For a home, farm, or business, a portable emergency utility pump can serve many purposes. Also called portable water transfer pumps, they allow you to drain pools, water heaters, and hot tubs, as well many other practical uses. Drain the basement when it’s flooded, like when your sump pump gives up on you. Even use it to increase the water pressure for irrigation.
Top Rated Utility Pumps Reviewed
A portable utility pump need not cost you an arm and a leg. You can find decent quality pumps for less than $50, going up to $100 or more, for models with more power and heavy-duty applications. Whether it’s emergency flooding, perhaps during a hurricane, or simply to empty pool quickly, a utility drain pump is certainly a worthwhile investment.
This review will help you find the best option. Be it a cheap utility drain pump you’re after, or something more powerful and robust, we have put in the hours to narrow your search. Through product research, and considering customer opinions, we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 portable utility drain pumps for every type of user.
1. Superior Pump 91025 1/5 HP Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump with 10-Foot Cord
The Superior Pump 91025 ¹⁄₅HP submersible utility pump is wonderfully practical and delightfully cheap. Though don’t be fooled into thinking, just because this pump is one of the cheapest, it’s second rate. The durable thermoplastic housing will never rust, and high-quality seals have been used to protect the motor.
At¹⁄₅horsepower, this is certainly not the most powerful utility pump. It can, none the less, pump up to 1,560 Gallons per Hour (GPH) along a flat surface.
With a vertical lift of 20’ (close to its maximum 25’ lift capacity), the Superior Pump will still manage a pretty decent 420 GPH. Although less powerful than some others, there are advantages to using this little pump. It doesn’t use much electricity and will fit into a drain as small as 6”.
The 1¼” NPT discharge fitting comes with a ¾” adapter, allowing you to use a standard garden hose. The pump can handle solids up to ¹⁄₈” without clogging or damaging the impeller. To prevent any type of damage, the intake at the base of the pump is protected by a plastic mesh. This filter mesh is removable for easy cleaning.
The only real inconvenience, if we can even call it that, is that the pump only has a discharge fitting at the top of the pump. You don’t have the versatility that some pumps offer, allowing you to connect a discharge pipe at the top or to one side of the pump. Though I doubt this would be deal breaker for most buyers.
Certainly one of the best portable utility pumps under $50. The Superior Pump 91025 is made from quality materials, with a solid copper motor. It is incredibly efficient, so it won’t push up your electricity bills, and is excellent for small spaces. You can be assured that this pump will provide years of faithful service and has a 1-year warranty.
2. WAYNE WWB WaterBUG Submersible Pump with Multi-Flo Technology
Of all the portable utility pumps in this review, the Wayne WWB WaterBug has to be my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive. Though, for its many advantages, the Wayne portable pumps is most certainly worth those extra few dollars. At least in my opinion. For starters, Wayne is a respected US pump manufacturer. Their outstanding reputation for quality and a great warranty, in of itself, offers significant peace of mind. Worth paying a little extra for.
It’s more than just the brand that impresses me when looking at the Wayne WaterBug. The over-all design was the first thing that caught my eye.
The base of the pump provides an incredibly stable platform, which prevents the pump from tipping over easily. This is really important with a submersible pump used in a wide area, like a swimming pool. The water intake is at the bottom of the pump. If it tips over when the water level is low, the intake may easily end up above the water level. This will cause the pump to run dry, which can easily cause it to burn out.
The base has another extraordinary design feature. The water intake is situated only a fraction of an inch from the surface. This allows the Wayne WaterBug to remove water down to ¹⁄₁₆”, leaving the surface almost completely dry. The outlets also offer more versatility. You can connect a discharge pipe to either the top or side of the pump. These outlets have 1¼” solid brass fittings, a far cry from the usual plastic fittings, and can be adapted for a ¾” garden hose.
Probably the most remarkable aspect to this pump has to be the ultra-efficient¹⁄₆ HP electric motor. This is about as small as it gets for a portable utility pump, making it extremely economical in terms of power consumption. Yet the Wayne WaterBug defies expectations with an incredible maximum 30’ vertical lift with pretty impressive flow rates. At 0’ head, the WWB utility pump will remove 1,350 GPH, down to 600 GPH for a 20’ vertical lift. If you compare this to the Superior Pump model (reviewed above) with a larger ¹⁄₅ HP motor, you will get a sense of how remarkable the Wayne pump really is.
