Compare five condensate pumps for air conditioners and dehumidifiers by lift, flow, reservoir, safety switch and warranty, using each maker's documents.
Please note: Product availability and information are based on our research at time of writing and are subject to change. Always check Amazon for the latest details before purchasing. Our assessments are research-based. We compared manufacturer data sheets, manuals and official product pages, and we have not run these pumps ourselves. Always follow the current instructions that come with your pump and your equipment.
A condensate pump moves the water that an air conditioner, dehumidifier or similar cooling equipment produces when that water cannot drain away by gravity. The pump collects it in a small reservoir, and a float switches the pump on and off. Choosing one comes down to a few documented numbers: how high the pump has to push the water, how much it moves at that height, how much space you have, whether it includes a safety switch, and what the maker says about the liquid and the location.
The five pumps below are all reservoir-style pumps for standard household power, with a built-in safety or overflow switch. Four are from Little Giant, which rates them at 115 volts, and one is the Asurity ULTRACP-22 from DiversiTech, which lists 120 volts. We chose them for air conditioners, dehumidifiers and the other cooling and dehumidification equipment that their makers name. This review does not cover mini-split pumps or neutralizing pumps, and it does not recommend a pump for condensing furnaces, boilers or water heaters; see the section on acidic condensate below. If you are moving groundwater instead, our guides to the best sump pumps and the best utility pumps are the better place to start, and this comparison explains the difference.
✏️ Our Take
The Little Giant VCMA-20ULS is the easiest place to start for a typical air conditioner or dehumidifier: its sheet documents a 20-foot shut-off head and a 1/2-gallon reservoir, and we label it Best Overall as our research-based editorial judgment, not as the result of running the pumps ourselves. Choose the VCMA-15ULS if your discharge line is short and you want the lower-power motor. Choose the VCCA-20ULS if the pump has to fit under the equipment, the VCL-24ULS if you need the largest documented flow and a one-gallon reservoir, and the Asurity ULTRACP-22 if you want a second maker and a translucent tank you can check at a glance. Measure your rise first, compare it with the flow figures in each review, and read the open points before you buy.
IN THIS GUIDE
| Product | Best for | Shut-off | Flow, 1 ft | Tank | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Little Giant VCMA-20ULS BEST OVERALL | Everyday AC use | 20 ft | 80 GPH | 1/2 gallon | $$$ |
| Little Giant VCMA-15ULS | Short runs, lower power | 15 ft | 65 GPH | 1/2 gallon | $$ |
| Little Giant VCCA-20ULS | Tight clearance | 20 ft | 80 GPH | 1/2 gallon | $$$ |
| Little Giant VCL-24ULS | Highest flow, 1 gal tank | 24 ft | 270 GPH | 1 gallon | $$$ |
| Asurity ULTRACP-22 | Tank visibility | 22 ft | Not confirmed at 1 ft* | 1/2 gallon | $$$ |
Shut-off (head), flow at 1 ft and tank (reservoir) figures are the makers’ documented values (the product versions named in each review). Price tiers follow the site’s product-box rule, in which $ is under $20, $$ is $20 to $60 and $$$ is over $60, and they show the tier in each product box when this review was written. Tiers can change. Shut-off head, the first figure, is the maximum height each maker says the pump can lift; it is not a recommended working height. Flow falls as the water has to climb, so compare the figures at your own height in the reviews below. *DiversiTech’s zero-head flow figures for the Asurity ULTRACP-22 conflict (its data sheet text gives 1.6 gallons per minute, its flow curve starts near 2, and its product page lists a 132 gallons-per-hour maximum), and none is given at 1 foot, so they are not directly comparable with the other pumps’ one-foot figures.
Best Overall
The VCMA-20ULS is the larger-motor version of Little Giant’s VCMA series. Little Giant’s spec sheet says the series is designed for automatic condensate removal from air conditioning, refrigeration and dehumidification equipment when gravity drainage is not possible or practical. It has a 1/30 horsepower, thermally protected motor drawing 93 watts, a 1/2-gallon ABS reservoir, three 1-1/8-inch inlets (two fitted with removable plugs), a 3/8-inch barbed outlet with a built-in check valve, wall-mount tabs and a 6-foot grounded cord. In Little Giant’s item tables, models with an “S” in the name are the versions that include the safety switch and models with a “T” include tubing.
