Zoeller M49 ¼ HP Submersible Sump Pump Review and Specifications
If you’re looking to buy the Zoeller M49 sump pump, this review is for you. You’ll learn whether this model fits in your sump pump pit, how far you can expect it to pump out the water and at what rate, what warranty you’ll get and if it’s generally worth your money.
Additionally, we end this article with all the specifications of the Zoeller Model 49, so that you really get a clear oversight of what this submersible sump pump is all about.
Our general sentiment after research this product is this: its a great sump pump, but in a couple of specific situations, you may want to consider some of Zoeller’s other pumps.
Performance and Usage
The Zoeller M49 has a respectable ¼ HP. That’s all most homes will ever need. However, if you’re living in an area with a higher than average water table, you may want to be on the safe side and consider a 3/10 like the M63. For even higher water tables or regular flooding, Zoeller also has the M266 or M267 available, which both pack a punch of ½ HP.
Keep in mind, though, that more horsepower is not always better. You should expect a higher energy bill when you decide to go for a sump pump with more horsepower. So if you can stick to a model with ¼ HP, you probably should.
The M49 runs a permanent split-capacitor motor, running at up to 3450 RPM.
Pit size and Turn on point
You’ll need a sump pump pit of at least 12 inches in diameter. Ideally, the pit should not be much larger than that, to ensure water gets pumped out timely. The tethered float switch turns on at 11-¼ ”, and shuts off when the water drops to 4-⅛ ” in your sump pit.
Gallons per hour
At head, the M49 has a maximum gallons per hour of 1920.
Many ⅓ HP and even ¼ HP sump pumps do well pumping up to 20 feet, but struggle to maintain a flow rate above that. For the Zoeller M49 this threshold is slightly lower according to our data, and it only reaches 15 feet.
For most drainage installations at home this should not be a problem as the average basement height is 8 feet and the average sump pit is 2 feet deep – leaving a plentiful margin of 5 feet.
Taking this into consideration, though, we only recommend this particular Zoeller pump for basements that are not dug too deep.
Here’s the performance in gallons per hour for the Zoeller M49:
| GPH 0 | 1920 |
| GPH 5 | 1920 |
| GPH 10 | 1500 |
| GPH 15 | 600 |
| GPH 20 | / |
| GPH 25 | / |
If you’re looking for a sump pump that has a good GPH at 20 feet, I suggest you explore the Zoeller M98 instead, which maintains 1800 GPH at 20 feet with its ½ HP.
Cooling
The motor is thermally protected, but not as much as some other Zoeller models. The cooling of the motor is handled by an oil filled element. Consequently, the M49 can handle water temperatures of up to 104 Fahrenheit (40 Celsius).
Of course, situations are rare where water reaches such hot temperatures, especially in a basement. If you live in an area where temperatures can rise to extremes, however, you may want to consider a sump pump that can handle temperatures higher than 104 F. Consider for example the Zoeller M81 or M82 instead, which both are oil free and can handle temperatures up to 140 F (~54 Celsius).
Clogging and solids handling
The Zoeller M49 is of a no-clog design. It can handle solids of up to a respectable diameter of ⅜ inches.
That’s not as large as some other Zoeller models, but it will do for most situations. Bear in mind that it is always advised to also add a mesh to the pipe through which water enters your sump pump pit. That way you can sort out bigger solids and prevent them from entering your pump. You’ll need to check the pipe regularly for clogging.
If clogging of big concern to you, I suggest you either have a look at, again, the Zoeller M98 which can handle solids of a diameter of up to ½ ”. The added benefit is that this pump is also part of the Zoeller Propak 98, which is a backup system, and can thus add additional safety that way.
Lastly, for extraordinarily big solid handling, we refer you to the heavy lifting M264, which handles solids up to 2 inches at 4/10 HP.
That being said, ⅜ ” is a decent solid size for a sump pump to handle, and should be sufficient for every homeowner that has a proper mesh in place.
Our Review of the Zoeller M49
Zoeller is a trusted brand that has been in the sump pump business for almost a century. Its model 49 lives up to Zoeller’s established name.
Nevertheless, the M49 is not necessarily a pump that will excel in every situation. I would not recommend this sump pump if you’re in an exceptionally hot area and neither should you buy this sump pump when you need to pump the water a large vertical distance. Lastly, those living in hurricane areas may also be well advised to look for a sump pump with more power.
That being said, if you are a homeowner in an area without extreme weather conditions and without a basement that is extraordinarily deep, the Zoeller M49 can certainly be a model that you want to buy. It comes with a 2 year warranty and has the hardy cast iron construction that we’re so used to and love from Zoeller. Another plus is that it’s cheaper than other Zoeller models, while still having been exposed to Zoellers rigorous quality checks.
M49 Specifications
Below, you’ll find the specification of the M49 including a link to the manual:
| Name | Zoeller M49 |
|---|---|
| H/P | 1/4 |
| Dimensions in inches, X x Y x Z | 8.09 x 5.55 x 10.5 |
| Maximum gallons per hour | 1920 |
| Solids handling, diameter (inches) | 3/8 |
| GPH 0 | 1920 |
| GPH 5 | 1920 |
| GPH 10 | 1500 |
| GPH 15 | 600 |
| GPH 20 | / |
| GPH 25 | / |
| Battery included | No |
| Battery required to run | No |
| Housing material | Cast iron |
| Base material | Plastic |
| Impeller material | Plastic |
| Switch Type | Tethered |
| Warranty yes/no | Yes |
| Warranty years | 2 |
| Link to warranty | Link |
| Link to manual | Link |
| Voltage | 115 |
| Weight in pounds | 11 |
| First year of production | 2010 |
| Is discontinued? | No |
| Running Amps | 4.0 |
| Cord Length (feet) | 10 |
| Discharge size (inches) | 1-1/2 |
| Discharge type | Side |
| No-clog design | Yes |
| Switch On Point (inches) | 11-1/4 |
| Switch Off Point (inches) | 4-1/8 |
| Pumps Down To (Ft) | 18 |
| Liquid Temperature Maximum (F) | 104 |
| Motor: Continuous duty | No |
| Motor thermally protected? | Yes |
| Capacitor start motor | Yes |
| Requires check valve? | Yes |
| Check valve included? | No |
| Sump Pit diameter required (inches) | 12 |
| Circuit requirement (Ampere) | 15 |
