It is the features that make the Ridgid Sump Pump a good sump pump. The key features worth noting include:
- Knowing Wayne Water Systems Is the designer is key.
- Horse power gives it the pumping performance needed to remove water at the speed necessary to prevent basin flooding.
- The float switch enables the pump to turn on to prevent flooding. Housing material keeps the motor cool.
- The pump port diameter determines the discharge pipe diameter size required to handle the volume of water the pump is capable of pumping at a determined vertical height.
- Pump dimensions are small enough to still allow room for a battery backup sump pump in an eighteen inch diameter basin.
- Top suction eliminates the need for a bottom screen and a vortex impeller handles small solids with bottom suction.
- Features play a big role in determining the pump's warranty.
Who Makes Ridgid Sump Pumps?
Wayne Water Systems assembles Ridgid sump pumps. That means they use imported and domestic parts to assemble them. The assembly is done in the USA.
Horse Power
Horse power indicates the power of the motor and the pumping performance of the sump pump.
Installing a right sized sump pump is important because too much horse power causes the motor to short cycle (turn ON and OFF too frequently) and wear out prematurely.
- One-third horse power meets the needs of an average size home with a sloping terrain away from the house.
- One-half horse power becomes necessary for homes in high water table areas, those with a large footprint and those with higher terrain around them.
- Generally a one horse power pump is too powerful. Unless your sump pump runs continuously during heavy rainstorms for long periods of time barely keeping up with the ground water entering the pit, a one horse power pumps is too powerful and will lead to short cycling and early motor failure.
The next time it rains, count how many times the pump cycles in one minute (and multiply it by 60) or in one hour. Measure the height to which the water is pumped vertically and measure the diameter of your pit. Every one inch in an 18 inch diameter basin holds one gallon of water. Usually the difference between the float ON and OFF height is round 5 inches. This means every time the pump runs around 5 gallons of water are removed from the basin.
So if the pump runs 6 times a minute and 5 gallons of water is removed every pumping cycle, 30 gallons of water is removed in one minute. If the water is pumped 10 feet vertically, the pump performance chart for the pump installed would need to indicate the pumps performance capability of 30 gallons per minute at a 10 foot height. In this case the Ridgid Sump Pump Model 330RSDS would offer sufficient pumping performance. Installing Model 1000RSDS would definitely cause motor short cycling. Right sizing your sump pump is important!
Ridgid Sump Pump Models By Horse Power
- Models RS33, RE33 1/3 HP pumps 45 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Model 330RSDS 1/3 HP pumps 48 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Model 500RSDS 1/2 HP pumps 58 GPM at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Models RS50, RE50 1/2 HP pumps 65 GPH at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Model 1000RSDS 1 HP pumps 93 GPM at a 10 foot vertical height.
Ridgid sump pumps predominately use the vertical float switch known as a snap action vertical float switch.
The snap action vertical float switch is preferred by many for three reasons.
1) The float is attached at the top and bottom and protected by a robust stainless steel guard to prevent basin hang up.
2) The float switch is not affected by ground water containing calcium carbonate.
3) The longevity is tested to one million pumping cycles which surpasses other vertical float switch styles.
Ridgid offers two types of vertical float protection:
1) The traditional with arm protection at the top of the float switch assembly.
2) A 360 degree float switch assembly protection where an open stainless steel frame surrounds the float on three sides and the fourth side is protected by the pump housing.
- Models SP-300, SP-500 and SP-1000 use the traditional float protection guard.
- The 360 degree float switch protection is found on Models RS50AT (47333), RS33 (47348), and RS50 (47343).
Housing Material
Ridgid uses three types of housing material: thermoplastic, stainless steel and cast iron.
- Cast iron rates as the most durable and heat dissipating material.
- Stainless steel heats up faster than cast iron but dissipates motor heat better than thermoplastic.
- Thermoplastic traps heat. Installing a thermoplastic sump pump is not recommended for basins requiring frequent continuous pumping. The housing can warp and crack.
Models SP-300, SP-500, SP-1000, RS33, and RS50 use stainless steel pump housing, thermoplastic switch case and cast iron pump base. The cast iron base adds weight to keep the pump more stationery during heavy, continuous pumping.
Dual Suction means a sump pump uses top suction and bottom suction.
- Top suction means there is no bottom screen to clean and debris is not removed from the pit during pumping.
- Top and Bottom suction means suction occurs on the top and bottom.
- Top Suction eliminates the need for an air hole in the discharge pipe to prevent air lock.
- Including Bottom Suction allows the pump the handle one-half inch debris with a vortex impeller.
- Dual Suction is ideal for basins with small debris.
- Models 300RSDS, 500RSDS, and 1000RSDS use dual suction.
PAGE MENU
Solids Handling
Ridgid sump pumps use two designs to prevent clogging from sludge and debris.
Models SP-300, SP-500, SP-1000, RS33, and RS50 use top suction which means solids handling is not possible, but there is no bottom screen that plugs and requires cleaning because suctions comes from the top.
Models 300RSDS, 500RSDS, and 1000RSDS use both top suction and bottom suction with a vortex impeller which handles small solids and there is no bottom screen that plugs and requires cleaning.