Little Giant documents 80 gallons per hour at 1 foot, 70 at 5 feet and 48 at 10 feet, falling to zero at 20 feet, which is the 20-foot shut-off head. The liquid limit is 140°F, and the pump is for indoor use only and is not intended for use inside an air plenum. Little Giant’s manual says to route the outlet tubing straight up, not exceeding 75 percent of the pump’s total dynamic head, then slope it down to the drain. The safety switch can open a thermostat circuit to stop the equipment, or be reconfigured to operate an external alarm. The spec sheet drawing gives about 11 inches across the mounting tabs, 5 inches deep and 7 inches overall height, and the pump weighs 5 pounds. The warranty is 12 months from the consumer’s original purchase.
Little Giant
Best for: Everyday AC or dehumidifier use
In StockA condensate pump with a half-gallon reservoir, a high-water safety switch and a 20-foot shut-off head, documented by Little Giant for air conditioning, refrigeration and dehumidification equipment.
on Amazon · $$$
Last updated: 2026-10-06
Lower-Lift Option
The VCMA-15ULS is the lower-power version of the same pump. Little Giant’s spec sheets list the same tank part and the same drawing dimensions for the VCMA-15 and the VCMA-20, so neither is the smaller pump. The differences are in the motor and the numbers that follow from it. The VCMA-15 has a 1/50 horsepower motor drawing 60 watts, documents 65 gallons per hour at 1 foot, 50 at 5 feet and 25 at 10 feet, and has a 15-foot shut-off head. The VCMA-20 documents 80, 70 and 48 gallons per hour at the same heights and a 20-foot shut-off head. The VCMA-15 weighs 4.4 pounds without tubing against 5 pounds for the VCMA-20.
That makes the VCMA-15ULS a reasonable fit where the discharge line is short and the lower flow at height is not a concern, and the VCMA-20ULS the one that keeps more flow as the water climbs. Both carry the same features, 140°F liquid limit, indoor-only and not-for-plenum restrictions, and 12-month warranty described above, and the same manual instruction to keep the straight rise of the outlet tubing within 75 percent of the pump’s total dynamic head. There is no single height at which one becomes the right choice, so compare each pump’s flow at your own rise.
Little Giant
Best for: Shorter discharge runs
In StockThe lower-power version of the VCMA pump, with the same tank and drawing dimensions, a 15-foot shut-off head and 65 GPH at 1 ft per Little Giant.
on Amazon · $$
Last updated: 2026-10-06
Low-Profile Option
The VCCA-20ULS is Little Giant’s low-profile design, and its sheet gives the dimensions that matter if clearance is tight: 11.96 inches wide, 5.02 inches deep and 5.23 inches high. Compared with the 7-inch overall height on the VCMA drawings, that is roughly 1.8 inches lower. Little Giant says the low tank height lets these pumps be used where other condensate pumps will not fit. It uses a 1/30 horsepower motor drawing 93 watts, a 1/2-gallon ABS reservoir, rubber feet, and a float switch plus a high-water switch with 5-inch leads, and it weighs 5.4 pounds.
Documented flow is 80 gallons per hour at 1 foot, 70 at 5 feet, 45 at 10 feet and 10 at 18 feet, with a 20-foot shut-off head. The spec sheet gives an intermittent liquid temperature of up to 120°F, which is lower than the VCMA’s 140°F, and the owner’s manual says the pump is for indoor use only and must not be used inside an air plenum (a plenum-rated VCCA-20-P exists, but we have not reviewed it). The warranty is 12 months. Its low height is the reason to pick it; if you have the clearance, the VCMA-20ULS gives the same documented flow at 1 and 5 feet with a higher liquid-temperature rating.
Little Giant
Best for: Tight clearance under equipment
In StockA low-profile condensate pump 5.23 inches high with a half-gallon reservoir, an overflow switch and a 20-foot shut-off head, listed by Little Giant for air conditioning, refrigeration and dehumidification equipment.
on Amazon · $$$
Last updated: 2026-10-06
High-Volume Option
The VCL-24ULS is Little Giant’s high-capacity condensate pump. Its US specification sheet for the 115-volt model (item 553201) says it is designed for automatic condensate removal from air conditioning, refrigeration and dehumidification equipment when gravity drainage is not possible or practical. It has a 1/18 horsepower, fan-cooled, thermally protected motor drawing 148 watts, a 1-gallon ABS reservoir with a galvanized steel cover, two 1-1/8-inch inlets, and an overflow detection switch with two 5-inch leads that can shut equipment down or signal an alarm. The sheet lists a 3/8-inch barbed discharge for 3/8-inch inside-diameter tubing, with an optional check-valve adapter in the box, a 6-foot cord and a weight of 8.2 pounds.
