But when you go shopping for a new pump, the endless options and never-ending (and often conflicting) consumer reviews are enough to drive you crazy.

When you find yourself in need of a new drain pump, we’re here to help make the buying decision an easier one. Liberty pumps (like the Liberty pumps 404 model) and Zoeller pumps (like Zoeller pumps 105 model) are some of the best, so we’ll take a look at both and compare the two while providing helpful buying tips along the way.

The Basics: When Do You Need a Drain Pump?

Usually, drain pumps are found under sinks and with other small appliances, like a dehumidifier, water softener, washing machine, or laundry tray where gravity fed drain line isn’t available.

Typically, you’ll figure out that you need a drain pump at an inconvenient time—like in the middle of a home remodel or when you’re almost done finishing your basement—and you’ll want to buy that pump and get it installed quickly and without much fuss.

To help you do that, we’ve compiled this quick comparison of two of the best pumps on the market; the Liberty pumps 404 and the Zoeller pumps 105.

The Best Zoeller Pumps and Liberty Pumps

We understand how frustrating it is to scour the internet and local retailers for the best deal, especially when it comes to something as complex as a pump. Sure, you can go to a box store and buy a basic drain pump, and it might last a few months or even a couple years, but then you’re back to searching for a quality solution.

To make it easier for you to choose the best option the first time, we looked at reviews, ratings, and prices and chose the following two pump brands and models for you to consider first:

• Zoeller pump’s 105 model is a tough little drain pump that will work for nearly any small appliance application you might need (like garbage disposal, wet bar sink, or air conditioner). This top-quality Zoeller pump is extremely durable and will last. You’ll get your project done right the first time, and you won’t have to keep going back to fix the pump you just bought. Customer reviews rave that this one is really low maintenance.
• Another great option is the Liberty pumps 404 model. Liberty pumps may be a bit less popular than Zoeller, but customers rate them extremely well. They offer durable, long-lasting drain pumps that are also quiet and efficient. The 404 is a smart little automatic pump with a 1/3 HP motor, and it comes with the standard Liberty three-year warranty!

Liberty and Zoeller: Two of the Best

Why did we really choose these two models (the Zoeller pumps 105 and the Liberty pumps 404)? Because Zoeller and Liberty consistently rate among the best in the industry overall. These two models, specifically, boast high ratings and solid reviews and are priced competitively for their excellent quality, a key factor in our decision.

A Bit About Liberty Pumps

Liberty pumps (and the splashy Liberty pumps 404) are some of the best. Liberty is a family and employee-owned company that also happens to be a leading US-based manufacturer of high-quality pumps.

A Look at Zoeller Pumps

Zoeller pumps, like the Zoeller pumps 105 model, are consistently top-rated as well. Zoeller is a family-owned business that was founded in 1939. Over more than seven decades, it has established itself as a reliable leader in the industry and continues to provide high-quality solutions.

PumpProducts.com: Your Liberty Pumps and Zoeller Pumps Dealer

When you’re in the market for a new Liberty pump or Zoeller pump, check out our full-service website or call our customer service counter at 1-800-429-0800 to talk to an expert who can help you figure out which pump will work best for you. We specialize in pumps, and we’re among the largest online dealers for Liberty and Zoeller, two of the world’s most respected pump brands.

We carry both the Liberty pump 404 models and Zoeller pumps 105 you read about in this article. PumpExpress.com also happens to offer the guaranteed lowest prices on Zoeller pumps and Liberty pumps!

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Wastewater and sewage are a reality for any home or business and should be treated seriously. The right equipment is important – a substandard or ill-advised grinder pump can cause a lot of problems. That’s why Pump Express, the tri-state area’s pump-engineering leader, only stocks the best equipment, manufactured by the industry’s top brands; brands like Liberty.

Liberty Pumps have almost five decades of industry experience. Based in upstate New York, they are a leader in sump, sewage, and effluent pumps in North America. Recently Steve Ritsema, from Liberty Pumps, put on a demonstration of his company’s LSG200-Series Omnivore 2 HP Submersible Grinder Pump for area contractors at Pump Express’s headquarters in Bergen County, NJ.

Steve put the LSG200-Series Omnivore 2 HP Submersible Grinder Pump’s to the test and passed a number of items through it that would likely jam lesser products. As part of his presentation Steve deposited a leather glove, diapers, plastic bags, mop strings, and even denim with the metal buttons still attached to illustrate the pumps durability. Regardless of how tough the product was, the Liberty pump did its job and reduced the waste products to a fine slurry.

“You’ll find that it will eventually eat all of it,” said Steve, “and leave the metal bits behind, but the metal bits won’t get sucked into the cutter.”

