Best Pool Drain Sump Pumps 2022 Reviews

There are a few things you need to keep in mind while trying to determine the right sump pump for your pool. Portability, for instance, is key to being able to apply the pump where you need it. The flow rate of the pump is also important since you don’t want to be spending hours doing work that could be done in 15 or 20 minutes by a pump with a larger flow rate. And dependability is also crucial since some cheap pool sump pumps are always breaking down and requiring maintenance. Below we’re going to take a quick look at the best pool drain sump pumps.

Best 5 Pool Draining Sump Pump Reviews

[wpsm_titlebox title=”#1″ style=”secondary”]

WAYNE WAPC250 1/4 HP Water Removal Pool Cover Pump

Physically this is a smallish unit but that lack of size, along with the modest ¼ hp motor, belies the fact that this little Wayne pump can move some water. 3,000 gallons per hour actually and that’s not just marketing, it’s a practical reality. Of course, if you’re using this pump to clear water from the top of your pool cover you won’t need to clear 3,000 GPH but it’s good to know the ability is there if you want it. Being a Wayne you can also be reasonably sure that this pump is not going to be breaking down or clogging constantly. It will do the job you want when you want it.

PROS:

• 3,000 gallons per hour from a ¼ hp motor.
• 25-foot power cord for maximum flexibility.
• One of the more energy-efficient pumps on the market.
• Fully submersible.

CONS:

• You’ll pay a bit more for a Wayne.

One of the many good things about the WAPC250 is its versatility. If you have water in the basement after a heavy rain it will be just as useful down there as it is around the pool. Sure it will cost you a bit more than some other pumps but the Wayne WAPC250 won’t let you down in a pinch.

[/wpsm_titlebox][wpsm_titlebox title=”#2″ style=”secondary”]

Zeny Blue 1/2HP Submersible Clean/Dirty Water Pump 2000 GPH

This is an inexpensive pump that delivers in ways you only expect a higher-end product like the Wayne reviewed above to deliver. In that sense it’s of great value. It has thermal overload protection, an oil free motor and it can evacuate 2,100 gallons per hour. While that won’t break any records it is more than adequate for draining your pool cover or helping to clear the basement after a spring rain. This inexpensive pool sump pump also does a great job of staying clog-free, which is important if you need to leave the pump running while you tend to other things.

PROS:

• Can evacuate up to 2,100 gallons per hour.
• Is remarkably quiet considering the price.
• Oil free magnetic motor ensures your pool stays clean.
• Both upper and lower coverings are removable for easy cleaning.
• Can be used both outdoors and indoors.

CONS:

• Not necessarily the most durable pump on the market.

The Zeny ½ hp Submersible pump is an outstanding value that combines decent water clearance ability with reasonably quiet operation, dependability and affordability. In the long run it’s not going to last as long as a Wayne pump, but it will do the job and do it well as long as you’re not asking too much of it.

[/wpsm_titlebox][wpsm_titlebox title=”#3″ style=”secondary”]

Cosway Garden 1.5HP 1100W Power Stainless Steel Water Pump

This is a really well built pump that will remove more than 4,300 gallons per hour and look good doing it. How many sump pumps can you say that about? It’s fully submersible, made of tough as nails high polish stainless steel and brings 1100 watts of power to the task of pumping excess water from your pool basement or boat. If you live in a high water table area you’ll want to have one of these handy after a heavy rain.

PROS:

• Toughest pump you’ll find.
• Plenty of power for even the biggest pumping task.
• Attractive high polish stainless steel casing.
• 16,500 LPH or 4,300+ GPH.

CONS:

• Will set you back more than a discount pump.

The Cosway Garden 1.5HP 1100W stainless steel pump is one great portable sump pump. It can tackle anything related to the pool. And when the rain’s falling, bring it down into the basement and keep your house nice and dry as well. At more than 4,300 gallons per hour it will keep up with just about anything short of a tsunami and it’s so well built that if you drop it while toting it around it’s probably not going to skip a beat.

[/wpsm_titlebox][wpsm_titlebox title=”#” style=”secondary”]

Types of  Best Pool Drain Sump Pump

There are two basic types of sump pumps you could use to handle water evacuation issues around the pool and they are submersible and non-submersible pumps.

Submersible pumps are the kind you’ll typically find in the basement sump waiting patiently for the groundwater to rise so they can evacuate it before it actually reaches the level of the basement floor. Portable submersible sump pumps like the ones profiled above are also used on and around the pool to drain water off the cover or to bring down the water level to enable certain types of maintenance.

