The Zoeller Mighty-Mate Model 53 1/3 HP Sump Pump has become the benchmark of the sump pump industry and is preferred by many plumbers. One look at the heavy cast iron housing and its green powder coated finish tells you that the Zoeller Model 53 is no lightweight. There is an amazing lack of plastic and thin sheet metal that sets the Zoeller Pump into a league of its own. You may be asking yourself why I write such a glowing review but the answer is quite simple, the first Zoeller M53 I ever installed is still working today in my mother’s basement. Zoeller is based in Louisville, Kentucky and was started over 70 years ago as a family owned company. Today they are oldest independently owned pump manufacturer in the US.
The Zoeller Mighty-Mate Model 53 1/3 HP Sump Pump can easily lift 34 gallons per minute out of a 10’ deep basement or, 43 gallons per minute out of a 5’ crawlspace through it’s 1-1/2″ discharge. The heavy cast iron housing is oil filled and hermetically sealed containing a automatic resetting thermally protected 120-Volt, 1/3 horsepower, 1550 rpm motor, with sleeve bearings that runs in a bath of oil for lubrication making it completely submersible and a 9’ power cord. All of the exterior metal parts such as screws, handle, switch guard, and switch arm are made of stainless steel so they do not corrode. The cast iron housing has a powder coat finish that is baked on for an extremely durable corrosion resistant finish. The M53 comes with a polypropylene float and a built in waterproof switch with options for a longer cycle length variable level switch Model 10-0001 ordered separately. The pump can be ordered as a Model BN53 and be used with a separate float switch also. The impeller on the Model 53 is a glass filled plastic designed to not clog and pass solids up to ½” diameter without wearing from dirt in the water being pumped or corrode. The pump shaft is sealed with a long lasting carbon and ceramic seal to keep water from getting into the motor. At Zoeller each pump is pressure tested and run under water to ensure no leaks on pumps leaving the factory and the Zoeller Model 53 comes with a 1 year warranty that has an option to be extended to 3 years.
With all these heavy-duty features you may think the Zoeller Model 53 Sump Pump would have a much higher price than submersible sump pumps sold at the large home centers but you will find the pricing is actually quite comparable to the lesser quality pumps sold there. If you have a finished basement or, mechanical equipment in your basement you deserve the protection a Zoeller M53 can provide in your sump.
Zoeller pumps are not available in the major home centers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot but can be purchased at many plumbing supply houses.