Blog

Pump Products recommends the Little Giant 554401 Condensate return pump. This is a great pump ideal for transferring condensate without a gravity drain. “Condensate” in this case refers to the water drippings that tend to form and accumulate in a system or mechanism that evaporates water. Have you ever noticed the little drops of water on the back of your window air conditioning unit? That’s condensate.

A little condensate generally isn’t a big deal, but left untended over time, the accumulation can cause serious damage by way of corrosion. Corrosion is bad for any system. Corrosion is for the birds I say!

That is why an automatic condensate return pump might be a prudent choice for your system. These pumps work to move condensate out of an area that has no access to a gravity drain. The pump collects the condensate and moves it. Other Little Giant condensate return pumps are available.

The Little Giant 554401 may be the ideal choice for you. It is a small, compact and lightweight, making it ideal for fitting in specific installations. Being part of Little Giant’s vaunted VCMA-15 series, this pump is designed for the automatic collection and removal of condensate from air conditioners, refrigerators and dehumidifiers. The collection tank can hold up to ½ gallon of condensate water. Once the water is collected in the tank it can then be exported by the pump out to the city water line.

Built with a vertical centrifugal design, this pump is lightweight (6 lbs.) and compact for easy installation in or near an existing condensate system.

Other features:

• –Automatic start/stop operation
• –Solid polymer float
• –Safety overflow switch
• –3/8″ O.D. barbed discharge adapter w/ built-in check valve
• –3 inlet openings
• –Thermally protected/fan-cooled motor
• –Built-in wall mount tabs
• –6 ft. cable

Performance Curve

Piping

For piping, you should run flexible pipe from the evaporator drain into one of three pump inlets. The inlet piping should be fixed at a sloped angle into the tank so gravity will take effect. The pipe should also extend 1 to 3 inches into the tank so that it won’t interfere with proper float operation.

The outlet pipe should extend straight up as high as necessary (within the TDH rating of the pump). From the high point, the discharge line should slope downward to a point above the drain area and then to a point below or level with the bottom of the condensate unit. If you can’t slope the discharge line down, you can try making an inverted U trap above the pump at its highest point. Flexible tubing can also be used (instead of pipe) for both the inlet and outlet.

All in all, this is a very good pumping option for a system that produces condensate. In addition to air conditioning or refrigerating, it can also be used for a high efficiency oil and gas-fired condensing furnace and condensing boiler equipment.

Pump Products applications engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, availability and shipping information. Call our toll-free number 1-800-429-0800.