Best Condensate Pump: Complete Reviews & Buying Guide

Changing all those numbers of buckets or trays full of water collected from your appliances is a hectic and tiring job. But, with the help of a best condensate removal pump, you can finish this task without any more struggles. These pumps remove the condensate water formed due to the generation of water vapor in the equipment and drain them through a pipe.

Factors to Consider Before Buying Condensate Pumps

Don’t know which condensate pump is right for you? We have put together a list of points that you should consider before buying a condensate pump.

Condensate Pump Type

There are three types of HVAC condensate pumps, and each type has its own advantages:

Compact Submersible Condensate Pump -  All the parts in this pump are inside the condensate collection bin. The power cord and outlet pipe exist through holes in the lid of the bin.

Low Profile Condensate Pump - This is the most common type of HVAC condensate pump. This type of pump has a small condensate collection basin and is compact. It is ideal for home cooling and heating appliances.

Split Condensate Pump - This condensate pump has been designed specifically for split air-conditioners. The pump is compact and can fit anywhere on the body or around the wall of the air-conditioner.

Appliance Type

It would be best if you first considered what you need the condensate pump for. Is it for an air-conditioner, boiler or a dehumidifier? There are subtypes in air-conditioners.

There are split air-conditioners, windowed air-conditioners and centralized cooling. Different types and subtypes of appliances produce different amounts of condensate.

The amount of condensate produced will determine what should be the appropriate size and power of the condensate pump. So, you have to take into account the appliance type and its subtypes before you can make an informed choice regarding condensate pumps.

Disclaimer: You must consider condensate pump types and appliance types together while buying a condensate pump.

Appliance Capacity

The second thing to consider is the capacity of your cooling and heating systems. The capacity will determine how much condensate your appliance will produce in an hour.

Large capacity heating and cooling systems produce more condensate, and your condensate pump must be able to manage that load. You should get a condensate pump with a large basin if you have high-capacity cooling and heating systems.

Voltage

Finding out the voltage of the condensate pump is crucial. You have to match the condensate pumps' voltage with the voltage of your home's power outlets.

Your condensate pump will get damaged if its voltage is lower than the power supply voltage. The pump will not function properly if the power supply voltage is lower than the pump's voltage. 

Note: Most residential condensate pumps have a voltage of 120V. Some of the larger ones might be 230V.

Climate

Climate plays a huge role in determining the amount of condensate. Cooling systems produce significantly more condensate in dry climates than in humid climates. So, consider the climate of your area before buying a condensate pump

Tip: Condensate pumps with large basins are ideal for humid climates.

Installation Area

A condensate pump can be installed anywhere around the appliance, but there must be a drainage point near it. A sink can be a drainage point. So can be an outlet on walls, doors and windows.

You can place the outlet pipe near the sinkhole or push it through the outlets on the walls, doors and windows to drain the condensate outside.

The installation area should determine the size of the condensate pump and the length of its pipes. If you have a large installation area, you can buy a large-sized condensate pump. Otherwise, you have to opt for a compact size.

Similarly, you must get a condensate pump with long pipes if your appliance is far from the drainage point.

Material

The condensate pump you buy must be made of durable plastic. Condensate pumps usually run for long hours at a stretch, and the built material must be strong enough to bear the workload.

The pipes must be strong yet flexible. They shouldn't develop leaks easily and not break when bent.

Design

A condensate pump requires regular cleaning; otherwise, it will get clogged with algae and other water debris. The design of the condensate pumps must be such that it allows cleaning. There must be enough space between the different parts so that it is easy to clean with a brush.

Top 10 Best Condensate Pump Reviews

1. Little Giant 554425 VCMA-20ULS Condensate Removal 1/30 HP Pump

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The condensate removal pump comes with a safety switch to prevent overflowing. It has ½ gallon tank capacity with a 3/8” O.D barbed discharge tube. The motor has thermal overload protection and a 1/30 hp high performance.
Use this pump on any appliance that needs a motor drain pump.

Advantages

  • Automatic - This condensate pump automatically turns on and off to accumulate and remove water from AC, dehumidifiers, furnaces, or any other appliances that have an HVAC system, boiler furnace, and a steam system.
  • Stainless steel - The pump has a stainless steel motor shaft and a galvanized steel tank cover and a long enough power cord.
  • Protection - The pump features a safety switch, and both the tank and the motor has an anti-breakage system. It also removes the condensate smoothly.
  • Easy to install - The pump doesn’t take much time to set it up with a secure plug system.

Disadvantages

  • Poor quality - Float switch ceases working after few months of using it, and the inside of the pump gets easily corroded. Also, the check valve fails to work intermittently.
  • Incomplete instruction manual - The manual doesn’t have the proper drawings, and many steps don’t have any explanation making it hard to understand for someone who doesn’t have many technological skills.