Ridgid sump pumps consistently use a one and one-half inch discharge port. A 1-1/2 inch pump discharge port fits perfectly with a 1-1/2 inch discharge system.
If your discharge pipe system is smaller such as 1-1/4 inches, the pump's performance will be lower.
Basin Diameter Size
Ridgid pumps with then snap action vertical float require an eleven inch diameter pit size. This leaves enough room for a battery backup sump pump system install.
PAGE MENU
Warranty
The consumer warranty defines the period of time and coverage included if the sump pump should fail. It is important to keep the receipt for proof of purchase. To file a claim it is important to check the sellers and pump brands website.
- Ridgid sump pumps offer a 3 year and 5 year warranty. Those sump pumps with Dual Suction (DS) (330RSDS, 500RSDS, 1000RSDS) offer a 5 year warranty.
- Models SP-300, SP-500 and SP-1000 with only top suction offer a 3 year warranty.
Wayne Water Systems assembles both brands so they do have many similarities; however, they also have differences. Their differences are worth noting because they will make a difference depending upon your water pumping needs.
Wayne and Ridgid Sump Pump Similarities
- Both brands are designed by Wayne Water Systems and assembled with domestic and imported parts.
- Ridgid and Wayne offer one-third, one-half and one HP sump pumps.
- The snap action vertical float switch used is tested to one million pump cycles.
- Their motor power cord is eight feet in length.
- The pump discharge port size is one and one-half inches.
- Top suction eliminates the need for a bottom screen that clogs from debris and needs periodic cleaning. It also eliminates the need for an air lock hole in the discharge pipe below the basin cover and above the switch ON height.
- The operating noise level is quiet.
- A built-in check valve is not included.
- The thermo-protection override shuts the pump off if the motor gets too hot.
Wayne and Ridgid Sump Pump Differences
- Wayne offers a ¾ HP sump pump Model CDU980E.
- Overall Wayne pumps offer more GPM pumping performance.
- Ridgid Model 330RSDS 1/3 HP pumps 48 GPM at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Ridgid Model 500RSDS 1/2 HP pumps 58 GPM at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Ridgid Model 1000RSDS 1 HP pumps 93 GPM at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Wayne Model CDU790 1/3 HP pumps 45 GPM at a 10 foot vertical height.
- Wayne Model CDU800 1/2 HP pumps 64 GPM at a 10 foot vertical height.
- The Maximum Vertical Lift for Ridgid and Wayne pumps is different. Ridgid sump pumps offer more maximum vertical lift.
- Ridgid Model 330RSDS 1/3 HP maximum vertical lift is 25 feet.
- Ridgid Model 500RSDS 1/2 HP maximum vertical lift is 27 feet.
- Ridgid Model 1000RSDS 1 HP maximum vertical lift is 25 feet.
- Wayne Model CDU790 1/3 HP maximum vertical lift is 21 feet.
- Wayne Model CDU800 1/2 HP maximum vertical lift is 22 feet.
- Wayne Model CDU980E 3/4 HP maximum vertical lift is 20 feet.
- Wayne Model CDU1000 1 HP maximum vertical lift is 20 feet.
- Pump housing for Ridgid sump pumps and Wayne Models CDU980E and CDU1000 is stainless steel with a cast iron base. Wayne Models CDU790, CDU800 use cast steel housing and a cast iron base. Cast steel is stronger and though it corrodes easier, it is epoxy coated to resist corrosion.
- Wayne float switch parts for all sump pump models are more readily available online. Since the float switch is the part that fails most easily, it is beneficial to find switch parts easily online.
Conclusion
Both Ridgid and Wayne brands are good sump pumps. Many Ridgid Sumo pumps are discontinued. Unless the differences defined above do impact how your water pumping needs are met, we recommend the Wayne sump pump brand. Replacement parts are much easier to find online.
Installing a Ridgid Sump Pump is easy if you are replacing an existing sump pump. Here are 8 quick steps.
1) Unplug the existing pump and disengage the discharge pipe attached to its bottom end.
2) Remove the old pump from the basin and unscrew the discharge pipe from its pump port.
3) Take the new pump and screw in the discharge pipe removed from the old pump in step 2.
4) Place the new pump in the basin. Assess if the discharge pipe is the right height to reattach to the bottom of the check valve. Add or remove discharge pipe so it can be attached to the bottom of the check valve. It is smart to replace an old check valve when installing a new pump especially if a traditional style check valve is installed. Quiet check valves last longer because of their spring controlled gate.
5) Make sure the new pump is sitting level in the basin and its float switch is free from possible hang-up .
6) Reattach the discharge pipe to the bottom end of the check valve.
7) Plug in the pump cord.
8) Add water to the basin to test the pump for operation and possible discharge pipe leaks. No leaks. Congratulations on your successful sump pump install.
Ridgid Sump Pump Installation Video
Sometimes it is easier to watch an install. So here is a Ridigid installation video by AP home. This video shows the steps for installation a new Ridgid sump pump.
Quick Shop Ridigid Sump Pumps
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Your purchase price is the same as if you shop directly on Amazon. The price at time of publish is included below to give you an idea of what the price is; however it is subject to change.
THE HELPFUL PUMP PLACE where you can become an educated shopper. Review - Compare - Shop And Find The Best Pumps Selection For Your Water Pumping Needs.
