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Quick answer from a licensed plumber: No maker publishes failure rates, so no brand wins outright. Compare the fine print instead. Warranties run 1 to 10 years and change by model. Among the warranties we could read, only Zoeller’s cover a later owner. Wayne and Little Giant cover the first buyer and tie coverage to an authorized seller or dealer. Size any pump on its flow at 10 ft, not the 0-ft number on the box.
Our take: want a cast iron 1/2 HP from a maker that prints its curve? The Zoeller M98: Check the Zoeller M98 on Amazon. Want app alerts and a 10-year term? The Wayne HALO50: Check the Wayne HALO50 on Amazon. A 1/2 HP with a deep shut-off head? The Little Giant 10EC-CIA-SFS: Check the Little Giant 10EC-CIA-SFS on Amazon. A preassembled primary and backup kit? The Basement Watchdog CITS-50, a third-party listing: Check the Basement Watchdog CITS-50 on Amazon.
This guide compares six sump pump brands from their own manuals, spec sheets and warranty pages: Zoeller, Wayne, Liberty Pumps, Little Giant, Basement Watchdog and Superior Pump. Everbilt, sold at Home Depot, is left out because we could not read its warranty or flow figures from a primary source. For which pump to buy and how to size it to your head, see our best sump pump guide. If you are not sure a sump is the right fix, read sump pump vs French drain first.
Sump Pump Brands Side by Side
| Brand | What the maker sells (sump lines) | Backup and combination lines | Where the maker points you to buy | Where made (only if the maker says) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoeller | Submersible Models 53, 57, 63, 73, 75, 95, 98 and 137; bronze 55 and 59; Model 81 pedestal. The 57 is all cast iron; the 53 has a plastic base and impeller | Aquanot 507 and 508 (battery), 540 FLEX (water-powered), 900 packages | Contractor, distributor and service center finders on product pages | M63 and M95 data sheets: “Made In The USA. Using a majority of U.S. components” (M95: “content”) |
| Wayne | Wayne’s site groups the CDT50, CDU790, CDU800, CDU980E and CDU1000 under “Cast Iron” and the SPF33, SPF50, WST33 and PTU33 pedestal under “Thermoplastic”. Its manual lists coated steel, cast iron (CICDU models) or stainless motor housings by model, so check yours | ESP25n (12 V backup), WSS30Vn (AC plus backup), WBPS50, Basement Guardian, HALO50 (smart primary) | Store locator on product pages | CDU and SPF pages: “Assembled in the US with foreign and domestic parts”; Harrison, Ohio plant |
| Liberty Pumps | 230 (1/3 HP, aluminum housing), 250 (1/3 HP cast iron), 280 (1/2 HP cast iron), 290 (3/4 HP cast iron), 450 (1/2 HP, poly and aluminum), S30 (poly and cast iron) | 441 and 442 battery backups (StormCell), PC combination series, NightEye monitoring | Wholesale site with a US distributor locator | 2022 letter: over 90% of products “assembled in Bergen NY”; S30-Series sump pumps excepted |
| Little Giant (Franklin Electric) | 6 Series (1/3 HP cast iron, 6 in. tall), BSP33 and BSP50 (cast aluminum, thermoplastic), 6EC, 10EC and 15EC (cast iron, sump and light effluent) | APS and SPBS battery backups, SPK package | Distributor locator | No where-made statement found for the sump pumps |
| Basement Watchdog (Glentronics) | AC pumps: SIT-33D and SIT-50D (cast iron, top discharge), SI-33V and SI-50V, BWT050 and BWT075, BWSS100 (cast iron and stainless) | Emergency, Special and Big Dog backups; CITE-33 and CITS-50 combinations | Glentronics: “available through most hardware or home improvement retailers” | No statement found |
| Superior Pump | Cast iron and fiberglass-reinforced thermoplastic, submersible and pedestal, 1/4 to 1 HP | 12 V backups 92900 and 92910, combinations | Not stated in the pages we saved | No statement found |
Lines are from each maker’s own site and documents as of September 29, 2026; check the model number you are buying.
