These three American manufacturers make pumps that help keep basements dry.
A sump pump probably isn’t something you spend much time thinking about until suddenly it’s the only thing you’re thinking about. That’s where I found myself recently when it was time to replace the sump pump in my home. Unlike buying a new appliance or planning a home improvement project, there wasn’t much time to research brands, compare models or investigate where each one was made.
That’s the thing about sump pumps. When you need one, you often need one quickly. Water and basements aren’t exactly a combination that gives homeowners much time to shop around. And because buying American-made products is important to me, I started wondering how many residential sump pumps are made in the United States. The good news is that homeowners have several American-made options worth knowing about.
Here are three companies making sump pumps right here in the United States.
Zoeller Pump Company | Louisville, Ky.
Zoeller Pump Company has been making pumps for generations and is one of the oldest family-owned water pump manufacturers in America.The company’s story began in 1939, when August “Pop” Zoeller started building pedestal sump pumps in the basement of his Louisville, Ky., home. More than 85 years later, the company is now under fourth-generation leadership.
Zoeller has said that about 90% of Zoeller Pump Company-branded products are made in America with a majority of U.S. content. But making pumps in America hasn’t come without challenges. In May, Zoeller CEO, Bill Zoeller, testified before the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship about Chinese knockoffs of the company’s pumps entering the U.S. market. He told lawmakers those copies were undercutting Zoeller’s prices by about 40%.
The company has fought back. Its popular Model 53 pump was awarded two trademarks. Zoeller told lawmakers those protections have helped the company stop knockoffs from tarnishing a brand that has been built in America for generations.
Liberty Pumps | Bergen, N.Y.
Another name worth knowing when it’s time to replace a sump pump is Liberty Pumps, a family and employee-owned company based in Bergen, N.Y. Founded in 1965, Liberty makes sump pumps along with other pumps that help homeowners manage water and wastewater. More than 90% of its products are manufactured and assembled at its New York facility using U.S. and globally sourced components. Today, Liberty employs more than 300 people and continues to manufacture its products in the small western New York community where the company got its start.
Barnes | Piqua, Ohio
Barnes has an American manufacturing history that stretches back more than a century, starting up in 1895. Their history includes helping support American troops during World War II. Pumps produced by the company were put to work by the U.S. military, including aboard Navy ships and by the Army in the field and on military bases. In 1943, the company was recognized with the prestigious Army-Navy “E” Award for excellence in war production, an honor received by only a small percentage of American production plants. Today, Barnes is part of Crane Pumps & Systems, which continues to design, engineer and manufacture residential pumps in Piqua, Ohio. It’s pretty remarkable to think that a brand that once helped supply pumps for American troops is still making pumps in Ohio more than 80 years later.
Know Before You Need One
A failing sump pump doesn’t leave much time to research manufacturers, read company histories or compare labels. You just need something reliable, and you need it quickly. Whether it’s Zoeller in Kentucky, Liberty Pumps in New York or Barnes in Ohio, it’s good to know there are American manufacturers making this often-overlooked home essential.
So, which one ended up in my basement? When it came time to replace my sump pump, my plumber recommended Zoeller. Knowing it was an American-made option made the decision that much easier.
Hopefully, you won’t need a new sump pump anytime soon. But if you do, you’ll already know a few American-made names to look for.
The Alliance for American Manufacturing does not receive a commission from purchases made through the above links, nor was the organization or author paid for favorable coverage.
Labeling Note: This story is intended to highlight companies that support American jobs and that make great products in the United States. We rely on the companies listed to provide accurate information regarding their domestic operations and their products. Each company featured is individually responsible for labeling and advertising their products according to applicable standards, such as the Federal Trade Commission’s “Made in USA” standard or California’s “Made in USA” labeling law. We do not review individual products for compliance or claim that because a company is listed in the guide that their products comply with specific labeling or advertising standards. Our focus is on supporting companies that create American jobs.
For more on the Federal Trade Commission’s standards for “Made in USA” claims and California’s “Made in USA” labeling law, please also read this guest post by Dustin Painter and Kristi Wolff of Kelly Drye & Warren, LLP.