Zoeller 57-0001 M57 Basement High Capacity Sump Pump Reviews

When the company is Zoeller, buying a sump pump can be extremely hard, primarily because of the unbeatable quality and value for money that Zoeller ensures is characteristic of each and every one of its products. The Zoeller M57 Basement High Capacity Sump Pump is no exception to this, offering an excellent mix of features and quality build at an unbeatable price. However, it is also true that each of Zoeller’s products is unique in its own way, and a mere glance through the specifications does not fully bring out the specialties. Therefore, it will be necessary to study the unique features of this product with the help of a detailed review.

Specifications:-

Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 8 x 10.3 inches

Product Weight: 27.1 pounds

Type: Submersible Sump

Pump Discharge: 1 ½ inches

NPT Motor: 0.3 HP, 115 volts

Power: 2580 GPH at 5′, 2040 GPH at 10′, 1140 GPH at 15′ head

Maximum Speed: 3450 RPM

Warranty: 1 year

Get more information about the Zoeller 57-0001 M57 Sump Pump here

Design and Build Quality:-

Like the Zoeller Mighty Mate M53 Submersible, this product belongs to the highly popular Mighty Mate Series 50, and hence, is made of high quality cast iron that is both corrosion resistant as well as capable of resisting high pressures. In case you are wondering whether “cast iron construction” refers merely to the external housing, let us add that Zoeller has made virtually all the parts (with some minor exceptions, as we shall see below) with the same cast iron that the housing boasts of. This imparts greater cohesion to the body of the sump pump, and in the process, ensures that there is never any chance of water seeping inside through linkages between parts made of different materials. It also ensures that sheet iron, which is notorious for being leaky and prone to corrosion, is virtually absent from this high-quality machine. Complementing the quality construction materials is the great design. Zoeller has stuck to the somewhat unattractive but highly efficient submersible sump pump structure with the cylindrical motor assembly, the float and switch assembly, the impeller and the discharge being the most distinctive features. Those parts (notably the motor housing and the discharge) which are exposed to the water for the greater part of their lifetime, have been provided with an epoxy coating, which buttresses the cast iron’s natural corrosion resistance to a point where the product does not rust even when it remains under water for months on end.

Major External Parts (Handle, Power Cord, and Discharge):-

We noted that there are a few minor exceptions to the complete cast iron construction of the sump pump. One of the exceptions is the handle, which is made of stainless steel which has not been coated with epoxy paint. While this does make the handle more vulnerable to rust, we may surmise that Zoeller chose steel because of its comparatively light weight, since a heavy cast iron handle would be bulky and difficult to lift. Furthermore, being made of high-quality stainless steel, the handle is never at risk of being broken or dislocated during the installation of the sump pump. The discharge is the standard 1-1/2” NPT unit found in the best of Zoeller’s offerings. Being in constant contact with water, the discharge is well insulated from the internal components of the sump pump. Furthermore, it is capable of passing spherical or near-spherical solids of ½” diameter or less, which may be present in the sump water. This impressive capability ensures that the sump is never choked with small pebbles and other dirt particles, but neither are the discharge pipes of the Zoeller M57 Basement High Capacity Sump Pump blocked and pierced by large and irregularly shaped solid bodies. Finally, the different discharge size ensures that there is never any need for the use of screens, which are utilized in some sump pumps to block out unwanted particles, but which tend to get clogged easily, thereby retarding the functioning of the pump. Finally, the power cord is of sufficient length and can operate under dry and wet conditions alike, thus ensuring that the sump pump never demands costly electrical rewiring of the basement.

Motor and Sealing:-

Zoeller has given the Zoeller 57-0001 M57 Basement High Capacity Sump Pump a 1/3HP motor, which is quite standard for this price range. What is exceptional, however, is this motor’s capability to pump water at a rate of 2850 gallons per hour at 5’ head. Coupled with its ability to pump a good 1140 gallons per hour at a maximum 15’ head, this makes the product one of the best sump pumps as far as the sheer pumping power is concerned. Some users complained that the maximum head of 15’ was a bit on the lower side, but they added that what matters is the gallons pumped at the maximum head rather than the maximum head itself since most basements do not require a pump with more than 15’ head. Finally, the motor can function efficiently at temperatures 130 degrees F (or 54 degrees C), which is again one of the highest in the industry.

This powerful motor is hermetically sealed using a neoprene square ring, thereby ensuring that the oil from the motor does not spill out into the housing, nor does the water from the exterior find its way into the motor.

See more product description of Zoeller 57-0001 M57 Sump Pump Here

Impeller, Switch Assembly, and Switch Protection:-

The Zoeller M57 comes with a specially engineered cast iron impeller that can work efficiently even under high water pressure. Being of cast iron, the impeller is not liable to suffer damage from large pieces of rubble that may come in with the sump water. Indeed, this feature sets it apart from some cheaper products that use vulnerable plastic impellers. The switch assembly consists of a two pole automatic switch, triggered by a shaft that connects the high-quality polypropylene float to the body of the sump pump. When the level of water rises, the float rises and triggers the switch, thereby starting the pumping procedure. This assembly is defended by a switch guard, which ensures that boulders and other floating effluents do not damage the precision switch. Interestingly, Zoeller has used AISI 1215 cold roll stainless steel for the switch shaft and guard. While this steel is one of the best variants available in the market today and the necessity of making the shaft light enough to move accurately would justify the use of steel, the guard could have been made of cast iron. That said, though, none of the customers who bought the Zoeller M57 Sump Pump complained about the quality of the switch guard.

Warranty:-

The Zoeller 57-0001 Basement High Capacity Sump Pump comes with a 1-year warranty on parts and labor which requires the user to take the product (or ship it via courier) to the nearest service center for removal of defects.

Pros:-

Almost entire pump made of high quality cast iron, no sheet iron used Epoxy coating ensures excellent product resistance against corrosion Perfectly sized discharge capable of passing small spherical solids Long power cord usable in dry and wet conditions Powerful 1/3HP motor with good pumping capacity Thermal switch protects pump against overheating Neoprene square ring for hermetical sealing of motor Efficient two poles float-operated switch.

Cons:-

Switch guard could have been made of cast iron Average maximum head

Customer Reviews:-

Users of Zoeller 57-0001 M57 Basement High Capacity Sump Pump noted the solid build quality of the product, which gave it the ability to survive years of heavy usage. The switch assembly was praised for being highly sensitive, while the motor was commended of handling massive storm flooding without problems. However, a minority of users believed that the motor could have had a better maximum head, while a still lesser number complained about the switch guard being made of steel.

Conclusion:-

The Zoeller 57-0001 Sump Pump is similar to other Zoeller products in some areas (epoxy coating for instance), but it has some unique points as well, including the almost total use of cast iron, the square neoprene sealing of the motor and the well-designed cast iron impeller. Having been developed by Zoeller’s experienced engineers, these features coordinate well to pump water out with an efficiency we’ve come to expect of Zoeller. Considering all these points, it would not be wrong to say that this product is one of the best sump pumps for any house or commercial establishment that has a moderate to high flooding threat and does not want to burn a hole in the pocket purchasing a very expensive commercial pump.

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