Reviews

Best Combination Sump Pump Systems in 2022

January 11, 2022

Combination sump pumps are great if you want to have complete flooding protection for your basement. With two pumps ready to take on the job in any circumstances, you’re sure to have peace of mind you haven’t for years.

These pumps are perfect for many homeowners thanks to their compact assembly. You won’t have to fit the second pump yourself and all you have to do is drop it in and connect it to your system.

In this article, I’ll share with you which I think are the best combination sump pump systems available today.

Zoeller ProPak53	Wayne WSS30Vn	Wayne BGSP50

Best overall	Great for average flooding	Great for heavy flooding
Primary: 2040 GPH at 10′	Primary: 3840 GPH at 10′	Primary: 3840 GPH at 10′
Backup: 2100 GPH at 10′	Backup: 1500 GPH at 10′	Backup: 2040 GPH at 10′
Editor Rating: 4.7 ★	Editor Rating: 4.5 ★	Editor Rating: 4.6 ★
Check Availability on Amazon	Check Availability on Amazon	Check Availability on Amazon

The Best Combination Sump Pump Systems

1. Zoeller Aquanot 508 ProPak53

Best overall choice

Key Features
Primary: 2040 GPH at 10' lift
Backup: 2100 GPH at 10' lift
5.5 to 7.5 hours of continuous pumping
Cast iron and plastic housing
Multi-stage charger and alarm
Self testing and battery monitoring
Fits in 18" basins
3 year warranty

ProPak is Zoeller’s take on combination sump pumps and like its other products — it doesn’t disappoint. It has great build quality with a primary and backup rated at 2100 GPH and 2040 GPH respectively, at 10 feet of lift. That’s an equal amount of protection the whole time.

When the primary pump fails, the backup pump can run straight for up to 6 hours on a single charge of battery. That means a full day of protection if it runs for around 15 minutes every hour.

The assembly has a self-testing controller with alarms. And although it doesn’t have a remote notification system, the audible alarm is great.

The design of the assembly allows it to fit into 18-inch basins without a problem which is nice. But the 9 feet cord could’ve been longer.

2. Wayne WSS30Vn Upgraded

Best for average flooding

Key Features
Primary: 3840 GPH at 10' lift
Backup: 1500 GPH at 10' lift
Coated steel housing
10000 gallons on a single battery charge
Reliable switch
Fits in 16" basins
3 year warranty

If you a really large amount of flooding getting into your basement, check this system out. The Wayne WSS30VN packs two top-quality pumps in one powerful package — the Wayne ESP25 and CDU800.

Upgraded from the Wayne WSS30V, each pump is now made of a sturdy coated steel motor housing. That’s a great boost to its durability.

Like all Wayne pumps, these have a top suction design to avoid airlock. This means you don’t need to drill a weep hole as in other sump pump installations.

The best part about is that it fits in 16-inch diameter basins. A testament to how compact the assembly is.

3. WAYNE BGSP50 Guardian Premium

Best for heavy flooding

Key Features
Primary: 3840 GPH at 10' lift
Backup: 2040 GPH at 10' lift
11000 gallons of water on one battery charge
Cast iron housing
Solid-state air switch with redundant reed float switch
Apple & Android app for continuous monitoring with WiFi
LocalLink technology for when WiFi is down
Works in 15" basins
5 year warranty

The Wayne BGSP50 is the ultimate battery backup sump pump package you can get for your home. A well-rounded system with top of the line specifications.

It packs a primary and backup that can reach up to 3840 and 2040 GPH respectively, up to 10 feet. That’s a more reliable backup on its own than the WSS30Vn.

My favorite part about it is the switch. There’s a solid-state switch that uses air pressure to sense the water level. Backed by an electromechanical reed float in case of failure.

It has a system that monitors parameters and conducts system tests on its own. You can connect it to the WiFi to receive alerts. When the WiFi’s down, the LocalLink technology allows you to check on it even from your own bed. No more having to go down the basement.

The only caveat, as you probably expected, is that it’s not cheap. But you can’t put a price on peace of mind and that’s exactly what this gives.

