Tag Archives: ac

Zoeller 98-0001 M98 Flow Mate Submersible Sump Pump Review and M63, CDU1000, M267 Comparison

When recommending a quality AC sump pump to homeowners disappointed one too many times from budget box store sump pumps, we generally stick to one of two brands: Zoeller and Wayne. At the top of the rankings sits the Zoeller M267; this is the single best AC sump pump on the market in terms of maximum flow rates, grinding power, durability, and long-term reliability. However, as you spend less and less, you make more and more compromises; that’s just how the sump pump market works. At the $200-ish range, we typically recommend the Zoeller M63, Zoeller M57, or Wayne CDU1000. These pumps have been among the most reliable and best functioning AC sump pumps in our experience after the Zoeller M267. However, there’s another option at the $200 price range that we recommend with some reservation: the Zoeller 98-0001 M98 Flow-Mate Sump Pump. On paper, it’s one of the most powerful AC sump pumps on the market, but a number of premature failures has caused us to refrain from recommending it over the other pumps we’ve reviewed. If you get a good model, however, it works very well. Let’s take a closer look.

Key Features of the Zoeller M98 Sump Pump (60 Second Summary)

The Zoeller M98 sump pump is an automatic submersible sump pump designed for effluent (sewage) and dewatering (sump) work in sump pits, septic tanks, STEP systems, and low pressure pipe systems. It includes a 1/2 HP motor, a max flow rate of 4,320 gallons per hour, and features a 1 year warranty from installation date or 18 month warranty from manufacture date. It is 12 inches tall, 10-1/8 inches wide, and 8 inches deep.

The max head, or max pumping height, is 23 feet; the switch-on/switch-off heights are 3 inches and 9-1/2 inches respectively. There is a vertical float switch. It uses 4.7-9.4 amps and 115 or 230 volts; no battery backup is included. It weighs 39 pounds and includes a 15 foot power cord. Although it can pump up to 4,320 gallons per hour at 0 feet, it drops to 3,660 gph at 10 feet, 2,700 gph at 15 feet, and 1,500 gph at 20 feet. Shut-off occurs at 23 feet. The operational temperatures span 40-130 degrees Fahrenheit. The M98 is self-priming with full cast iron construction; the discharge size is 1-1/2″ NPT with a minimum required sump pit diameter of 15 inches.

How Does the Zoeller M98 Compare to the Zoeller M63, Wayne CDU1000, and Zoeller M267 Sump Pumps?

The Zoeller M98 features a stronger motor (1/2 vs .3 HP) than the M63, as well as a much faster max flow rate (4,320 gallons per hour vs 2,580 gph). However, the warranty is much shorter at 1 year in the M98 compared to 5 years in the M63. This is complicated by the fact that a number of M98s suffer, in our estimation, from premature failures due to a.) a poorly designed rubber boot covering the float switch lever, and b.) poor thermal management that kills capacitors.

In the first cause of early sump pump failure, the boot splits, compromising the integrity of the pump. Water gets in, destroys the electronics, and it’s game over. If that doesn’t get your pump, the thermal management issue can; if the capacitor overheats, it knocks the pump out of commission until it’s fixed. The replacement capacitors cost only $40 from Zoeller, but if you have a poorly designed M98, you can only expect 3-8 years of life before failure, depending on whether you have the boot issue or the capacitor issue. If you have a well designed M98, you can expect 8-16 years of life (which is still less than the 10-17 we’d expect from the M63). We don’t like gambling with sump pumps, and we’d recommend going with the M63 as a sure bet over the M98.

Compared to the Wayne CDU1000, the M98 comes up short in motor power (1/2 vs 1 HP), max flow rate (4,320 gph vs 5,400 gph) and warranty coverage (1 year vs 5 years). Because of the batch of M98s with poor thermal management, the 5-9 years of life we’d expect from the CDU1000 inspire more confidence than an uncertain future with the M98. To put it simply, we’d also recommend the CDU1000 over the M98.

Compared to the M267, there’s no practical reason beyond price to choose the M98. The M267 is far faster (7,680 gallons per hour vs 4,320 gallons per hour), it’s constructed far better, it’s capable of handling up to 2 inch solids (the CDU1000 isn’t rated for solid grinding while the other Zoellers are only rated for up to 1/2 inch solids), and you can typically expect between 10 and 20 years of useful life. There aren’t any well documented premature failure points. It’s simply a set-it-and-forget-it sump pump.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Zoeller M98 Sump Pump

As is typically the case with Zoeller pumps, installation is straightforward (connect discharge pipe, level pump, clear float switch, install check valve, plug in pump) and noise levels are low (especially with a silent check valve like the Brady check valve). The most significant issue, again, is that of long-term reliability. While there are plenty of M98s we’ve either installed or seen installed for a number of years, there are also a larger percentage of models we’ve seen fail than with any other sump pump we’ve installed. As we’ve noted above, if you have a problem-free M98, our long-term observations suggest you can get 8-16 years of life from it. However, if you’ve got a poorly designed one, you’ll be lucky to fall on the high end of our 3-8 year lifespan estimate.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Zoeller M98 Working Sooner

