When it comes to basement waterproofing, a good sump pump is essential. But an AC sump pump isn’t enough; you also need something that’ll keep ticking when the power goes out–that either means a water-based pump or a DC-based sump pump. And if you’re going to keep one of those running, you’re going to need a good battery. Today we’re going to take a look at the Zoeller AGM backup sump pump battery. But before we do, let’s quickly review some of the the pumps you might want to use it with.
As noted above, even if you’re using a top AC sump pump (which for us would be the Zoeller M267), it’s not going to do anything for you if you lose electricity in the middle of a thunderstorm. And experience (and Murphy’s law) tells us this is when it’s most likely to happen. So you need some kind of sump pump. If you’re just looking for a DC backup sump pump, our favorite is the Wayne WSM3300; nothing else comes close. If you’re looking for an AC/DC combo, we’re big fans of the Wayne WSSM40V, the Zoeller 508-0006, and the Zoeller 507-0008, in that order. But whatever you get, you don’t want to cheap out on the battery. The best backup sump pump won’t pump a gallon of water if it’s running on a dead box store battery that gave up the ghost a month after you bought it.
Fortunately, you don’t have to spend your retirement funds (or your kids’ college savings) on a good deep cycle battery. Today we’ll take a closer look at the Zoeller AGM backup sump pump battery to judge its compatibility with some of the sump pumps we described above. If you’re ready to buy it and just want to know if it’s reliable, we’re happy to let you know that it is, and that you can buy it here.
Key Features of the Zoeller AGM Battery (60 Second Summary)
The Zoeller AGM is a deep cycle (marine-type) battery particularly suited for sump pump and marine applications. It is described as maintenance-free, meaning you should never need to top it off with fluids or check fluid levels during normal use, as it is fully sealed. It has a nominal voltage of 12V and is designed to provide between 5 and 7 hours of continuous operation for a DC backup sump pump system. It is 7.5 inches tall, 10 inches wide, and 12.75 inches deep. It includes a 1 year warranty from Zoeller. The reserve capacity is 175 minutes while it is rated at 72 amp hours (72Ah).
Zoeller AGM Compatibility with DC Backup and Combination Sump Pumps
We were thrilled with the compatibility of the Zoeller AGM with every DC sump pump we tried. Given its manufacture by Zoeller, we were particularly interested in its functionality with Zoeller sump pumps, and we were not disappointed. It installed seamlessly and maintained a steady charge in two Zoeller DC backup pumps: the 508 Aquanot and the 507 Basement Sentry, and it was fully compatible with the aforementioned pumps when they were packaged into the 508-0006 and 507-0008 respectively. We were also pleased with functionality with a number of Wayne sump pumps, and reported full compatibility with three of their DC backup pumps: the WSM3300, the ESP25, and the ESP15. When it came to combination AC/DC pumps, we also had success with the WSSM40V, WSS30V, and WSS20V. We’ll continue testing it with other backup and combination sump pumps on the market, but initial results are very promising, and we’d expect it to be compatible with virtually every system currently on the market.
Our Short and Long Term Experiences Installing and Using the Zoeller AGM Battery
Although Zoeller only provides a very conservative 1 year warranty, we have full confidence in the battery’s lasting up to 10 times as long, if not longer. We find the slightly higher price of the AGM more than offset by the dramatically increased longevity in comparison to regular box store deep cycle batteries, which typically die and need replacing within 1 to 3 years. Rather than making such a poor investment of both time and money, we’d rather spend a bit more at the start for a lasting product, and our notes with fellow plumbers and homeowners suggest the AGM is a solid investment. We’d rate the average lifespan of an AGM between 7 and 10 years, although for safety, it’s always good to review a deep cycle battery’s charging and discharging abilities every year.
Zoeller AGM Battery Pros, Cons, and Value Comparison
Overall, the Zoeller AGM is the best battery we’ve tested so far for DC backup and combination sump pump installation. It delivers a strong and consistent power supply and is likely to provide a high degree of both short and long term reliability. It’s far from the cheapest deep cycle battery you’ll find on the market, but we’re firmly of the mindset that you can either pay a bit more and cry only once (and spend the rest of your time smiling with peace of mind) or you can pay a bit less at first and spend a lot more later in both time and money. When your sump pump starts overflowing in the middle of a flash flood with the power out and your backup pump won’t start, the last thing you’ll be thinking of is how good of a deal your cheap battery was. Spend a bit more up front for high-end, proven gear that’ll be there for you when you need it most.
You can buy the Zoeller AGM battery here on Amazon. You can buy the MK E27-SLD-G battery here. You can buy buy the Zoeller 508-0006 here. You can buy the Zoeller 507-0008 here. You can buy the Wayne WSSM40V 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.