The documented flow is 270 gallons per hour at 1 foot, 260 at 3 feet, 250 at 5 feet and 210 at 9 feet, with a 24-foot shut-off head; the sheet’s table stops at 9 feet. The maximum water temperature is 120°F. Little Giant’s instruction sheet for the VCL-24ULS says the float starts the pump at about 3-1/2 inches of water and stops it at about 2 inches. The same sheet says to oil the motor at the start of each air-conditioning season with SAE 10 or 20 non-detergent oil, to keep the discharge line within the model’s head and flow rating, and to use a backup system or alarm wherever an inoperative pump could cause property damage. Consider the VCL-24ULS when your equipment’s condensate output and discharge requirements call for its higher documented flow. Compare your required flow at the actual discharge height with the manufacturer’s specifications. The sheet does not state a warranty period, so check Little Giant’s current warranty terms.
Little Giant
Best for: Highest documented flow
In StockA high-capacity condensate pump with a one-gallon reservoir, an overflow detection switch and a 24-foot shut-off head, documented on Little Giant's US spec sheet at 270 GPH at 1 ft.
on Amazon · $$$
Last updated: 2026-10-06
Best for Tank Visibility
The ULTRACP-22 is the only pump here that is not from Little Giant. DiversiTech sells it under its Asurity brand and describes it as a 120-volt pump that removes condensate from HVAC/R equipment up to 22 feet vertically. DiversiTech’s product page and 2026 data sheet list 1.9 amps, a 1/30 horsepower motor, a 1/2-gallon tank, four inlet holes with three polyethylene covers for the unused ones, a removable duckbill-style check valve, vibration-dampening feet and metal mounting tabs. The pump measures 11.8 by 5.9 by 6.7 inches and weighs 5 pounds. The data sheet gives flow only as 1.6 gallons per minute at zero head, and its published curve does not agree with that figure at zero head, so we have not compared this pump’s flow with the Little Giant figures at any height.
What sets it apart in DiversiTech’s documents is the translucent tank, which the data sheet says allows easy and fast inspection. The instruction booklet tells owners to inspect the tank periodically for dirt or sludge, to clean it with soap and warm water and no solvent cleaners, and to clean the inlet and outlet piping; the check valve can be removed with a 5/8-inch wrench. Three LED lights show status: green means the pump has power and is ready, amber means it is running, and red means it is in alarm mode and, if connected, that the system is shut off. The built-in overflow switch has two 1/4-inch quick-connect terminals, and the pump comes with 4-foot shut-off leads. The booklet says the switch is normally closed and opens when high water is detected, to be connected in series with the appliance’s 24-volt shut-down circuit, and it describes how to test the float and the switch. The liquid ratings are 140°F continuous and 160°F maximum inlet, and the pump is not suitable for contact with steam or gases above 160°F. DiversiTech’s documents say nothing about acidic condensate, so this review does not recommend the pump for condensing furnaces, boilers or water heaters. The booklet states a 36-month limited warranty counted from the distributor’s sale to the contractor and does not say how that applies to a homeowner’s purchase, so ask the seller and DiversiTech before you rely on it.
Diversitech
Best for: Seeing the water level and sludge at a glance
In StockA 120-volt condensate pump from DiversiTech's Asurity line with a translucent 1/2-gallon tank, LED status lights, a built-in overflow switch with quick-connect terminals and a 22-foot maximum lift, per DiversiTech.
on Amazon · $$$
Last updated: 2026-10-06
Your air conditioner, dehumidifier or other equipment maker decides what drain and overflow arrangement it needs, and a pump does not replace that. Check the equipment manual for the condensate connection, any required overflow protection, and who must do the wiring. Little Giant’s manuals say the installation and connections are to be made by a qualified person, and the safety-switch wiring in particular should follow your equipment’s own instructions.
Measure the vertical distance from the pump to the highest point the discharge line must reach, and note the horizontal run. Every pump here documents less flow as the height increases: the VCMA-20ULS drops from 80 to 48 gallons per hour between 1 and 10 feet, and the VCMA-15ULS from 65 to 25. The shut-off head is the maximum the pump can lift, not a working height. Little Giant’s VCMA and VCCA manuals say to keep the straight rise of the outlet tubing within 75 percent of the pump’s total dynamic head, and DiversiTech lists 22 feet as the ULTRACP-22’s maximum lift; read the instructions for your model and leave margin for tubing length and bends.
