HydraPump Smart

The description is strange. They say it automatically turns on at 1/3”. They also say it automatically turns off at 1/3”. This cannot be true, and, indeed, it is not. I’m happy to say that it pumps down to much less than 1/3” - in my case, at least. I noticed that it was frequently cycling because water was flowing back into the pump when it turned off. Thought it had a check valve. The documentation is all over the place. From the manufacturer - both online and in the sketchy manual, it seems to NOT have a check valve. However, the Amazon description says it does. I found a rubber thing among the hose adapters that seemed like a potential check valve-ish thing. However, there was no info anywhere about how to use it. After much puzzling, I found that there is an included black plastic piece that isn’t a hose adapter - it’s a check valve body. Insert the rubber thing into it, and you have a working check valve. Now the pump is operating beautifully!

I bought this to pump out a low spot near my foundation that fills with water when there is a big rain. I placed it on a slate tile so it would not suck up dirt or grass. It started out great and kept water from building up even with heavy rain. I even recommended it to my brother for his basement walkout. About 2 months in it would not start pumping without being jiggled a little. But once started the first time it came on by itself whenever the water level rose. Now at 4 months, it needs to be unplugged and then plugged in again to get it to start, regardless of water level. But after it's done pumping the first time it will not start again without cutting the power again.

This pump initially failed to work for me. It turned out the rainwater I needed it to remove was so clean it didn’t register with the electronic water detector. This was easy to fix by wrapping copper wire around the water contacts to create a greater surface area for conductivity testing. Picture attached shows the setup using hot glue to secure the wire. Don’t use the built in screws to secure the wire, it would be even easier but some of them are connected to the ground plane for the sensing circuit. I haven’t found another pump that can remove water to such a low level so it’s worth the effort in this case.

I live in a walk-out basement. There’s a stairwell 3-steps down from the paved parking area in back that’s right outside my kitchen door. When it rains, water collects in the well and floods my kitchen. This auto pump has been a lifesaver. Only once in the past few months since I got it has it failed to prevent water from coming in, and that time it was just a small amount of water though we had a delude overnight.

I didn't have the money for a sump or other drainage in the basement and, living adjacent to a hill, have significant periodic basement flooding especially after winter thaws and long periods of Spring rains. The floor is sloped naturally toward a particular low point where I placed this unit on the floor and affixed some corregated tubing to the substructure and over to a drain. It pumps through a one way valve I added and then 7-8 feet up and 30 feet or so over before dropping down to a standpipe without trouble. It does so automatically when the water level reaches the listed depth/height. I plan on purchasing a battery backup in case of power outage and adding a manual discharge valve just past the one-way to clear excess from the line after the floor dries out. Very pleased with the piece of mind, power, and reliability. Be sure you don't use it in an area prone to debris that could clog or, more likely, slow it.

I never get time to write a review so I will make this short and to the point. Before buying this pump, I had already purchased and tried using three prior pumps, two of which were store purchased at what you can guess as being the most largest home construction supply stores. They weren't worth having. I have an area where rain water at a depth of less than 2 inches will come through a door. So I need a pump that is sensitive to low depth, has no default waiting period to restart, and has good sensitivity. This pump is the only one, and it has incredibly strong suction and a strong pressure output that has no problem pushing a lot of water very fast through a 25ft hose uphill. Hands down, this is the only pump to buy.

Another Chinese junk! I would 5 Negative stars for this piece of crap if I could. Right out of the box this pump is NOT working. There is NO automatic switch on, EVER, after the very first time. If you intend like me top protect your shop, basement or home from flooding you will be screwed. It will flood - guaranteed, as this pump is not even power up with a 1-1/4 in high water level, which is already 1.6 times higher than the full mouth advertised 3/8”! After spending hours of getting it somehow to work it goes back in the box and being returned. Will give this product a second chance in case I go a bad lemon and would update the rating in the eventual case the 2nd pump would work. Otherwise another example of today’s reality: U.S. company is just making money but no quality control whatsoever and product from China are known to be 99% junk. What a horrible future.

I bought this to bail a boat and it works very very well. Lightweight but powerful. So far none of the problems mentioned in a few prior reviews. FOUR YEARS LATER - the pump wouldn't shut off automatically. I contacted their customer service line by email and got almost instant and very excellent help from Christian. I cleaned it (which I should have been doing) and it works fine now. Highly recommended.