Warranty Fine Print by Brand
The headline years look alike. The conditions do not: who is covered, what proof you need, and where you had to buy. Quotes are short pieces of each maker’s own wording.
| Brand and models | Term | Who is covered | Proof and seller conditions | Limits worth knowing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zoeller 53, 57, 98, 137 (FM2676) | 3 years from date of purchase | “the purchaser and subsequent owner” | “from an authorized seller”; proof of purchase required | Not covered if disassembled without approval, not installed to the instructions, or exposed to sand, gravel, cement, mud, tar or hydrocarbons. No allowance for shipping or labor |
| Zoeller 63 and 95 (FM2895) | 5 years from date of purchase | “the purchaser and subsequent owner” | Proof of purchase required; this sheet does not say “authorized seller” | Same exclusions |
| Wayne sump pumps (manual 600002W-001 J) | 1 year: SPF33, SPF50. 2 years: CDT50, WST33. 3 years: CDU790, CDU800. 5 years: CDU790SS, CICDU790, CDU800SS, CICDU800, CDU980E, CDU980ET, CDU1000, CDU1000ET | Only “the consumer who originally purchased the Product” | Proof of purchase from an authorized dealer; without it the term starts on the manufacture date | Owner pays shipping. Not covered: improper installation or maintenance |
| Wayne backups and smart pumps | ESP25n 2 years. WSS30Vn 3 years. WBPS50 5 years. HALO50 10 years | ESP25n and WSS30Vn: “the original purchaser.” WBPS50 and HALO50: original consumer only | All four refer to purchase from an authorized dealer; ESP25n and WSS30Vn also require a copy of the receipt with a claim | ESP25n battery is not included |
| Liberty Pumps wholesale products | 3 years from date of purchase; StormCell batteries 1 year | The page does not limit it to the first owner | A dated sales receipt showing model and serial number; it must accompany a pump returned more than three years after the nameplate manufacture date | Void if the cord is cut or spliced, the discharge is reduced in size, or the pump handled sand, lime, cement, gravel, chemicals or grease |
| Little Giant | 3 years on the 6 Series and 10EC guides; 2 years on the BSP33 and BSP50 guide | “the original end-user purchaser in the United States” | Bought from Little Giant or an authorized seller; claims from unauthorized sellers may be rejected | Not covered: liquids above 75°F unless the manual says otherwise, cords cut under three feet. BSP guide: void if the motor housing cover or power cord is removed |
| Basement Watchdog SIT-series pumps | 3 years used intermittently as a sump pump; 1 year in continuous duty such as fountains or ponds | “the end purchaser” | Dated bill of sale or installer’s invoice | The pump must reach the factory within 30 days of the failure. If anyone else inspects it, the warranty is no longer valid. Reinstallation is not covered |
| Basement Watchdog backups and combos | 2 years; 4 years with the maker’s BW-27AGM battery bought with it and online registration (Big Dog manual) | The end purchaser | Same bill of sale rule | Product pages say registration within 60 days of purchase; the manual page we read does not state a window |
| Superior Pump | 3 years on the sump pumps we opened; 1 year on the 92910 backup, per product pages | Sump pumps: not read. 92900/92910 backup manual: “the original user or consumer” | Backup: proof of purchase, return to the place of purchase; without proof, 12 months from the manufacture date. The sump pump manual PDF is image-only, so we could not read its terms | Superior’s pages disagree on details |
Only Zoeller’s sheets say they cover a later owner among the warranties we could read; Liberty’s page is silent. Wayne, Little Giant and Superior’s backup manual stop at the first buyer. Three makers (Zoeller on its 3-year sheet, Wayne, Little Giant) tie the warranty to an authorized seller or dealer, and none lets us confirm a seller from an Amazon listing. Little Giant’s policy names Amazon and Walmart and says how to claim; the other sheets we read do not.