4 Glentronics PHCC PS-C22

Great alternative for heavy flooding

Key Features
Primary: 2770 GPH at 10' lift
Backup: 1850 GPH at 10' lift
Cast iron & ABS housing
USB data port & remote terminals
Dual float switch
3 year warranty

For a bit of an improvement in quality over the Basement Watchdog, Glentronics also offers the PHCC Pro-Series pumps. The PS-C22 is their take on an industrial grade combination sump pump system for residential applications.

It packs a primary pump that moves up to 2770 GPH and the backup up to 1850 GPH to 10′ of elevation. That’s a more balanced pair of pumps than all of the other pumps here except for the Zoeller.

Like its cousin, the DFK961, the PS-C22 is equipped with a dual float switch for each pump. It also has a great monitoring system with helpful alarms and USB capability to PHCC Pro Series CONNECT modules which is nice. The module allows the system to send you texts and status alerts with no monthly fee.

5. Liberty Pumps PC457-441

Best alternative for average flooding

Key Features
Primary: 2580 GPH at 10' lift
Backup: 1500 GPH at 10' lift
Poly/aluminum housing
1 1/2" PVC piping with rubber coupler
Audible and visual alarms
2 years warranty

Liberty Pumps is one of the most popular brands in the sump pump industry. The PC series combination pumps are for those who want a reliable combo system that works.

The assembly packs a primary and backup capable of pumping up to 2580 and 1500 GPH at 10′ of lift respectively. It’s highly compact making it perfect for small diameter basins as small as 15″ in diameter.

Like the more expensive options here, it also features a self testing and alarm system to tell you when something’s wrong.

This is a great choice for people who want great features and a brand you know you can rely on.

6. BASEMENT WATCHDOG DFK961

Best for light flooding

Key Features
Primary: 3100 GPH at 10' lift
Backup 1000 GPH at 10' lift
Cast iron & cast aluminum housing
Dual float switch system
Audible and visual alarm
2 year limited warranty

Basement Watchdog is one of the well-known brands in sump pump technology. They produce high quality products at affordable prices. Favored by both pros and homeowners, it’s a brand we just can’t afford to leave out of this list.

The DFK961 is their entry into combination pumps at the 1/3 HP range. It packs a primary and backup that can move up to 3100 and 1000 GPH respectively, both at 10 feet. Like the WSS30Vn, there’s an imbalance that makes it rely too much on the main pump. This is bad if you have large amounts of water coming in.

What I like about it though is the dual float switches for both of the pumps. It gives the system 4x the protection by having a failsafe for the most sensitive part — the switch.

What is a combination sump pump?

A combination sump pump is where an typical AC powered and a backup battery powered pump are asssembled together. The arrangement helps provide continuous protection even when the primary pump fails due to damage or power outages.

Commonly referred as combo sump pumps, this system is preferred where convenience is a primary concern. With a combination system, all you have to do is drop it into the pit and connect a check valve to the discharge. You won’t have to create the mounting and find the space for another pump such as when adding to an existing sump pump.

Buyer's Guide

1. Capacity

The capacity is the most important factor when choosing the pump. You should measure how much water goes into your pit in a minute and find a pump above that clears that in half the time.

You also want both the primary and backup pump to have about the same capacity as each other. Since the backup has to work alone in case of the primary’s failure, it has to be able to do the job on its own.

2. Build

A great sump pump combination should have both pumps made of corrosion resistant materials. It should be able to withstand several years of the harsh environment inside the pit.

Cast iron is great and is the go-to for most people. It has great cooling properties and durability. After a few years, however, it will start to corrode when the coating goes off.

Plastic pumps counter this but they sacrifice a bit of the cooling property. This may make the pump overheat specially when it has to cycle every few minutes.

3. Price

Although price shouldn’t be the main factor in choosing, we still have to consider it as a matter of practicality. Systems like the BGSP50 are jam packed with features but they may be too expensive for the average user. If so, you should try to get a pump with nearly the same capacity but with less extras.

Conclusion

Combination pumps are a great way to provide all around protection for your home. They’re cheap (cheaper than water damage repairs, anyway) and really easy to install. Taking away all our stress and worries of a flooded home.

Lucky for us, there are an increasing number of manufacturers in this market. This means better and cheaper options for all of us. All we have to do is choose one that best fits our home.

Do you have any experience with the pumps above? Do you know other options which you think should’ve made the list? If so, tell us about it in the comments below!