On the other hand non-submersibles – or “pedestal” pumps – stand upright on a pedestal with the motor not intended to ever be underwater. They typically have a float dangling from the top of the machine where the motor is in order to enable automatic start. You’re not going to find a lot of usage for a pedestal pump around the poolside although you may be able to use it to drain water from the pool cover by placing the pedestal on the pool deck.

Keep the following considerations upfront when buying a pool drain pump:

• The rating – This is the amount of water the pump will remove per hour. Typically you’ll want something rated to over 2,000 gallons per hour minimum.
• The pump head – The pump head is expressed by the number of vertical feet the pump will effectively lift water. This is important because it will need to be strong enough to lift the water out of the pool and deliver it to the drainage area.
• The bottom intake – You don’t want the pump to become ineffective if there are still a few inches of water in the pool. For this reason you’ll want to be sure your pump has bottom suction rather than side suction.

[/wpsm_titlebox][wpsm_titlebox title=”#” style=”secondary”]

How to install Sump Pump in the Pool

When you install a sump pump in the pool you’ll want to be aware of a few things:

• That the electrical line in the sump pump motor is waterproof and long enough to reach a power source without having to use an extension cord. If the built-in power cord is only a few feet long you’re going to have functionality issues from day one.
• If you have to use an extension cord make sure the connection between it and the pump cord is waterproofed and if not, that it’s backed safely away from any water source. Hopefully, we don’t have to tell you of the dangers of exposing an unprotected extension cord to water.
• That the pump has a float valve. Whether you have a submersible or pedestal pump it’s important that it have an automatic “float valve” that will start the pump automatically if water height reaches a certain point. While this won’t have much value from a pool draining perspective you nonetheless want your sump pump to be as versatile as possible. This means that when you’re not using it around the pool for whatever reason you’ll likely have it in the basement where the float will be both welcome and necessary.
• That any hose that comes with the pump is long enough to safely evacuate water away from the place you want/need to drain. And that said hose is wide enough to let debris up to ½” thick through without question. When it comes to draining water from the pool you may have to lift that water 6 feet or more into the air from the bottom of the pool to the drainage area. The hose also needs to be wide enough to avoid clogging because you can’t be there to watch it every minute.
• That the angle of the hose isn’t too steep so that it interferes with the safe and timely evacuation of water, whether it’s from the pool or from the basement. Simply put a hose that’s dead vertical isn’t going to move as much water as one that has a slight angle to it.

Pro and Cons of the Pool Drain Sump Pump

Sump pumps are not the kind of thing that is going to break your bank. What they will do however is help you keep the water off of the top of your pool cover and allow you to drain water from the pool either for the winter or to enable repairs or some types of maintenance. If you buy a high quality one like any of the 3 listed above you’ll find they’re also a great addition to your home’s flood protection. Here are the pros and cons of the pool sump pump.

Pros

• No need to call in the professionals – If you have to have the pool company there every time there’s water on the cover or when you need to lower the water level a bit to repair some grout it’s going to get expensive real fast. Making the one-time purchase of the pool sump pump makes a lot of long-term sense.
• Can use it in the basement – Your pool drain sump is not a one-trick pony. In fact you may get more usage out of it in the basement then you do in or around the pool. Even if you have a moisture barrier on the exterior of your foundation walls hydrostatic pressure can still find a way through to the basement. And if it’s a water table issue then H2O is going to be welling up regularly and you’ll need a way to deal with it.
• Can use it in the yard – Sometimes significant rain events will leave a depressed portion of the yard filled with standing water. If this is left unattended it could linger indefinitely attracting mosquitos and ruining your lawn. Your pool sump pump can be put to use draining these low-lying areas to ensure your yard is always a dry, healthy place.

Cons

• Your electric bill will take a hit – These types of pumps are electric and using them on a regular basis is going to add to electric bill every month.
• Not such a beautiful thing – While the humble pool sump pump is effective and a welcome addition to the backyard maintenance kit list, one thing it’s not is attractive. While this isn’t an issue with most people it may well bother others. So if good looks are important to you when it comes to pool sump pumps you’ll want the Cosway Garden 1.5HP 1100W stainless steel pump.

[/wpsm_titlebox]

Wrapping Up

The pool drain sump pump is more than something to clear water off the top of your pool cover. It’s an indispensable tool for maintaining the health, safety and value of your entire property from the pool to the lawn to the basement and more.