Flow at 10 Feet of Head, Each Maker’s Own Figure
Headline flow is not comparable. The GPH in Superior’s pump titles and in Wayne’s and Basement Watchdog’s Amazon titles is flow at 0 ft of lift, where no real pit operates. This table uses only figures each maker prints at 10 ft, or curves we read at 10 ft. They are the makers’ own tests, not ours. Compare within an HP group, then use the sump pump size calculator for your own head.
| Brand and model | HP | GPH at 10 ft of head | Where the number comes from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoeller M53 | 3/10 | 2,040 (34 GPM, our arithmetic) | Curve, data sheet FM2778 |
| Little Giant 6 Series | 1/3 | 1,740 (29 GPM, our arithmetic) | Series page performance table |
| Superior 92341 | 1/3 | 1,800 | Superior product page (2,760 at 0 ft) |
| Little Giant BSP33 | 1/3 | 2,340 (39 GPM, our arithmetic) | Series page performance table |
| Wayne SPF33 | 1/3 | 2,718 | Wayne manual and product page |
| Wayne CDU790 | 1/3 | 3,060 | Wayne manual |
| Basement Watchdog SIT-33D | 1/3 | 3,100 | Product page |
| Basement Watchdog SI-33V | 1/3 | 3,200 | Product page |
| Liberty 257 (250-Series) | 1/3 | not comparable: the curve is a graph, and the text gives only 44 GPM at 5 ft | 250-Series engineering spec |
| Basement Watchdog BWT050 | 1/2 | 2,770 | Product page |
| Little Giant BSP50 | 1/2 | 2,700 (45 GPM, our arithmetic) | Series page performance table |
| Little Giant 10EC | 1/2 | 3,420 (57 GPM, our arithmetic) | Spec sheet |
| Zoeller M98 | 1/2 | 3,660 (61 GPM, our arithmetic) | Curve, data sheet FM2779 |
| Wayne CDU800 and HALO50 | 1/2 | 3,840 | Wayne manuals |
| Zoeller M95 | 1/2 | 4,080 (68 GPM, our arithmetic) | Curve, data sheet FM2985 |
| Little Giant 15EC | 3/4 | 4,002 (66.7 GPM, our arithmetic) | Series page performance table |
| Wayne CDU980E | 3/4 | 4,600 (its product page table prints 4,743) | Wayne manual |
| Basement Watchdog BWSS100 | 1 | 4,440 | Product page |
| Wayne CDU1000 | 1 | 5,100 | Wayne manual |
Within a horsepower class the spread is wide. Among the 1/3 HP pumps, the lowest figure here is 1,740 GPH and the highest is 3,200 GPH, so horsepower alone does not tell you flow (our arithmetic on the table).
Battery Backup Lines by Brand
| Backup system | Warranty | Flow at 10 ft, maker’s figure | Voltage stated? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zoeller Aquanot 508 (Spin, Fit) | 3 years; battery 3 years (data sheet) | 30 GPM (1,800 GPH, our arithmetic) at 12.1 V; the product page says about 34 GPM at 12.7 V | Yes, on the data sheet and the page |
| Wayne ESP25n | 2 years | 1,500 GPH | 12 V battery listed; battery not included |
| Basement Watchdog Big Dog | 2 years; up to 4 with conditions | 2,200 GPH | Not stated on the page |
| Little Giant SPBS (2500 and 3360 pumps) | See the note below | 20 GPM and 24 GPM (1,200 and 1,440 GPH, our arithmetic) | 12 VDC pump |
| Superior 92910 | 1 year | 1,080 GPH | 12 V listed |
| Liberty 442-Series (StormCell) | 3 years; batteries 1 year | not comparable: no flow at 10 ft in the text we read | Not stated |
These figures are not on one basis. Zoeller’s sheet says its numbers come from a 12-volt deep-cycle battery and warns that some makers publish DC pump data under marine-industry standards that “can reflect a performance of 40% – 80% higher than actual battery powered performance.” It names no maker. Little Giant’s SPBS pages show both a 2-year and a 3-year badge.
Brand by Brand: Who Each Suits
Zoeller
Zoeller (Louisville, Kentucky) is the only maker here whose warranty sheets, among those we could read, cover a later owner. Its automatic models have a 9 ft cord and Zoeller says not to use an extension cord, so it suits a basement with an outlet near the pit.
