Zoeller M53 Mighty-mate Submersible Sump Pump, 1/3 Hp

This is no doubt the best sump pump, USA made. My last unit lasted 12 years in very very harsh conditions including frequent clogged pipe, yet it just keeps working. Incredibly reliable, robust and will outlast any other sump pump. Very easy to set up and get going. I recommend a plastic base to keep it out of the mud if it sits on the ground

I bought the sump pump in May, 2018 and I am writing this review in July 2026 because I was thinking of picking up a back-up in case ours ever dies. Our sump pump has run 1200 times in the past two days due to 9" of rainfall locally. The pump has been in place for 8 years and has cycled well over 100k times so far and we've never had a problem. I use a wifi device called a PumpFuse to tell me how often and how long the pump runs. It has always run for 4 seconds every time it pumps out my pit and that's how long it's still running for each time. So nothing has changed with the health of the pump. Other than looking a bit crusty, it's still green in color and I've never had a problem with its float switch. I have a back-up battery pump installed above it that has never been used. I used to buy Hydromatic 1/3rd hp sump pumps for about the same price, but they only lasted 1.5 years before the pressure style switches would fail on me. So if you want my opinion, highly consider these Zoeller pumps if you need it to run often and last for a long time. The price has gone up over the past several years, but it's still worth it to not have your basement flood.

This is the second time we have bought this pump. The last time was 11 years ago it works great. It does the job we use it in our laundry room. We have to pump up and it’s strong enough to do that.

Pump works just fine. This is the second of the same model I have ordered.

At first glance, this thing looks like a beast. Feels like you are installing a Sherman tank in your sump. Well, feels like quality and actually performing like are two separate things. I had mine for a little over a year, installed by contractor. I just happened to be in the basement with a contractor today thinking remodeling when I looked in and the water was to the tip! I hear the float switch click so mechanically it still clicks but still no operation. I see and smell oil slightly so not sure if a seal went bad or just residue from the parts. Anyways, it quit in only about 1 year. Emailed the company, still waiting for a reply. In the meantime, I replaced it with a Flotec FPSC3250A 1/2 HP Submersible Cast Iron Sump Pump. The m53 seem quieter than the flotec. The price is comparable at about $140. M53: There is also corrosion around the bolts and few other areas but nothing rusted through. Although I like the heftiness, I think the sumps surrounded by thermoplastic maybe the way I go next (minimal corrosion to worry about). The float mech on the M53 is better quality, Flotec is lighter/plasticy feeling. I will wait to see if the Zoeller company will leave me hanging or what. If so then I have nothing to lose by opening it up and trying to fix it myself. I have my fingers crossed about the Flotec but i saw consistently good reviews. I will update in the months to come. UPDATE 11/4/11: basically the CS from zoeller told me to either try and return it to the purchased place (doubt they'll take it since there's rust on the bolts and it's been a bit- unless its a larger chain store, mom&pop stores tend not to lose $$ honoring the factory's warranty past a couple weeks). The closest service center is more than 1 hr from me in Northeast NJ and not sure if they care....so I think that means I just got hosed on this one. On the plus side, the Flotec is like a freakin water canon, so now i just hope it outlasts its 3 yr warranty. Shame such an older established company like Zoeller wouldn't spare one pump to make a customer happy. UPDATE: 12/26/11 yea, skip the Flotec...it crapped out within the first week but at least in the meantime, the Zoeller was under warranty so I swapped it out and back in the new M53 went. I keep the receipt handy but I know it will last longer than the flotec! Hopefully this time it will last 11yrs like other people's. Take a look at Liberty, master plumber and some others of similar design...they also have quality pumps at comparable prices. Alot of them are of the same design, same material...actually, it maybe just the name/price i think at that point. If it wasn't under warranty, I would've bought one from them. Hope this helps. Shame the business relationship of my contractor and the local plumbing store is what gave the exchange and not Zollier CS...otherwise, my 2 round trip warranty repair would have taken me an hour away from my house. UPDATE 5/1/12: The new warranty replacement (thanks to the local plumbing store and contractor) is holding up. I occasionally spray the grid/propeller with limeaway to keep the crud down. Hopefully being much more proactive about the build up may keep it going. UPDATE: 4/29/2013: It seems the periodic spray down with Lime Away/CLR made it last better. As to today (knock on wood)it seems it is still holding up but so far the weather hasn't been as soggy as when I first moved here 2 years ago (minus Hurricane Sandy). So despite a rough start with Zoeller the replacement M53 isn't doing so bad right now. Keep in mind it is in the drier of the two basements so the Master Plumber brand sump pump has been more of the workhorse. All things considered, I wouldn't shy away from Zoll pumps but I wouldn't cry if I had to switch to Liberty or MP/TV brand either. I think their customer service was what made me indifferent about being loyal to them. Too bad. update: 3/19/2018 Well, I think the warranty replacement M53 is finally giving out. I've noticed that it hasn't been pumping out as fast and I did find it with warm water in the basin meaning it's been continuous. True, we've had 3 Nor'esters but I think it's time. 7 yrs is not a bad run considering it's been in a fairly active basement overall. I decided to keep the M53 model since I did not feel like re-engineering the pipes. I did however consider Liberty, Goulds, Flint/Star and Wayne. I still plan to when I install a battery back up to the main M53 though. All in all, I know Zoeller (USA brand) has been an industry mainstay. Those other listed above, have a very very very similar design which makes me question if they are built off "surplus" parts or reconditioned under a different name. As the backup project, I will try them but for the main pump, M53 is for me.

Absolutely a must if you need sump pumps. Long lasting and high quality. Really a rugged, heavy duty product. It's pretty quiet. Lots of power. No leakage so far.

I recently installed the Zoeller M53 Mighty‑Mate Submersible Sump Pump in my basement sump pit, and it’s been doing a great job keeping water levels down. The cast-iron body feels rugged and high quality, and the automatic float switch reliably kicks the pump on when water rises. The pump moves water efficiently and quietly — I barely notice it running even during heavy storms. What I like most is the build quality and the peace of mind: stainless-steel hardware, corrosion-resistant finish, and a design tested for longevity — it feels like something you install once and forget about for years. If you want a no-nonsense, durable sump pump that handles everyday water intrusion without fuss, this one hits the mark.

I had on at my old house that was installed by the previous owner. It was quiet and worked great. I Bought my current home in 2019. They had a sump pump from Lowes that worked but it was the loudest thing ever and it ran all the time. I got tired and purchased this May 2020. Almost 6 years later it is still running like a champ. It operates quietly and when it runs its only a few seconds and back off. This thing runs a 1/3 of the time of the one I replaced. If / when this one fails, I will replace it with this same unit. Again, the review is being written almost 6 years after I purchased it.

Se descompuso a los 6 mese de uso y no puedo hacer valida la garantía en México porque el producto es de importación

So far, so good. This was a DIY project by a non-plumber, and I’m really happy with how it turned out. I’ve already run 6 test cycles perfectly. It’s quiet, fits perfectly in my 12x12” sump pit, and the float seems to be working great. Highly recommend.

Tres Bonne qualité facile a installer

Supper easy to install. Built like a tank. Pumps a huge volume of water very quickly. Have had it now through three heavy storms and it does its job really well. It is also much quiter than my last sump. To the point I went down and made sure it was working. My old one you could definitely hear it downstairs turning on. This on is much quieter.

The most recent one purchased contains a light incorporated in the (plug in) which help to know if the electricity is on.