Zoeller M63 Premium Series 5 Year Warranty Mighty-Mate Submersible Sump Pump, 1/3 Hp

positive: received on time, pump run quiet, no bang when shutting down, getting good flowrate (as expected). Hope it will last to offset the price difference from a cheap plastic pump.negative: received in a box too flimsy to hold a pump this heavy, and was partially ripped open with some scratch to the pump casing (it was only cosmetic fortunately, a touchup with tremclad rustpaint should prevent corrosion).

8/21 update - bought another 63 for a different location. Great pump!Original review -I've used Zoeller pumps for decades, never had an "early" failure. They used to last 15 years, now it's 5-7 years for the 5 year warranty version of this M63. I've had the 3 year warranty M53 last 5 years, but I change my pumps very 5 years.What separates this model M63 Zoeller pump from the less expensive and same HP Zoeller M53 pump is the upgraded float switch, the cast iron impeller and base (The M53 has a plastic impeller and base) and the Polypropylene Float Operated Vertical Float Switch w/ Viton® Switch Boot in the M63. The M53 has a lower grade switch and boot compared to the M63, hence the 3 year warranty for the M53 versus 5 years for his M63 pump.Pro:-5 year warranty-Solid cast iron body, base and impeller. The impeller will not crack or break as easily if it picks up sediment or small stones versus the M53-Solid polypropylene float-Lighted plug-Stainless hardware, handle and float rodCon:-Zoeller pumps used to last 10-15 years. Today, they pretty much hit in the warranty specification - 5 to 7 years for this pump. I've had M53's last 5 years. I guess Zoeller makes a lot more money selling pumps this way-Regardless of warranty, ALWAYS have a spare pump ready to go because a warranty is what's printed on the box, not what can really happen.-The Achilles heel of any sump pump is the pump switch/float set up. Either the switch wears out or the seal leaks and shorts the switch. I tried the LevelGuard switches and they are also 5 year wonders and they cost and extra $100+. I just replaced an N53 pump with a LevelGuard switch that lasted 5 years with an N63.I always have a spare M63 plumbed with the glued up 1 1/2 inch outlet pipe ready to attach to the Zoeller back flow valve. That allows me to remove the gear clamp from the back flow valve and snap in the new pump in 15 minutes in an emergency. I also have a sump alarm hooked into my alarm system that notifies if the water goes above the pump head and a whole house automatic generator so I don't have to screw with semi-lame and pricey battery back up sumps.Whenever I change out a sump pump, I print out an installation date label and attach it to the power cord at eye level so can see when its time for a pump change out.It's important to drill the 3/16" hole in the outflow pipe just at the head of the pump to prevent fluid lock. If you DON'T drill that hole, an air pocket can form around the impeller and the pump will run endlessly without pumping any water and the pump will overheat and burn out and risk a flood.Also be SURE to drill the 3/16 hole at a 45 degree angle pointed DOWN into the sump well. If you drill it at 90 degrees or point it up even a little bit, water will spray all over your cover and onto the floor. This little detail is NOT in the Zoeller install instructions and the part about the 45 degree down angle is buried in a product installation video on their website. Hope that helps!

I had a zoeller m53 installed (chosen by the professional basement system people) when my crawl space was encapsulated 10 years ago. I noticed its gfi recently tripped twice, I reset it and seemed ok for a day. Turns out the pump was running constantly. It was ignoring the float switch. I temporarily put a Kasa WiFi switch on the pump and controlled the pump manually and with the Kasa timer function. I could see the pump water output outside and put a WiFi camera on it for when I was away. I read reviews and found the m63 was a better version. Installations major challenge was keeping the pit dry enough to change pumps. I used a hard to prime pump to eventually empty the pit of the ground water constantly coming in plus the large amount of water released when the detached check valve emptied the piping. Fortunately the stand and discharge fittings transferred to the m63 after a small fight with the corroded screw clamps. Buttoned everything up, the m63 works perfectly. I might see if I can replace the float switch on the m53 and keep it for a just in case spare. If you need a pump, spend the small amount extra and get the m63, it has a better float switch and tougher metal impeller. Weighs a lot more too. The photo is the old m53 pump in the sump.

I have been using Zoeller pumps for many years, and I have been using this Zoeller M63 sump pump for about 1.5 years. It replaced a Zoeller M57 that was starting to have problems with the float switch after about 4 or 5 years. Zoeller was great about sending me a replace switch kit for it . It was my second Zoeller M57 I owned, and the original one had the switch replaced 1 or 2 times on it. The pump itself was great, but the M57 switch just doesn't hold up well. I explained to Zoeller I keep a spare sump pump on hand for emergencies, and they informed that keeping a spare on hand in a box is not a good idea. They explained the seals can go bad, and they recommended keeping a spare switch on hand instead.So far I have been very happy with the M63, and it should address all the short comings of the M57. The M63 has an upgrade switch and switch boot. The M63 also comes with a 5 year warranty, unlike the M57's 3 year warranty. As an added feature the M63 has a light up plug to let you know the unit is receiving power. It seems like such a minor feature, but it is quite handy. Overall, I am very optimistic that this Zoeller M63 will last much longer than the M57 sump pumps I had before it, and the price difference is so minimal it is not worth even considering the M57.On a side note, the cost of a flooded basement is expensive, so I always recommend a high quality sump pump and a battery backup sump pump. It just doesn't make sense to not spend the few hundred dollars extra to protect a home. The ideal setup is three sump pumps: two regular sump pumps and a battery back up sump pump. One sump pump set a little higher than the primary one, so that when the primary fails the second turns on when the water level rises up to it. This is also effective if you're in a severe storm and more water is coming in than the pump can handle. I also recommend using pump stands so that the sump pump is not on the floor of the sump pit. I have seen rocks and pebbles jam the impellers before. Zoeller offers a really nice and versatile pump stand.

Zoeller M63 Premium Series 5 Year Warranty Mighty-Mate Submersible Sump Pump, 1/3 Hp. Love it, it’s built like a tank. Lighted cord plug allows you to see if it is powered from a distance. There is a reason why good plumbers use Zoeller…. Check out their quiet check valve!!