Wayne
Wayne has the widest warranty range, so check the model, not the brand. Wayne says its pumps exceed an average life of 1 million pumping cycles; its 2016 article says an independent lab ran 30 units of the 1/2 HP CDU at three cycles a minute. It suits a buyer who wants a specific tier and will keep the receipt.
Liberty Pumps
Liberty’s manual lists a 10 in. minimum pit for the 257, 287 and 297, and its Amazon listings were low in stock, so we do not link them. It suits a buyer who uses a supply house, or has a narrow pit.
Little Giant
Little Giant (Franklin Electric) makes the 6 Series, a 6 in. tall cast iron pump that Little Giant says fits and works in a 5-gallon bucket. It suits a shallow, small pit (6 Series), or a buyer who wants a cast iron 1/2 HP with a deep shut-off head (10EC).
Basement Watchdog
Glentronics of Lincolnshire, Illinois says its AC pumps are water-cooled, not oil-cooled (the bearings hold a little food-grade oil), and use a caged dual microreed float. Its warranty has the strictest return rule here. It suits a buyer who wants a monitored primary and backup kit from a retailer.
Superior Pump
Superior, a Pedrollo Group brand, prints 1,800 GPH at 10 ft for the 92341, but its own pages disagree on details and we could not read its sump pump manual, so we do not link a Superior pump.
Zoeller M98 Flow-Mate 1/2 HP Sump Pump
1/2 HP · 115 V · 9.4 A · 61 GPM at 10 ft of head (3,660 GPH, our arithmetic), shut-off 23 ft · cast iron cap, motor housing and pump housing · 1-1/2 in. NPT discharge · 1/2 in. solids · snap-action float on at 9-1/2 in., off at 3 in. · 9 ft cord with LED plug · 3-year limited warranty
The M98 is the larger sibling of the M53. Zoeller’s data sheet lists the base and impeller as “thermoplastic or cast iron”; the Amazon listing describes a plastic impeller. The listing’s 4,320 GPH is Zoeller’s 72 GPM maximum times 60 (our arithmetic), so size on the 10-ft figure.
The listing is sold by Amazon.com. We cannot tell from Amazon whether Zoeller counts that as an “authorized seller,” the wording in its 3-year sheet, so keep the receipt.
- Zoeller publishes the flow curve: 72 GPM at 5 ft, 61 at 10 ft, 45 at 15 ft, 25 at 20 ft
- Cast iron cap, motor housing and pump housing, per the data sheet
- Warranty sheet covers a subsequent owner, not only the first buyer
- Draws 9.4 A, against 6.5 A for the Little Giant 10EC below, so check the circuit
- Zoeller says to drill a 3/16 in. vent hole in the discharge pipe below the check valve and pit cover
- The 9 ft cord is short, and Zoeller says not to use an extension cord
Verdict: The pick if you want a 1/2 HP cast iron pump from a maker that prints its curve and will cover a later owner, and you have an outlet within 9 ft of the pit.
Wayne HALO50 Smart Sump Pump
1/2 HP · 3,840 GPH at 10 ft of head (5,100 at 0 ft, 4,500 at 5 ft, 3,060 at 15 ft, 2,040 at 20 ft) per Wayne’s manual · Wi-Fi and Bluetooth controller with phone app · float on at about 9 in., off at about 4 in. · 11 in. diameter minimum pit · 10-year limited warranty, original consumer only
Wayne’s page says the HALO50 tracks how often it runs, warns of a clogged discharge line or a blocked pump, and can run a remote test. We did not test the app. Wayne also says “Tested to 10 Million Cycles” with no test details.
The listing is sold by Amazon.com. Wayne’s warranty asks for proof of purchase from an authorized dealer, and we cannot tell from Amazon whether that counts. Wayne’s manual says the pump “must be plugged into a GFCI outlet.”