Given the potential for catastrophic failures in the M98, it’s crucial to have a backup system accompanying it in your sump pit. You don’t want to risk a flooded basement with the best of pumps, but it’s even more important with a potentially flawed pump. If you’ve got a large budget, there isn’t a better DC backup pump than the Wayne WSM3300. However, on a smaller budget, we’d recommend the Wayne ESP25. In either case, you’ll also want a water alarm (which you’ll install above the backup float switch, with the backup float installed above the M98’s float switch). We like the Basement Watchdog. Remember that a backup sump pump and a water sensor will save you hours of time and potentially thousands of dollars over even one instance of a flooded basement after a heavy rain and power outage.

Zoeller M98 Sump Pump Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

In conclusion, it’s hard for us to recommend the Zoeller M98 over the Zoeller M267 (the best choice) or the Zoeller M63 (the closest-priced quality equivalent) or the Wayne CDU1000 (another closely-priced equivalent). The M98 simply has too many points of failure compared to the other three pumps, and even though the majority of M98s out there won’t fail prematurely, there are too many that have for our tastes. We’d recommend the M63 if you want the most reliable AC sump pump out there at the $200 mark, the CDU1000 for the fastest AC sump pump at the $200 mark, and the M267 for the fastest and most reliable AC sump pump under $400. We’d only recommend the M98 if you either a.) are sure of the design of your particular model or b.) have a backup pump installed and are ready to replace the M98 with one of the above pumps if it fails prematurely.

You can buy the Zoeller M98 here, but we’d suggest you instead buy the Zoeller M267 here on Amazon. You can buy the Zoeller M63 here. You can buy the Wayne CDU1000 here. You can buy the Wayne ESP25 here or buy the Wayne WSM3300 here. You can buy a water alarm here. You can buy a silent check valve here.

If you find our work at PumpThatSump helpful, you can put our relentless reviewing of every pump and fixture on the market to the test by shopping via our links above for whatever you need to make your house a home. Despite being self-employed, we promise not to spend it all on health insurance.

 

Zoeller M63 Premium Series Mighty-Mate Submersible Sump Pump Review and M57, M267 Comparisons

When looking for a budget sump pump, it’s tempting to buy the first discount pump you find at your local Home-Depot, ACE, or Menards-type box store. And sure; they’ll last for a few months or maybe even a year or two. But if you’re like us, you aren’t a fan of wasting time, throwing away money, or spending hours every few weekends cleaning out your basement whenever a cheap sump pump fails to do its job. We’d recommend spending more money the first time and doing the job right; there are sump pumps out there that will last for years and years while providing top notch water removal every step of the way.

When considering such pumps, our buy-it-for-life recommendation is always the Zoeller M267. It’s one of the fastest sump pumps on the market and it’s also one of the longest lasting money can buy (think 10-20 years of service). However, it’s also around $300. If your budget is capped at $200, we’d recommend looking at pumps like the Zoeller M57, Wayne CDU1000, and Wayne CDU980E first. Among these three, we prefer the Zoeller because despite being slower, it’s built better and will last longer. This is where the Zoeller M63 Premium Series Might-Mate Submersible Sump Pump comes in. It’s an upgraded version of the M53 that still clocks in at the $200 mark while offering a much stronger warranty and beefier internal parts. If you want the best sump pump for $200, this might just be it. Read on to find out why.

Key Features of the Zoeller M63 Sump Pump (60 Second Summary)

The Zoeller M63 sump pump is an automatic submersible sump pump rated for dewatering (sump systems), groundwater transfer, and effluent (sewage) work. It features a 3/10 (approximately 1/3) HP motor, can pump water at up to 2,580 gallons per hour, and includes a 5 year manufacturer warranty. It is 10-1/16 inches tall, 10-3/32 inches wide, and 7 inches deep. Its maximum pumping height is 19.25 feet with switch-on and switch-off heights of 3 inches and 7-1/4 inches respectively; it includes a vertical float switch. It uses 9.7 amps on 115 volts and it doesn’t include a battery backup. On our scale it weighed 27.9 pounds and it comes with a 10 foot power cord. While the max pump rate is 2,580 gallons per hour at 0 feet, at 10 feet it drops to 2,040 gph, to 1,140 gph at 15 feet, and ceases operation by 20 feet. The working temperature range spans 40-130 degrees Fahrenheit. The M63 self-primes and is fully constructed from cast iron, including the impeller. Amazon incorrectly reports the discharge size as 1-1/2″ FPT; it’s actually 1-1/2″ NPT, and it needs sump pits at least 15 inches in diameter.

