If you’ve got sewage wastewater draining from a sewage system installed below grade, you’re not going to be able to take advantage of gravity, and will need a sewage pump to get it out of your home or business. As a homeowner, landlord, or small business owner, you might be tempted to try to get by with the cheapest sewage pump possible and the cheapest installation you find. But we’d recommend spending a bit more in order to get the job right, because the peace of mind from several years of reliability will be worth more in the end than saving a few dollars on an unreliable pump that breaks down right after the warranty ends. So what’s a good sewage system?

If you need to grind through tough solids, you need a sewage grinder pump, and the best you’re going to find under a grand is the Liberty Pumps PRG101A. If you only need a sewage ejector pump but want it a pre-installed, highly reliable package, we’d highly recommend the Liberty Pumps P372LE51. But what if you don’t need quite as much pumping or lifting power? This is where the Liberty Pumps P372LE41 Sewage Pump System comes in. However, we generally wouldn’t recommend it over the P372LE51 unless you truly can’t spend any more to get the 51. Our full review and comparison is below, and you can buy it here.

Key Features of the Liberty Pumps P372LE41 Simplex Sewage System (60 Second Summary)

The Liberty Pumps P372LE41 is a pre-assembled residential sewage ejector package that can also work in light commercial settings. It uses the LE41A sewage pump and features a 4/10 horsepower electric motor throttled down to a maximum water flow of 7,680 gallons per hour (124 gallons per minute) and a total head of 19 feet. Backed by a 3 year Liberty Pumps warranty, the pump is 30 inches tall, 20-1/4 inches in diameter at the base, and 24-1/2 inches at its widest diameter. It weighs 60 pounds completely assembled.

The P372LE41 can pass spherical solids up to 2 inches in diameter; the motor uses 115 volts single phase AC, pulls 12 amps at maximum load, achieves locked rotor amps at 22.5 amps and thermal overload protection at 221F. It can pump sewage at up to 140F and includes an automatic mechanical wide angle float switch. The pump uses a 2 inch FNPT discharge.

The top pumping speed of the P327LE41 is slightly slower than that of the standalone LE41A at 7,680 GPH at zero feet, 5,760 GPH at 10 feet, and max head and shut off at 19 feet. The main reasons to get the system include the QuickTree float design, which allows you to reach, remove, and replace the float switch from the top of the basin without disturbing the pump or plumbing connections. The pump sits secured in a 41 gallon polyethylene basin 40% larger than regular 18 inch x 30 inch basins, which results in improved switch and pump life through fewer on/off cycles. The system arrives fully assembled with a plastic see-through cover to protect it during masonry work and rough-in.

How Does the Liberty Pumps P372LE41 Compare to the Liberty Pumps P372LE51  and Liberty Pumps PRG101A?

The main differences between the P372LE41 and P372LE51 have to do with pumping speed, maximum head, and reliability. Both are pre-assembled sewage ejection packages, but the 41 has a top speed of 7,680 GPH compared to 8,400 GPH in the 51, and the 41 tops out at 19 feet of head compared to 24 feet in the 51. We’ve also found reliability to be significantly greater in the P372LE51 than in the P372LE41, to the extent that we wouldn’t recommend the 41 if it’s at all possible to purchase the 51 instead. We’re not saying the 41 is unreliable; it’s just not as reliable as the 51 since the core pump within the 41, the LE41A, isn’t as reliable in our observations as the LE51A that powers the P372LE51.

Compared to the PRG101A, the P372LE41 is cheaper, faster, and comes with a sewage basin, which might make one wonder how the PRG101A could be a better investment. It comes down to solids. The PRG101A is the superior sewage pump for any tasks involving processing difficult solids like feminine hygiene products, towels, napkins, or diaper and cleaning wipes because it comes with a grinder. It’s not going to get clogged or stuck by things that shouldn’t be flushed down toilets but that people flushed anyway. If you need top reliability and can’t afford any downtime, you don’t want to try to save a few hundred with the P372LE41; the PRG101A is the pump you need. It also includes a motor more than 2x as strong at 1 hp vs .4 hp and will pump more than 2.5x as high at 50 feet vs 19 feet.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Liberty Pumps P372LE41 Sewage Package

Installing the P372LE41 is identical to the process of installing the P372LE51; simply take your time and make sure you either have the relevant experience necessary or know someone who does. A good time estimate for a typical job is somewhere around 7 hours if starting from scratch. In terms of longevity, you can expect a longer working life from the P372LE41 than you’d get from the LE41A due to the reduced cycles inherent in the simplex design. However, that still means a lifetime closer to 10 to 15 years than the up to 20 we’d expect from the P372LE51, and your user experience will naturally vary.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Liberty Pumps P372LE41 Working Sooner

As is typical with Liberty Pump’s sewage ejector pumps, if you have issues at startup, they’ll typically either be related to the pump not starting, not stopping, or running without pumping.