- 10-year limited warranty on Wayne’s page and in the HALO50 manual
- Wayne lists flow at 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20 ft in the manual
- Alerts for a clog, an obstruction or lost power, per Wayne
- Warranty covers the original consumer only and depends on proof of purchase
- Needs Wi-Fi for the app alerts
- The Amazon title’s 5,100 GPH is the flow at 0 ft
Verdict: The pick if you want app alerts and the longest warranty term any maker here prints, and you will keep the receipt.
Little Giant 10EC-CIA-SFS 1/2 HP Sump and Light Effluent Pump
1/2 HP · 115 V · 6.5 A · 57 GPM at 10 ft of head (3,420 GPH, our arithmetic), shut-off 36 ft · epoxy-coated cast iron cover, motor housing and volute, polypropylene base, nylon impeller · 1-1/2 in. discharge · 1/2 in. solids · integral snap-action float on at 8 to 11 in., off at 2 to 5 in. · 10 ft cord · 140°F liquid rating · 3-year limited warranty
Little Giant lists the 10EC as a sump and light effluent pump. The listing is sold by Amazon.com.
Little Giant may reject claims from “unauthorized Internet sites”; for an Amazon purchase its policy says to call Customer Care with the order details and photos of the defect. We cannot tell from Amazon whether this seller counts.
- 57 GPM at 10 ft and a 36 ft shut-off head, per Little Giant
- Cast iron cover, housing and volute, per the spec sheet
- 6.5 A, against 9.4 A for the Zoeller M98 above
- Warranty is for the original US purchaser and depends on buying from an authorized seller
Verdict: The pick if you want a cast iron 1/2 HP with a deep shut-off head and lower amps, and you will keep the invoice for a warranty claim.
Basement Watchdog Big Combo CONNECT CITS-50
1/2 HP cast iron AC pump: 3,540 GPH at 10 ft · DC backup pump: 1,850 GPH at 10 ft per the maker’s page (the Amazon listing says 2,150; the test voltage is not stated) · two sets of dual microreed float switches · preassembled with check valves and a Y adapter · battery not included · Wi-Fi module sold separately · 2-year limited warranty, up to 4 with conditions
Basement Watchdog’s page says the CITS-50 arrives preassembled and both pumps can run at once. The backup runs from a battery you supply (the maker names its BW-27AGM). The 2-year term gains a year with the maker’s AGM battery bought with it and another with online registration within 60 days, for 4 in all.
This listing is from a third-party seller, MaxWarehouse. We link it under our third-party exception: we found no Amazon- or Glentronics-sold CITS-50, and the listing names the model.
- Monitored primary and backup in one kit, with an alarm and status lights, per the maker
- Maker lists flow at 0 and 10 ft for both pumps
- Glentronics is the maker and runs the service department, per its page
- Third-party seller, not Amazon or the maker
- Battery, and the Wi-Fi module for phone alerts, are separate purchases
- Warranty needs a dated bill of sale, and the unit must reach the factory within 30 days of the failure
Verdict: The pick if you want the primary and the battery backup as one preassembled kit and will read the warranty conditions before buying.
I send an occasional note when a new guide goes up — repairs worth doing yourself, and the parts that actually last. No spam, no course funnel; written by a licensed Georgia plumber.
Before You Buy
- Find your total head first and read each pump’s figure at that head, not at 0 ft. Our best sump pump guide shows how.
- Read who the warranty covers and where you must buy.
- Check the pit. Wayne lists an 11 in. minimum diameter for its vertical float pumps and Liberty 10 in. for its vertical magnetic float models. Zoeller recommends 18 in. or larger with variable-level floats.
- Plan the check valve and vent, and an alarm or backup. See our check valve guide.
When to Call a Pro
- Electrical. Wayne says the receptacle “must be protected” by a GFCI “for added safety” and that all wiring “must be performed by a qualified licensed electrician.” Little Giant’s 10EC guide says to use a GFCI circuit “if required by code,” while its troubleshooting table says to use a dedicated circuit equipped with GFCI. Zoeller says the receptacle “may be protected” by a GFCI. Basement Watchdog says to have a licensed electrician replace a 2-prong outlet. The makers do not agree on GFCI, so have an electrician set up the outlet. (Plumber’s note, not from a maker document: current electrical codes in many areas require GFCI protection on basement outlets, and a tripped GFCI stops the pump, so pair it with a high-water alarm or a battery backup.)