The sturdiness of the pump was further demonstrated when it was shut down mid-operation, and started up again without incident, with Steve noting that it was precisely this sort of situation that often leads to jams in other grinder pumps. In addition to its toughness, the pump is also self-priming and cannot be air-locked.

Steve also elaborated on the LSG200-Series Omnivore 2 HP Submersible Grinder Pump’s easy maintenance. “If it gets dull, then maybe it’ll jam one day,” observed Steve. If that occurs within the first three years of its installation, then you can simply take it back to Pump Express and get a new pump.

Finally Steve discussed how the pump’s innovative design places the pump at an angle. It is that angle that maximizes the pump’s efficiency. “That’s a nice design because it lets the diapers and all your debris get under there easier so it will eat the material better.”

The kind of quality that was demonstrated by the Liberty grinder pump is precisely the kind of quality that Pump Express passes on to its customers. Their staff is comprised of engineering professionals with a high-level of expertise and factory-approved training. It gives them the edge when it comes to advising customers and providing them with the most cost-effective, innovative, and efficient solutions to their engineering needs. It is their history of providing customers with top notch advice that has made Pump Express the tri-state area’s go-to pump engineering company.

With the lowest guaranteed prices in the industry, Pump Express is pleased to offer their customers the very best, regardless of whether their issue is sewage, sludge, leachate, abrasive slurry, boiler feed, condensate, or any other fluid handling application. Contact them if you require pump equipment in New Jersey, New York, or Connecticut.

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Pump Express now carries Liberty’s new PRG Series ProVore line of residential grinder pumps. They are available as stand-alone units, convenient ProVore 380 simplex and ProVore 680 duplex pre-assembled grinder packages. The new single horsepower pumps are designed for use in residential sewage ejector systems and bring commercial-grade materials and technology, including Liberty’s patented V-Slice cutter technology, to the residential market in a small, easy-to-install design.

“For years customers experiencing chronic clogging have called us asking for a domestic grinder with these specs but there was never anything like it on the market,” says Sales Manger Fred Hettinger. “Liberty Pumps designed the ProVore to operate in a residential setting, providing maximum efficiency and grinding power in a unit that can be plugged directly into a standard 115 volt outlet. We think it’s going to solve a lot of problems.”

In addition to eliminating the rewiring, control panels and electrical expertise required to install a standard 2hp grinder pump in a home, the ProVore features a 2” discharge that provides high flow rates (46 gpm) and allows for direct connection to existing sewer lines.

“Typically grinder pumps have a 1 ¼” discharge which limits flow and makes adapting to existing 2” sewage pumps an issue,” explains Hettinger. “ProVore grinders come out of the box with a 2” discharge so there’s no piping adjustment necessary. This makes the ProVore ideal for new construction installations and for upgrading a home’s existing 2” sewage pump.”

Pump Express also carries Liberty’s newly redesigned FL70, 3/4 hp effluent pumps. In addition to improved pumping head and flow the redesigned pumps operate using less amperage and with greater efficiency. Liberty’s new effluent pump series also increased solids handing performance from ½” to ¾” and incorporates a dual-sized discharge for connection to 1-1/2” or 2” piping.

“The increase in synthetic products that don’t break down easily being flushed away in sewage and wastewater disposal systems is a big reason Liberty developed these pumps,” says General Manager Ed Drejman “We’re excited about carrying them and expect them to do very well.”

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PumpExpress.com has substantially increased its inventory of sump and dewatering pumps for Spring 2013. We have also taken on a new line of gas-powered trash pumps and accessories in response to increased demand for these products in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

“Since 2011 we’ve had two storm events classified as “100-year storms” that resulted in major flooding,” says Pump Express Sales Manager Fred Hettinger. “The subsequent rise in demand for sump pumps and other dewatering equipment—particularly for pumps that will run if the power goes out—played a major role in our stocking decisions this year.”

Rising demand for storm water pumps that will operate in challenging applications has led Pump Express to increase both the quantity and power of the dewatering equipment on offer in 2013.

“Traditional sump pumps move 30-50 gallons a minute. The newer equipment we’re stocking now is moving in excess of 200 gallons a minute,” says Hettinger. “In many cases we’ve doubled and tripled our stock of these pumps.”

Liberty, Zoeller, BJM, PHCC Pro Series and Berkeley are among the manufacturers most heavily represented in the 2013 inventory additions.

“Two years ago I would have never thought of bringing in a gas-powered trash pump because it’s a specialized pump designed to move large volumes of clear water in areas without a ready power source like a construction site,” says Hettinger “Post-Sandy, diesel and gas-powered pumps have become a growing segment of the pump market precisely because they can pump tremendous amounts of water without using electrical power.”

