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Drain Water Quickly With the Best Submersible Water Pumps

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By Old House Journal Review Team
Last updated: 3 Mar 2023

Submersible pumps are one of the most versatile water drainage tools on the market. You can use them to drain out a flooded basement or empty your pool for cleaning. They’re even used for removing water from the hulls of flooded boats. Not to mention their critical uses in agriculture, with combating rising groundwater levels being a prime example. In other words, no tool can fully replace the most efficient submersible water pumps of 2023. The only issue with these is buying one in the first place.There are so many unique options on the market with their own jargon and confusing performance numbers. So, what can you do? The easiest way of getting around this issue is with the top-tier submersible water pump recommendations on our list. Take a look, and you’ll surely find one that fits your particular use case. 

Best Overall
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Acquaer Submersible Water Pump
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Compact Design
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Vivosun Submersible Water Pump
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Quality Build
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Wayne Submersible Pump
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Top Performance
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Prostormer Submersible Water Pump
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Best Value
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Lnicez Submersible Sump Pump
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Strong Flow
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G Green EXPERT Submersible Water Pump
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Buying Guide: Submersible Water Pump

There are hundreds of unique situations that can be resolved with a submersible water pump. These versatile water-draining tools get the job done without any hiccups. Only a truly high-quality submersible water pump that can do the job. So, what makes a submersible water pump high quality? These are factors you should consider if you want to buy a high-quality submersible water pump. 

Performance 

Performance is one of the most important attributes of a water pump of any kind, and this is especially true for submersible ones. A low-performance pump can cause several issues. It might take a very long time to drain a certain area, or it might not be able to do it all together. 

You want the submersible water pump you buy to have high horsepower and, more importantly, a high water flow rate. The horsepower will determine the efficiency of the pump and how high the pumped water will go. On the other hand, the flow rate dictates how fast the pump works.

Both of these are proportional to each other, and you cannot find a functional pump with low horsepower and a high flow rate. The specifications you need will be determined based on the size of the area you are trying to drain. If you are trying to drain your pool for the winter, consider an option with high horsepower and water flow rate. If you are draining a small amount of water from a rain barrel or a minor basement leak, a lower horsepower and flow rate will be sufficient. 

Build Quality

The submersible water pump you buy should have a durable exterior. It can be stainless steel, thermoplastic, or any other plastic-based material, as long as it is durable and won’t rot or rust underwater. 

The pump should also have high-quality internal components. This is especially true for the motor, but everything else should be just as long-lasting. A great way to figure out the component quality of a submersible water pump is through customer reviews. If you see complaints about a certain component breaking, or if multiple customers had to purchase replacement parts within a few uses, move on to the next viable option.

Use Case

Think about what you need the submersible water pump for. Do you need a water circulating device for your aquarium? Is your basement flooded? Or, do you have some agricultural uses in mind? These are but a few of the many possible scenarios that require the use of a submersible pump. Figuring this out will increase your chances of buying the perfect pump for your use. 

For example, let’s say you need an aquarium submersible water pump. For this, the ideal pump needs to be small and portable with a nearly silent operation so you can keep it running without increasing the noise level of your home. It also needs to have suction cups at its base, so you can attach it to the inside of the aquarium glass. 

Alternatively, say you need the submersible water pump for your commercial pool draining service. In this situation, things like size and noise are not that big of an issue. Instead, you should focus on pumps with great performance that can get the job done in less time. You also want it to be durable enough to handle constant travel and easy to set up in no more than 20 minutes. 

Your Budget

The final key consideration in finding the ideal submersible water pump is your budget. We cannot compare prices due to differences in materials, performance, size, and other such factors. What we can do instead is let you know about pumps that you should not buy.

First are the cheap pumps from no-name brands. They will break sooner than you might think, and are a total waste of money. Similarly, ultra-expensive industrial submersible water pumps are not a good option either if you just need to drain your basement or swimming pool.

Detailing the Top Submersible Water Pumps of 2023

1

Acquaer Submersible Water Pump

– Best Overall
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The Acquaer Submersible Water Pump is flawless in almost every aspect. Its overall build quality is fantastic, with reinforced thermoplastic material that’s both incredibly strong and corrosion-resistant. Combine this exceptional build with an oil-filled, permanent split capacitor motor, and you can use this pump in almost any situation. It’ll work just as well in a rain barrel as it will in a full-sized swimming pool.  

The performance of this pump is top-tier as well. Its power motor can drain water at a blistering rate of 2160 gallons per hour. It can also lift the water up to a maximum height of 33.5 feet which further increases its versatility. Add in the quality of life features like a removable filter screen on the bottom, and its top position on our list becomes obvious.

