintenance company ownership. Currently operating a home repair and DIY consulting service, he empowers his clients to be self-sufficient in their home repair and remodeling endeavors.

Lexie is an assistant editor who is responsible for writing and editing articles over a wide variety of home-related topics. She has almost four years’ experience in the home improvement space and harnessed her expertise while working for companies like HomeAdvisor and Angi (formerly Angie’s List).