How Does the Zoeller M63 Compare to the Zoeller M57, Wayne CDU1000, and Zoeller M267 Sump Pumps?

The main differences between the M63 and the M57 have to do with warranty coverage. Due to better internal and external construction (including the high quality float switch system), the M63 comes with a 5 year warranty, which is leagues better than the 1 year warranty of the M57. We’d expect the M63 to last between 10 and 17 years due to the tighter internal tolerances. We’re also happy to see the power cord is lengthened in the M63 compared to that in the M57.

In comparison, while the Wayne CDU1000 offers a stronger motor (1HP vs .3HP in the M63), a much faster top flow rate (5,400 gallons per hours vs 2,580 in the M63), and an equivalently strong 5 year warranty, the M63 is built more solidly both externally and internally. Due to its construction standards, the M63 is more likely to continue to run over time (even in environments with hard or calcified water) and it’s more likely to keep working through contaminants, debris, and other detritus in your sump pit. The cast iron impeller is capable of shredding up to 1/2 inch (12mm) spherical solids. We’d expect 5-9 years of life from the CDU1000, but we’d expect 10-17 from the M63. If you aren’t a fan of replacing sump pumps (and besides plumbers, we’ve yet to find someone who is), you’ll want to invest in peace of mind.

That said, if peace of mind is your ultimate goal, and you’d prefer to keep your sump pump working and out of the way for as long as possible, you’ll want to skip the M63, the M57, and the CDU1000 and go straight to the Zoeller M267. It’s far faster than any of these pumps, including the CDU1000 (its maximum flow rate is a class-leading 7,680 gallons per hour) while being capable of handling up to 2 inch solids (the CDU1000 isn’t rated for handling solids while the other Zoellers are only rated for up to 1/2 inch solids), and you can expect up to 20 years of useful life. This is the pump to get if you want a lifetime sump pump: the M267.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Zoeller M63 Sump Pump

Installing the M63 was straightforward, and even with limited plumbing experience it’s unlikely to take more than an hour with necessary tubing and connectors on hand. Connect a 1-1/2 inch male threaded fitting to the sump discharge hose or pipe; place your sump pump in the sump basin and level it. Ensure the float isn’t touching anything and is free to move up and down, and plug everything in. Add a check valve (we like the Brady check valve) and a relief hole as noted in the instruction sheet. That’s pretty much it.

The noise and vibration levels are next to nonexistent; it’s noticeably quieter than the M57, which we attribute to the higher end and better balanced components. You won’t be able to hear it from more than a couple of feet away, and if feedback from other plumbers and homeowners is any indication, you’ll be able to enjoy such functionality for a good 10-16 years if you’re lucky.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Zoeller M63 Working Sooner

Our three biggest recommendations for using the M63 involve checking the float switch action from time to time (particularly if you’re lucky enough to have a sump basin that doesn’t fill up on a daily basis like those in the northern Illinois wetland), to buy and install a DC backup sump pump (or a water based backup sump pump), and to add a water alarm for extra insurance.

Checking the float switch action helps make sure it doesn’t get stuck over time due to disuse, and this ensures that the next time your sump basin starts to fill, the float switch will be loose enough to activate when necessary. The DC backup sump pump is an essential piece of insurance for any AC based sump pump, as a battery powered sump pump will take over in the event of a loss of power when your AC sump pump turns off.

If you’ve got the money, the top DC backup sump pump is the Wayne WSM3300. However, if you’re working with a much smaller budget, the Wayne ESP25 is a good alternative. And for a cheap but effective water alarm (which you’ll want to install just above the backup float switch, which should be installed just above your AC float switch), we like the Basement Watchdog. Remember that both the backup sump pump and the water sensor are much cheaper than any amount of time and money spent cleaning a flooded basement.

Zoeller M63 Sump Pump Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

In conclusion, at the $200 mark, we can’t find a better sump pump on the market. The Wayne CDU1000 is a faster pumps and worth considering if you absolutely need higher flow rates, but at under $200, the M63 in our books is the best sump pump for the money. It’s going to last longer and it’s going to do a much better job at handling dirty, contaminated, or debris-filled water. We’re also highly impressed with the 5 year warranty. That said, it’s not the best AC sump pump out there; we’d put the Zoeller M267 far ahead of any other AC sump pump on the market under $400 in terms of speed and long term reliability.

You can buy the Zoeller M63 here on Amazon. You can buy the Zoeller M267 here. You can buy the Wayne CDU1000 here. You can buy the Wayne ESP25 here or buy the Wayne WSM3300 here. You can buy a water alarm here. You can buy a silent check valve here.

If you find our work at PumpThatSump helpful, you can put our relentless reviewing of every pump and fixture on the market to the test by shopping via our links above for whatever you need to make your house a home. Despite being self-employed, we promise not to spend it all on health insurance.