 

Pros
  • Has incredible performance
  • Built to last a long time
  • Works great in almost any situation 
Cons
  • No auto turnoff switch
2

Vivosun Submersible Water Pump

– Compact Design
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The Vivosun Submersible Water Pump is designed for applications that don’t require a full-sized pump, but where smaller pumps won’t be reliable or powerful enough. Aquariums and fish tanks are prime examples of its uses, where it’ll constantly be running for extended periods of time. It even includes strong suction cups on the bottom so you can attach them to the bottom of a fish tank with ease. The pump is also ultra quiet, so its constant operation won’t raise the noise levels of your home.

Even if you don’t care about its small size and quiet operation, it is still a fantastic choice, thanks to its reliable performance. It also takes no more than 24 watts at full load, so running it remotely with a battery won’t be an issue either. 

Pros
  • Smaller size fits perfectly in aquariums
  • Quiet operation is ideal for home use
  • Long-lasting internal and external components 
  • Comes with three different water flow options
Cons
  • Only 6.5 feet long power cord
3

Wayne Submersible Pump

– Quality Build
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If you’re a professional providing water drainage services, this Wayne Stainless Steel Submersible Pump might be the right fit for you. This thing is built like a tank with cast iron and stainless steel as its base materials. This impressive build quality goes beyond just the exterior as well, with the internals built to be just as high class and long-lasting. You can deploy this pump to hundreds of locations without experiencing any hiccups. 

Its performance is nothing to scoff at either, with a motor that can drain at a mind-blowing rate of 5,490 gallons per hour. This performance is not affected by rain or snow either. The pump also includes useful features like a durable vertical float switch to maintain a certain water level automatically. 

 

Pros
  • Will last you a long time 
  • Can drain water at incredibly high rate
  • Professional grade build quality and internals
  • Takes less than 15 minutes to install
Cons
  • Not very portable
4

Prostormer Submersible Water Pump

– Top Performance
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If you’re after raw performance, the Prostormer Submersible Water Pump is for you. The motor in the pump is the highest performing option on this list. This performance translates into an incredible water flow rate of around 3700 gallons per hour, allowing you to drain even the largest bodies of water quickly and efficiently. This performance is further legitimized by the fantastic build quality of this pump. Both the external housing and internal components are extremely durable.

This pump also comes with comfort features like an automatic on/off mode using the float switch. It turns the pump on automatically if the water level rises above the pump, and turns it off when the level is below this threshold again. 

Pros
  • Unmatched water-draining performance 
  • Convenient 16.5 feet long power cord 
  • Higher base plate prevents debris-related issues
  • High-quality construction and components 
Cons
  • Difficult to run remotely on a battery
5

Lnicez Submersible Sump Pump

– Best Value
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If you’re looking for a new pump at a reasonable price, consider the Lnicez Submersible Sump Pump. This pump costs noticeably less than most others on the market. It also has an incredibly compact size. You can use it anywhere, from your swimming pool to an aquarium with ease. This smaller size is also accompanied by a well-engineered design that prevents debris from ever getting in the way. 

The biggest attribute behind its great value, however, is its reliable performance. What this submersible water pump lacks in power, it makes up for with a reliable water drainage rate of 850 gallons per hour, which is on par with pumps boasting three times the raw performance values.

Pros
  • Great value for your hard-earned money
  • Compact design is easy to store 
  • Reliable and consistent performance
  • Makes very little noise
Cons
  • Lags behind in raw power
6

G Green EXPERT Submersible Water Pump

– Strong Flow
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Get this submersible water pump from G Green EXPERT and strengthen your water flow immediately. The high-efficient PSC motor with a steady flow channel structure will give you amazing power and stronger flow conversion while saving you money on power consumption. The quiet motor also won’t disturb you or your neighbors at night, no matter where you put it. This water pump can lift water up to 28 feet vertically, and maximum flow can reach 1800 gallons per hour. 

The simple plug in and off operation makes using this water pump a breeze; The pump will be directly running when the power is on, and it can bring the water level down to just 0.2 inches. Designed for efficiency, this pump can drain dirty water from a flooded house, basement, pools, spas, and clean up any flooding from low-lying areas. The green, ergonomic design can comfortably fit in your house or garden. 

Pros
  • Strong flow conversion
  • Great for hurricane preparation
  • Maximum flow is 1800 gallons/hour
Cons
  • Water sensor fails sometimes

People Also Asked

Q: How long can a submersible water pump stay in the water?

A: It depends on pump quality and how clear the water is, but a top-tier pump can last more than a decade working in low sediment water.

Q: What is the ideal length for a submersible water pump power cord?

A: If you need it for an aquarium, anything above five feet might be more than enough. For draining an outdoor pool, you will need at least 20 feet.

Q: How can I clean my submersible water pump?

A: Remove the filter from the pump and submerge both into a bucket of water with a small amount of detergent. This should remove most of the dirt. 

Garage Tools
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By Old House Journal Review Team
The Old House Journal Review Team’s product reviews and in-depth guides are here to help you restore, repair, update, and decorate your home. The content is created by The Old House Journal Review Team. The Old House Journal editorial staff is not involved. Old House Journal is reader-supported: When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.
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