- Discharge. Wayne says the discharge should end at least 3 ft from the foundation and drain so it does not freeze. Codes on where a sump may discharge vary; ask your building department. See sump pump discharge freezing. (Plumber’s note, not from a maker document: many areas do not allow sump water in the sanitary sewer.)
- Sewage. Wayne and Zoeller say a sump pump is not for raw sewage; see sewage ejector vs sump pump.
FAQ
Which sump pump brand is the most reliable?
No maker publishes failure rates, and we did not test any pump. Compare warranty length, who it covers and where you must buy, model by model: Wayne lists 1 year on the SPF33 and 10 years on the HALO50.
Does a sump pump warranty cover a second owner, or a pump bought on Amazon?
It depends on the maker; see the warranty table. Zoeller’s sheets cover “the purchaser and subsequent owner.” Wayne and Little Giant cover the original buyer. We cannot check a seller from an Amazon listing, so keep the receipt and the model and serial number.
Do I need to drill a vent (weep) hole in the discharge pipe?
The makers disagree. With a check valve, Zoeller says a vent hole of about 3/16 in. “must be drilled” in the discharge pipe below the check valve and pit cover, even on its 53, 57 and 98, which have a housing vent. The same sheet says a high-head install may skip it if the pump case and impeller are under water before the pipe goes on and no inlet carries air to the pump. Basement Watchdog builds a weep hole into its SIT-series pump. Wayne’s product pages say its top-suction pumps need none. Follow the manual for your exact pump and ask your plumber.
Which sump pump brand has the longest warranty?
On the documents we read, Wayne: 10 years on the HALO50, for the original buyer, with proof of purchase from an authorized dealer. Zoeller’s 63 and 95 and Wayne’s CDU980E and CDU1000 carry 5 years; of those, only Zoeller’s sheet covers a later owner. Most others carry 1 to 3 years, and terms change by model, so check yours in the warranty table.
Is a battery backup as strong as my main sump pump?
Not on paper. Every backup in the table with a published 10-ft figure moves less than every primary pump the same maker lists in the flow table. Compare backups on test voltage, and see our battery backup guide and battery vs water-powered guide.
Why Trust Plumbing Picks
Plumbing Picks is written by a licensed Georgia journeyman plumber. Every spec here comes from the maker documents listed below or the Amazon listings we link; nothing comes from hands-on testing. We normally link only units sold or shipped by Amazon or the maker; no Basement Watchdog combination was, so we link a genuine-model listing from a third-party seller. If you buy through a link we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nobody pays to be included here. More on who writes this and how we pick.
Sources
- Zoeller: sump pump and Aquanot 508 product pages, FM2676 (3-year warranty, models 53, 57, 98, 137), FM2895 (5-year, models 63 and 95), Model 98 data sheet FM2779, Model 95 FM2985, Aquanot 508 FM3124
- Wayne: sump pump manual 600002W-001 J and the ESP25n, WSS30Vn, WBPS50 and HALO50 manuals, product pages, “Tested to 1 Million Cycles” article (2016)
- Liberty Pumps: Wholesale Products Warranty, sump pump series, Buy American Act letter, 250-Series spec
- Little Giant: warranty policy, sump and effluent line, spec sheets and guides
- Basement Watchdog: product pages, warranty PDFs and manuals, Glentronics
- Superior Pump: sump listing, 92341 page and 92900/92910 backup manual
- Amazon listings for the Zoeller M98, Wayne HALO50, Little Giant 10EC-CIA-SFS and Basement Watchdog CITS-50 (linked above)
Bottom Line
Pick the pump by flow at your own head, then compare brands on the fine print: who the warranty covers and where you must buy. Use a licensed electrician for the outlet, and keep the receipt and the serial number.