If your pump doesn’t run, it’s probably due to a power issue, a stuck switch, a lack of sufficient liquid for switch triggering, or a bad switch. If your pump doesn’t stop running, the switch is either stuck or gone bad. If the pump runs but doesn’t pump, it’ll almost always be due to blockage or damage. Either your discharge will be locked or closed, your check valve will be closed or backwards, your ball valve or gate valve will be closed, your pump impeller is jammed, or your volute casing is plugged.

Alternatively, you might simply be needing more head than what your pump can provide. The P372LE51 will get you 5 extra feet while the PRG101A will get you 31 more. As noted above, we’d recommend the PRG101A if you need a lot of head or if you’re dealing with plugging or jamming issues, as that’s exactly what a grinder is built from the ground up to prevent.

Liberty Pumps P372LE41 Simplex Sewage System Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

In conclusion, while a simplex sewage system is probably the easiest pre-assembled sewage ejector pump system you can find for draining a basement-level toilet, we wouldn’t recommend getting one as the P372LE41 when the P372LE51 costs slightly more and offers much greater reliability. At a basic level, the LE51A pump in the P372LE51 has a better reputation for durability than the LE41A pump in the P372LE41, and when you’re buying a self-contained sewage system, you want all the parts to give as much no-fuss reliability as possible.

That said, the P372LE41 will still provide functionality and years of service if installed in a residential or small business environment where people only flush human waste. That said, if you absolutely need reliability in your home, restaurant, or other small enterprise, and can’t afford to have your drains clogged with things that people shouldn’t flush but flush anyway, you’ll want a grinder-based pump like the PRG101A. Let your clientele, budget, and risk aversion be your guide.

You can buy Liberty Pumps P372LE41 here on Amazon. We’d recommend you instead buy the Liberty Pumps P372LE51 here. You can buy the Liberty Pumps PRG101A here.  You can buy a good wet / dry vacuum here. You can buy a silent 2 inch  check valve here. You can buy a 2 inch brass ball 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.

If you need to remove sewage wastewater from a below-grade sewage system, (one where you can’t use a gravity drain line) or pump it to a septic tank, you’re going to need a sewage pump. This is the point where many homeowners, landlords, and small business owners try to save money by getting the cheapest pump possible and installing it as cheaply as possible. But if you’re like us, you’d rather spend a bit more and get the job done right, because time is money and peace of mind. So what are your options?

If you’re looking for a sewage grinder pump, the best we’ve found under $1,000 is the Liberty Pumps PRG101A. If you only need a sewage ejector pump, the Zoeller M267 and Liberty Pumps LE51A are safe bets. But if you’d like an ejector pump boxed into a residential sewage package for a simple, straightforward, and reliable installation, you’ll want something like the Liberty Pumps P372LE51 Sewage Pump System. It’s essentially the LE51A in a pre-assembled package with the goal of making the installation much faster and the durability much longer. Does it work well? We think so. Our full review is below, and you can buy it here.

Key Features of the Liberty Pumps P372LE51 Simplex Sewage System (60 Second Summary)

The Liberty Pumps P372LE51 is a pre-assembled residential sewage ejector package; it can also be used for light commercial applications. It includes the LE51A sewage ejector pump, which includes a 1/2 horsepower electric motor throttled down to a 8,400 gallon per hour maximum pumping rate and a 24 foot maximum head. The package is backed by Liberty Pump’s 3 year warranty. It is 30 inches tall, 20-1/4 inches wide at the base, and  24-1/2 inches across at its widest point. It weighs 64 pounds.

The P372LE51 can pass 2 inch spherical solids and includes thermal protection in the motor. The motor draws 115 volts single phase AC via 12 amps at maximum load; locked rotor amps is reached at 22.5 amps while thermal overload protection kicks in at 221F. It can handle liquids up to 140F and an automatic mechanical wide angle float switch is packaged with the pump. The pump includes a 2 inch FNPT discharge.

The maximum pumping speed of the P372LE51 lower than that of the LE51A by itself; it peaks at 8,400 GPH at zero feet, which scales down to 6,480  GPH at 10 feet, 2,640  GPH at 20 feet, and shuts off at 24 feet at max head.

The primary features of the system include the QuickTree system, through which the float switch can easily be accessed, pulled, and replaced through the top of the basin without affecting the functionality or connections to the pump or plumbing. This is done through a top inspection cover fitted with integrated rubber seals. The pump itself is secured within the 41-gallon basin, which itself is constructed of polyethylene and is 40% larger than standard 18 inch x 30 inch basins in order to improve both pump and switch life by reducing on/off cycles. The system arrives completely assembled and includes a clear plastic overhead cover to protect the system during rough-in and masonry work.