2. Little Giant 554405 Vcma-15 Series Condensate Pump

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This condensate removal pump is perfect to use in any equipment that needs an automatic drain pump. With a snap-action switch feature, this machine can automatically detect when it needs to remove water. It has 0.5-gallon tank capacity, a motor cover, and a stainless steel shaft.

Advantages

  • Easy to install - The pump has a hassle-free installation process.
  • Automatic – The pump can automatically collect, and remove condensate from equipment like A.C, dehumidifiers, furnaces and many others.
  • Durable - It is of good quality and long-lasting, as well.

Disadvantages

  • No cons

3. Little Giant 554401 Vcma-15 Series Condensate Pump

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Hardwiring your pump can be difficult, especially if you are someone who doesn’t like to put a lot of effort into the installation process. But this condensate removal pump has an easy plug and play way of using it with a volume of 0.5 gallons, an abs tank, and a motor cover.

Advantages

  • Easy to install - The pump has an easy plug and play installation process. No need to be hardwired.
  • Corrosion - resistant shaft- The shaft of the pump is designed with stainless steel, which prevents corrosion on the surface.
  • Automatic - With 1/50 hp motor, the pump can automatically detect and condense water produced in a HVAC system like a refrigeration or a boiler.

Disadvantages

  • Not durable - The pump intermittently stops working after sometime.

4. DiversiTech CP-22T Condensate Pump

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This condensate removal pump won’t take much of the time from your busy schedule with the hassle-free installation process. It has a leak detector so that you can always get informed before your floor gets clogged with water.

The most important feature about the pump is that unlike the typical condensate pump, it doesn’t produce a loud noise.

Advantages

  • Easy to install - Integrating this condensate pump with your system is simple and easy.
  • High Lift - The pump is strong enough to make the water go as high as 22”
  • Leak detector – The pump features a leak detector so that you can get an alarm whenever water leaks out from the pump. It also has a vibration dampening feet and four inlet holes.
  • Indicator lights - Designed with three different indicator lights to inform about the status of the pump. The yellow lights up when the pump is running, the green is for power, whereas the red light indicates alarm.

Disadvantages

  • Poor quality - The plastic reservoir or tray breaks down after sometime and the impeller gets jammed as well due to it. The automatic system also doesn’t work once it gets above the level and the float is of poor quality.

5. Sauermann SI-30-230V Mini Condensate Removal Pump

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This reliable condensate removal pump is perfect for your AC unit to remove condensate. It can support up to 5.6 tons, making it suitable to use it for most people. It has piston technology and discharge particles easily.

Advantages

  • Reliable - The condensate pump is reliable in any environment and has high resistance to pollution. It can also emit in small particles.
  • Performance - It has good performance and can successfully remove the condensate from the AC system.
  • Makes no noise - The sound level of the device doesn’t change with the size of the system and the condensate getting removed. It runs quietly.
  • Doesn’t take up a lot of space - Designed in a mini size so that it can easily fit on small and tight areas.
  • Hassle-free - Designed in a plug and play system for minimum effort and also makes replacement easy.

Disadvantages

  • Not for all equipment - This condensate pump only works on AC units up to 5.6 tons
  • Works intermittently - The installed unit has a problem in properly working after sometime.

6. DiversiTech CP-16 Condensate Pump

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This condensate pump is simple to integrate it with your system. It also makes no noise to prevent any disturbances so when you place the product in your bedroom. It is 120V and has a 16’ Lift. Also, due to the good quality of the product, it has high durability.

Advantages

  • Durable – The product has a high quality and durability.
  • Silent - The pump doesn’t create any high noise even if it is situated in the bedroom.
  • Easy to install - the pump has an easy and fast installation process, which is great for any non-tech person
  • Safety switch - Unlike many condensate pumps, it comes with a safety switch to prevent any overflow. It also has a built-in check valve and four inlet holes.

Disadvantages

  • Need to clean periodically - The pump must be cleaned from time to time to make it last longer.

7. Little Giant 554415 65 GPH 115V Automatic Condensate Removal Pump

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This automatic condensate removable pump has all the features you can ever need in a pump. It has a 3/8” O.D. barbed discharge adaptor with a check valve, and the motor is fan-cooled and thermally protected. The pump features three 1-1/8” diameter inlet openings as well.

Advantages

  • Automatic - The pump automatically removes the water into the drain once the water reaches a certain level.
  • Float activated switch - This model is designed with a safety switch for high level water detection. It also has a dual function of NO and NC operation.
  • Safe to transport - Designed with removable float locking tab to create more safety while you are travelling with it.
  • Easy to install - The pump has a fast and hassle-free installation process as it is tool free.