With some of the largest property management companies in the country approaching him to obtain this equipment, Hettinger believes that it’s growing popularity is not limited to flood-stricken areas of the Northeast.

“We’ve gotten requests for powerful dewatering pumps from throughout the Midwest and as far West as California because they’re currently flooding or they’re looking for pumps to keep on hand when flooding occurs,” says Hettinger. “There’s a greater need now to have the equipment in place to protect property and facilities and prevent storm damage from occurring. Pump Express is committed to providing customers with all of the pumping equipment they need.”

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“Up until a few years ago, the average person didn’t think much about their pumping equipment,” says PumpExpress.com’s pump product expert Craig McCrickard. “If you lived in a flood zone you might check on your sump pump in the spring but that’s about it. The megastorms we’ve seen in recent years changed that, particularly in hard hit areas like the Northeast. Today homeowners are not only looking for reliable sump pumps but also back-up systems that will kick in if the power goes out.”

McCrickard is part of a team assembled to raise the bar on what on-line pump shoppers are offered in terms of selection and information. The new venture will incorporate best practices used by veteran on-line retailers including pull-down menus, shopper reviews and buyers guides into an easy-to-use shopping site devoted to pumps, repair parts and accessories. A limited selection of electric motors and generators will also be offered.

“There’s been a lot of opportunity for road testing during the last few years with several manufacturers emerging as clear leaders.” says McCrickard. “Zoeller, Liberty Pumps and PHCC Pro Series are the three main wastewater pump manufacturers we’ll be focusing on. We plan to offer their sump, sewage and effluent pumps as stand-alone units and packaged systems. BJM puts out a great line of shredder pumps that we’ll be introducing a lot of customers to.”

The new site will also offer pumps for the full range of domestic non-wastewater applications including HVAC, recirculation and irrigation.

“The main thing that distinguishes PumpPoduct.com from Pump Express, our flagship site, is a shopping cart,” says General Manager Ed Drejman. “PumpExpress.com will continue to provide essential pump sizing and selection services to the commercial and industrial clients who require it, while PumpProducts.com will cater to the on-line shopper who has a pretty good idea of what he or she needs and is primarily interested in getting a quality pump at the best price.”

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“The vast majority of our Zoeller pump sales were large sewage pumps,” says Sales Manager Fred Hettinger. “A lot of our customers are in commercial facility, apartment building and warehouse management – all areas where high quality, cast iron sewage pumps are in heavy use. Zoeller puts out a strong product and we stock a lot of it. In 2012 this translated to 30% of our total sales.”

Liberty Pumps came in second, supplying 14% of all pumps sold. The Upstate New York-based manufacturer specializes in commercial grade sewage pumps for use in both commercial and residential markets. In 2012 Pump Express began promoting Liberty sewage pumps for their quality design, solid construction and short lead time.

“Liberty keeps everything in stock so customers never wait more than two days for delivery, which has been a strong selling point,” says Hettinger. “They have an incredible grinder pump called the Omnivore. I have customers requesting that pump over other grinder pumps at a rate of 3-to-1.”

Berkeley irrigation pumps took third place, comprising 13% of sales.

“Our strongest market for Berkley pumps is in the Midwest,” says Hettinger. “Berkeley picked a small market and cultivated it. That, coupled with great pricing, make their product very tough to beat.”

Armstrong came in fourth, providing 10% of total sales, but was Pump Express’s #1 supplier of HVAC equipment.

“Armstrong has done a very good job of creating a product that’s as good as other leading brands, but more cost effective,” says Hettinger. “When our customers are looking to buy a new pump, they’ll often choose an Armstrong pump. By comparison, Bell & Gossett pumps tend to be more economical to repair than to replace.”

Bell & Gossett rounded out the top five, comprising 8% of Pump Express sales in 2012.

“B & G has been a leading name in HVAC equipment across the Northeast for 60 years. Last year we sold a lot of parts to support pumps already out in the market, often in areas affected by flooding.”

While Hurricane Sandy gave a major boost to the sale of sump pumps and other flood remediation equipment in 2012, the sluggish economy continued to temper large commercial and industrial pump sales.

“We sold a lot of pump parts because we have the knowledge and expertise to match the parts to a customer’s product. Replacing a $300 pump is one thing, a $6,000 pump is one you’re going to try and repair. In the last year we’ve increased the parts we stock for Armstrong pumps, Bell & Gossett pumps and Taco pumps because the demand is so strong.”

Browse these and other top brand pumps at www.pumpexpress.com or call us for details: 1-800-298-4100

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