How Does the Liberty Pumps P372LE51 Compare to the Liberty Pumps LE51A, Zoeller M267,  and Liberty Pumps PRG101A?

The biggest difference between the P372LE51 and the LE51A and M267 is that the P372LE51 is a pre-assembled sewage ejector package; instead of just the pump (i.e., the LE51A), the sewage basin is included as well as the QuickTree system to allow removal and replacement of float switches without affecting either the pump or plumbing. The basin is also larger than the typical 18 inch x 30 inch basin, resulting in an up to 40% reduction in both pump and switch cycles and greater life in both components. Installation is simpler due to the integrated pump, discharge, and float switch components. Pumping speeds are slower in the P372LE51 than in the LE51A due to its configuration within the basin, although max head remains the same.

Compared to the PRG101A, the P372LE51A is a faster pump (8,400 GPH vs 2,760 GPH) but its speed, its price, and its integration within the basin are its only advantages. The PRG101A is a superior sewage pump due to its being a grinder pump instead of an ejector pump. It’s not going to get clogged with feminine hygiene products, wipes, napkins, towels, or similar difficult solids. As a grinder, it can handle things that shouldn’t be flushed down toilets but are flushed anyway. If that’s what you need, you don’t want to try to save money with the P372LE51A. You’ll also benefit from a much stronger motor at 1 hp in the PRG101A as well as more than twice the maximum pumping height at 50 feet vs 24 feet.

Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Liberty Pumps P372LE51 Sewage Package

Installation is relatively straightforward compared to the work needed to set up a typical sewage ejector pump. make sure your excavated hole has at least 8 inches of clearance around the tank, but you’ll also want to make it as small as possible beyond that. You should only use pea gravel or washed and crushed stone to form bedding between the walls of the hole and your basin. You don’t want to use sand or native soil for back fill. And don’t place a lot of pressure or heavy equipment on the backfill material, as you’ll likely collapse the tank.

When connecting your discharge pipe, make sure that the size of the pipe is at least as small as that on the pump, which means at least 2 inches. You might need a larger pipe size to reduce losses due to friction. Remember that you’re also going to need to vent the pump and pipe that vent to either an existing building vent or piped outside on a direct line. It needs to be at least as large as the discharge size. And don’t forget you’ll need a check valve.

In terms of longevity, the design of the P372LE51 should get you significantly more life than you’d get from the LE51A installed by itself; we’d estimate up to 20 years of service will likely be possible, although the specific lifespan you’ll get on your model will naturally depend on a healthy amount of luck. The fact that you can pull the float switch without entering the basin or affecting your pump or plumbing significantly increases its lifespan, as does the larger basin itself by reducing wear on both the pump and your switches.

Troubleshooting and Installation Tips to Get Your Liberty Pumps P372LE51 Working Sooner

As with any other sewage ejector pump, your main issues are likely to be related to the pump not running, not stopping, or running without pumping sewage.

If the pump isn’t running, you likely have a power issue (poor voltage or a blown fuse), a stuck switch (because of a physical obstruction in the basin), not enough liquid in the pit to trigger the switch, or a bad switch.

If the pump won’t stop pumping, you’ll either have a stuck switch (due to blockage again) or a defective one.

If the pump runs or makes a humming noise but doesn’t pump sewage, you’ll either have to check for a clogged or blocked discharge, a check valve that’s backwards or closed, a ball  valve or gate valve that’s closed, too much lift for the pump to handle, or a plugged volute casing or jammed pump impeller.

Most of these issues can be fixed on site if you have the right tools and replacement parts, but keep in mind that disassembling the pump itself does void your 3 year warranty.

Liberty Pumps P372LE51 Simplex Sewage System Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison

In conclusion, if you’re looking for the one of the easiest “plug and play” sewage ejector pump systems on the market, you’ll have to look far and wide to find something better than the P372LE51. It’s not as fast as the LE51A by itself but it’s going to be more reliable and simpler to install due to its integration with the sewage basin and quick-disconnect float switch. If you’re installing it in a residential or commercial environment where people only flush human solids down toilets, it will likely give you up to 20 years of trouble-free service. On the other hand, if you need to manage a home, office, or business environment with a significant risk of trash and feminine hygiene products being flushed, or if you simply can’t have downtime in your sewage system, you’ll be better off upgrading to a grinder-based pump like the PRG101A. Ultimately, your clientèle, budget, and risk tolerance will determine the best answer.

You can buy the Liberty Pumps P372LE51 here on Amazon. You can buy the Liberty Pumps LE51A here. You can buy the Liberty Pumps PRG101A here.   You can buy the Zoeller M267 here. You can buy a good wet / dry vacuum here. You can buy a silent 2 inch  check valve here. You can buy a 2 inch brass ball 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.