Disadvantages

  • Not durable - The pump stops working after few months of using and doesn’t create enough pressure to remove the condensate resulting in overflowing.
  • Poor quality check valve - Due to the poor quality the check valve fails to work properly which lead to the water returning back into the reservoir.

8. Little Giant 554421 VCMA-20UL 115-volt Condensate Pump

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This condensate pump has a corded power source for easiness and a 3/8” O.D. barbed discharge adapter. It is a vertical type of pump with three drain holes, and it can hold a maximum water temperature up to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.

Also, the inside of the pump is rust-proof as well as the motor shaft. It has thermal overload protection and is suitable for any HVAC system like A.C. or a furnace.

Advantages

  • Rust proof - The pump features a corrosion resistant material and also has a stainless steel motor shaft, which prevents corrosion.
  • Removable check valve - The check valve presented in the pump is removable for any transport purposes or others.
  • Float switch - The models features a float activated switch for detection of high-level water.
  • Protected - Constructed with thermally protected feature, it also contains a fan-cooled motor

Disadvantages

  • Not long-lasting - The product is not durable and will only last for a couple of months.
  • Need to clean from time to time - The pump needs to be cleaned from time to time to clear up all the dirt otherwise with time the pump will start to create loud noises.

9. Little Giant VCMA-15UL 554401 Automatic Condensate Removal Pump

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This condensate removal features automatic removal of condensate from equipment like A.C, dehumidifiers, and others. It has a 1/50 high-performance motor with a 3/8” O.D barbed discharge adapter.

The pump comes with a stainless steel shaft and a snap-action switch, as well.

Advantages

  • Noise free - The pump doesn’t create any loud noise when it runs preventing any disturbances that a user might feel due to the sound.
  • Protected - The pump has thermal overload protection and anti-breakage system tank, motor cover, and valute.
  • Durable - The pump can be used for many years if it is taken care of properly and gets cleaned from time to time.
  • Safety switch - It features a safety switch so that it can instantly disconnects system when there is overload of water to prevent leaking.

Disadvantages

  • The top mechanism vibrates - After using for some time the top mechanism starts to vibrate and create smote and then stops pumping out water. The pump needs to be clean periodically to keep the pump working healthily.
  • Doesn’t lift water higher – The pump cannot push the water higher enough to remove it after installation.

10. Sauermann SI-30 120 Volt Mini Condensate Removal Pump

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This mini condensate pump doesn’t take up much space with high-performance and voltage 120v. It also doesn’t create any loud noise when the pump runs.

The drain safe device makes it long-lasting. Also, the high flow rate allows the pump to save energy consumption.

Advantages

  • Suitable for most A.C units - The pump works on any A.C units up to 5.6 tons. It is also designed with piston technology.
  • Reliable - The pump works in any kind of environment and is reliable too. It is also high resistance to mild pollution.
  • Easy to install - The pump has a compact design and a mounting bracket that makes it easy to mount the walls or hung from ceilings. It also has a plug-in power cord.
  • Silent operation - The mounting bracket lessens the vibration transformation to the wall or pipework. Furthermore, the sound operation of the pump doesn’t get affected by the amount of condensate getting removed or the size of the A.C unit.

Disadvantages

  • Not for all equipment - This condensate pump only works with A.C units up to 5.6 tons.

Frequently Asked Questions by the Buyers

A condensate pump is a machine that most people do not understand. They do not know the various parts of it and how they work. The lack of understanding prevents them from making informed choices regarding condensate pumps.

The questions asked by buyers reflect that lack of understanding. We will be answering their questions in this section so that they are able to get the best condensate pumps for themselves.

1. What is condensate?

When steam condenses to a liquid under high pressure or low temperatures, it is called condensate. In a home setup, condensate is water, and it is a byproduct of air-conditioner units and condenser furnaces.

Condenser furnaces condense water vapor in the air to produce heat. Air-conditioners not only cool your homes but also remove moisture. Thus, you see both the appliances are producing water as a by-product of their functioning.

2. How do condensate pumps work?

The condensate produced by your home cooling and heating system can be removed using gravity. This phenomenon is called floor drain. Water pipes are attached to the cooling and heating systems that direct the water by-product towards ground drainage using the force of gravity.

Floor draining is the best way of removing condensate, but you cannot install floor drains everywhere. Hence, we have condensate pumps.

A condensate pump has mainly five parts: the inlet pipe, the pump basin, the float switch, the motor and an outlet pipe. Water from the heating and cooling appliances accumulates in the condensate pump basin through the inlet pipe. There is a floating object in the basin that is attached to the float switch.