The only reason why any would pass over the Wayne WWB WaterBug portable utility pump might be the price. Though, considering all the pros, I think it’s more than worth it. Design, performance, and practicality leave any of the others lacking on every level. The brand is one of the best in the business, and the fantastic 3-year warranty is a worthy testament to the type of quality you’re buying.
3. Amazon Commercial 1/4 HP Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump
The Amazon Commercial ¼HP utility pump is a bit of a paradox. On the one hand it’s extremely cheap for one of the most powerful of its kind. On the other hand, the performance is a little underwhelming for its size. One thing thing’s for sure tough, this beast has the best GPH capacity for a portable utility pump under in this price range.
For the most part, the Amazon Commercial submersible utility pump looks, and functions, much like any of the others. It has a rust-free thermoplastic exterior, with a 1¼” plastic discharge fitting at the top and 10’ power cord. Where it differs from most others in a similar price range, is the above average ¼ HP motor.
This extra power gives it a pretty impressive 1,860 GPM flow rate without a vertical lift. Though the head capacity is fairly average, even less than some smaller pumps, at 29.5 feet. Though this quite a substantial lift and I doubt anyone would require more than this from a domestic a utility pump. It will clear the water down to ¼” from the surface and has a protection mesh, preventing damage to the pump from solid debris.
The real value to the Amazon Commercial portable utility pump is its power rating in relation to its price. This pump costs the same (or less) than most ¹⁄₅or ¹⁄₆ HP utility pumps. More power for less money, that’s an outright bargain by any definition.
4. Green Expert 203617 1/6 HP Portable Submersible Utility Pump
The Green Expert 203617 ¹⁄₆HP utility pump is a real winner if you’re looking for a small portable utility pump. It’s really compact, measuring 6.5” in diameter and 9.5” in height, and has a carrying handle for the best portability. It is also easy on your pocket. It is not, however a powerhouse when it comes to pumping capacity.
If affordability and portability are top of your list, then this pump is bound to win you over. However, if you want to move the most water, in the shortest time, it certainly won’t bowl you over. The Green Expert 203617 is one of the least impressive utility pumps when looking at flow rate and vertical lift specs.
At 0’ head, the pump will achieve a reasonable 1,056 GPH. Though as soon as you require any lift, the figures start to become quite underwhelming. This pump has a maximum vertical lift of 15’, at which it will move a rather dismal 130 GPH.
The pump looks kind of cool in bright green, but that’s not really a priority for me. In general, it’s very much the same as most others. A waterproof, rust-free, plastic exterior with a 1¼” plastic discharge fitting. It also comes with a ¾” hose adapter and a ¾” NPT adapter, which makes for great practical versatility.
I like this pump for it’s portable practicality, and great price. So, it’s not the most powerful, the little Green Expert still gets the job done. It just might take a while to pump large volumes of water, like emptying a large a swimming pool. It more than makes up for this in terms of affordability and practicality.
5. FLUENTPOWER 1/4 HP Portable Submersible Utility Pump
A perfect combination of high-power and great portability, make the FluentPower ¼HP utility pump a very appealing option. As compact as it gets, with a 6” diameter and 9” height, with a built-in handle, this pump is great for portability. Though it’s ¼HP abilities defy the compact size.
While the FluentPower portable submersible utility pump is not the best for vertical pumping, with a maximum head of 16.5’, it has a really good flow rate of 1,500 GPH without any lift.
It will clear water from the surface down to 15 MM (roughly 0.6”) and has a built in filter to prevent solid debris from causing any damage to the impeller.
The general quality of this pump appears to be well above average and it has a longer than usual 16.4’ power cable. It is fitted with a 1¼” NPT plastic discharge with a ¾” garden hose adapter, 1” NPT adapter, and a ⁵⁄₈” fitting for a hose with clamp.
A really great design gives the FluentPower utility pump an elegant and definitive appearance. Materials and components all seem to be of a very high standard. This should be a very durable and reliable pump. It’s also very practical and great in terms of portability.
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