Best Multi-Use: Superior Pump 91250 ¼ HP Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump

This pump impressed us with its overall capacity (1800 gallons per hour at zero lift)—and even at a 10-foot lift, this pump still puts out a beefy 1200 gallons per hour. One of our readers even used it to flush out a tankless water heater (with vinegar) for cleaning, so we’ll give this pump a best “multi-use” tag. 

What We Liked

• Very quiet.

• Drains hot tubs quickly.

• Easy to set up.

• Affordable.

What Needs Work

• No auto-shut off—so you have to be there when it is finished to turn it off!

Best For Small Jobs: Green Expert Handy Utility Pump Submersible

If you want to drain a small hot tub or plunge pool, this little pump is what we recommend. It came highly recommended by our readers for its compact size and reliability. And we liked the design touches.

What We Liked

• Compact size.

• Affordable.

• Easy to operate.

• Long cord.

What Needs Work

• Hose gasket could be better designed—we see a few reports of the gasket leaking.

• Not powerful enough for bigger jobs (large pools, etc).

Best For Big Jobs: Sump Pump, Prostormer 1 HP 3700GPH Submersible Clean/Dirty Water Pump

For larger jobs (think big pools), you may need a beefier pump—this model by Prostormer has a 1-horsepower engine. Yes, that is three to five times more powerful than other pumps in this price range. Yet it is still lightweight enough to move around easily. And can remove 3700 gallons per hour . . . yet is simple to use.

What We Liked

• Good bang for the buck—powerful engine removes more water per hour than other pumps we researched for this article.

• Great for DIY fountain for pond.

• Lightweight.

• Suction is great.

• Power cord is over 16 feet long.

• Handle is easy to grip.

What Needs Work

• Base plate is higher than the pool bottom, which may leave some water at bottom of pool. 

Best Quiet Operation: DEKOPRO Submersible Water Pump 1/3 HP 2450GHP Utility Pump 

This pump is one of the quieter models we tried—and it drained a pond quickly and efficiently. Another reader told us it drained her 300 gallon hot tub in about an hour. It’s perfect for most small jobs. 

What We Liked

• Fast.

• Quiet.

• 2 different garden hose adapters.

• Removes water down to 1/5″ of an inch.

What Needs Work

• Power cord (10 feet) could be longer.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!