All five pumps here include a high-water or overflow switch, which exists to stop the equipment or sound an alarm if the pump or its discharge fails. The 2021 International Mechanical Code, Section 307.2.3, lists overflow protection options where overflow could damage the building, including an auxiliary pan with its own drain and a water-level device that shuts off the equipment. Whether a given pump’s switch satisfies your jurisdiction is a question for your installer or building department, because local adoption and amendments decide what applies. Reservoir size is 1/2 gallon on the VCMA, VCCA and ULTRACP-22 pumps and one gallon on the VCL-24ULS.
Compare the heights the makers publish: about 7 inches for the VCMA drawings, 6.7 for the ULTRACP-22 and 5.23 for the VCCA-20ULS. The liquid limits are 140°F for the VCMA, 140°F continuous with a 160°F maximum inlet for the ULTRACP-22, an intermittent 120°F for the VCCA and 120°F for the VCL-24ULS. The Little Giant manuals say these pumps are for indoor use and not for use inside an air plenum; DiversiTech’s ULTRACP-22 booklet and data sheet do not list that pump as plenum rated, so check its booklet for where it may be installed.
The 2021 International Mechanical Code, Section 307.2.1.1, says condensate drains may not connect directly to a plumbing drain, waste or vent pipe and may discharge only to certain fixtures such as a floor drain, mop sink, standpipe, utility sink or laundry sink. Local codes may differ, so confirm the discharge point with your building department before you route the line.
The pumps here are reviewed for air conditioners, dehumidifiers and similar cooling and dehumidification equipment. Condensing gas furnaces, boilers and some water heaters produce condensate that is more acidic, and the appliance maker’s instructions and your local code decide whether it must be neutralized before it reaches a drain. Little Giant’s manuals address gas-furnace condensate with a specific caution about acidity and routine flushing, so we have left that use out of this review. We have also left out mini-split pumps and neutralizing pumps. Follow the appliance maker’s instructions for any condensing appliance.
Amazon listings can list the same pump from several sellers, and a listing may offer different versions of a pump. Check the model number, voltage, whether the model includes the safety switch and tubing (for Little Giant, the “S” and “T” in the name; DiversiTech also sells the ULTRACP-22T with tubing and 230-volt versions), and the seller named at checkout and its return terms before you order. Little Giant says its limited warranty applies only to products bought from Little Giant or an authorized US seller, so check who is selling before you rely on it.
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It is the maximum height each maker says the pump can push water; at that height the flow drops to zero. It is not a height you can use at full flow. Compare each pump’s documented flow at heights close to your own, and follow the manual’s guidance on how high to run the outlet tubing.
They share the same tank and dimensions. The VCMA-20ULS has the larger motor, a 20-foot shut-off head and more documented flow at 1, 5 and 10 feet, while the VCMA-15ULS has a 15-foot shut-off head, lower flow and a lower-power motor. Compare the flow each documents at your own rise, and keep in mind the manual’s guidance on tubing height.
All five of these pumps include one. The switch is how the pump can stop the equipment or sound an alarm if the pump or its discharge fails, and overflow protection is a topic in the 2021 International Mechanical Code, Section 307.2.3. Your equipment manual and local code decide what you need and how it must be wired.
No. They are sold for condensate. For groundwater see our guides to the best sump pumps and the best utility pumps.
Some people do, but the wiring, especially the safety switch connection to the equipment, should follow the equipment maker’s instructions. Little Giant’s manuals say installation and connections are to be made by a qualified person. If you are unsure, hire a licensed professional.
Start with your equipment manual and your measured rise, then compare flow at that height. For a typical air conditioner or dehumidifier, the Little Giant VCMA-20ULS is the simplest starting point, and the VCMA-15ULS is the lower-power version for shorter runs. The VCCA-20ULS is the one to choose when clearance is the constraint, the VCL-24ULS when you need the largest documented flow and a one-gallon reservoir, and the Asurity ULTRACP-22 when you want a second maker and a translucent tank you can inspect at a glance. Check the model, the seller and your local code before you buy, and keep furnaces, boilers and water heaters out of this decision unless the appliance maker says otherwise.
The specifications in this review come from these manufacturer documents, pages and code texts:
✍️ About This Review
PTR Editorial Team — Product Reviews. We compare manufacturer specifications, installation requirements, compatibility and available product documentation to help homeowners choose suitable tools and parts. For this Review, the product specifications are sourced from manufacturer data sheets, manuals and official product pages, as noted above. How we review →
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