This floating object rises with the rising water level in the pump basin. When the rising water reaches the trigger level, the float switch is activated, and the motor starts pumping out the water through the outlet pipe.

The water level starts dropping in the pump basin, and as soon as it drops to a safe level, the float switch disengages, stopping the motor in the process.

Note: This activity happens in a loop throughout the day.

3. Do I need a condensate pump?

The answer to this question depends on how close your heating and cooling systems are to a floor drain. If your heating and cooling systems are far from the floor drain or in the basement, you have to get a condensate pump.

The water that is a by-product of heating and cooling systems is acidic and can corrode the appliances. That water needs to be drained out of the heating and cooling units.

4. Where can I use condensate pumps?

You can use condensate pumps on your central cooling and heating units and window air-conditioners, split air-conditioners and dehumidifiers.

5. How to install a condensate pump?

It is very easy to install a condensate pump to your appliance. Let's say you want to attach a condensate pump to your dehumidifier. You first need to find a place where you drain the condensate. We suggest you use the kitchen sink or bathroom sink as the drainage point.

Then place your condensate pump on the floor at a convenient place between the humidifier and the sink.

We tell you to place the condensate pump on the floor because it must be at a level lower than your appliance. This is done so that the condensate from the appliance can pour into the condensate pump basin through the inlet pipe and with the force of gravity.

Attach one end of the inlet pipe to the dehumidifier and the other end to the condensate pump. There are pipe attachment slots on both the appliance and the condensate pump. Go through the manuals of both to know where they are.

Attach one end of the outlet pipe to the condensate pump and place the other end near the sinkhole. You have successfully installed the condensate pump. Plug and condensate pump to an electric outlet, switch it on, and you are done.

6. There is water all over the floor below the condensate pump. What happened?

It means either your condensate pump is not working or there is a leak in the pump basin. Condensate pump basins are made of plastic, and they can develop cracks over time.

The condensate pump never drains the basin completely. The motor stops pumping out water as soon as the water drops to a safe level. So, there is always water in the basin. This water will leak through a crack in the basin and flood the floor.

If it is a pump basin crack, you can solve the problem by sealing the crack.

A dysfunctional condensate pump is a more complicated problem, and you need to troubleshoot to find out which part of the pump is not working.

7. How to troubleshoot a condensate pump?

If there is a pool of water at the bottom of your condensate pump, it is time to find out what the problem is. First, check the pump basin for cracks. If you see a gap and water seeping out of it, your problem is a small one. You can fix the problem by sealing the crack.

Follow these troubleshooting steps if you do not find a crack in the pump basin:

  • Detach the inlet pipe from the appliance and pour water into the condensate through the inlet pipe hole. If you hear the whirring motor after the water reaches the trigger level, there is no problem with the motor and the float switch. If you do not hear the motor, the problem is either with the motor or the float switch. You have to get a new pump in both cases.
  • Switch off the appliance and the condensate pump. Unplug the condensate pump from the outlet. Now it is safe to remove the outlet pipe and the check valve. The check valve is the point on the condensate pump where the outlet pipe is attached. Shake the check valve. You should be able to feel the valve move if the check valve is working fine. If you do not feel the valve moving, the valve is stuck, which might be the problem. Use compressed air to release the valve.
  • If water is still leaking after releasing the check valve, there is a problem with the basin's outlet pipe. Probably a blockage or a breakage. It is time to get a new pump if this is the case.

8. How to maintain condensate pumps?

Maintaining condensate pumps involves cleaning out the algae and clogs from the mechanism. Make it a point to drain the water from the pump basin once every day. Scrub the condensate pumps at least once a week.

9. I see the word HVAC associated with condensation pumps. What is it?

HVAC is the short form of Heat, Ventilation and Air Conditioning. It refers to condensate pumps associated with the collection of condensate from heating, cooling and ventilation systems.

Which One Should You Go For?

The best condensate pump will tick off all your wants and needs required from the pump. With that being said, our favorite pump is the DiversiTech CP-16 Condensate Pump. It is long-lasting, creates no loud noise, and also easy to install for any non-tech person as well. It only needs to get cleaned occasionally, which is not a big issue. Apart from this, Little Giant 554405 Vcma-15 Series Condensate Pump is also a great choice. It has all the features one could need from a condensate pump.

Conclusion

This buying guide answers all your questions regarding condensate pumps. You know how it works and what factors to consider before buying one. It also gives you information regarding the ten best condensate pumps available in the market.

Go through all the information available in the buying guide, and you won't have to worry about buying the wrong condensate pump.

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