Little Giant APCP-1700 Pool Cover Pump

If you’ve ever watched rainwater or melting snow collect on a pool cover and worried about stretching, tearing, sinking or putting excess stress on the pool walls, the Little Giant APCP-1700 is the kind of small, no-nonsense solution that makes that worry disappear. It’s an automatic, submersible pool-cover pump (light blue housing, handy built-in handle) designed to sit on your cover, kick on when water reaches a depth of 2" and will pump the water away through a garden hose or discharge fitting. It’s compact, tough enough for seasonal use and built specifically to protect covers from the weight and damage that standing water causes.

Key specs (at a glance):

• Power: 115 V, 1/3 HP (continuous-duty motor with thermal protection).

• Flow rate: marketed at ~1,700 GPH (some retailer specs list ~1,745 GPH / ~29 GPM).

• Automatic activation: float switch starts the pump at roughly 2 inches of water.

• Discharge: side 1" FNPT with 3/4" garden-hose adapter for easy draining.

• Max head (shutoff lift): about 21.5 feet.

• Cord: 25 ft power cord for easy placement; weight roughly 12–13 lb; compact footprint ~12"×12"×8¼" for stable sit-on-cover placement.

• Warranty: sold with a 3-year warranty from the manufacturer.

How it works — simple and automatic

The APCP-1700 uses an integrated mechanical float switch: place the pump on the lowest spot of the cover (where water collects), plug it into a properly grounded, GFCI-protected outlet, and the float will automatically close the circuit once ~2–2½" of water builds up. The pump will then run, push water out through a garden hose or connected discharge, and shut off once the water drops below the cutoff level (approximately 1"). Because the motor includes a thermal protector and the unit is designed for continuous duty, it’s built to run for extended drain cycles without fuss — just follow the safety instructions.

Installation & practical tips:

• Place the pump in the deepest point of accumulated water so the float senses and drains efficiently. Route the garden hose downhill with no air pockets so the pump can prime and drain continuously.

• Do not use an extension cord. The manual explicitly warns against extension cords and requires a grounded outlet protected by a GFCI/RCD. (This is safety-critical)

• Use the supplied garden-hose adapter for quick setup, or screw a 1" FNPT discharge if you need a more permanent or higher-capacity connection.

• Keep the intake screen clear of debris and periodically inspect the hose for kinks or ice if you’re using it in winter/shoulder seasons. The intake screen is removable for cleaning.

Maintenance & longevity

Maintenance is minimal: rinse or clean the removable intake screen, check the hose and outlet for blockages, and keep the power cord in good repair. Replace the cord only through the manufacturer (manual instructions specify contacting Little Giant for cord replacement). If you store it over summer, flush and dry it before putting it away to prevent algae or trapped debris. The built-in thermal protector helps prevent motor damage from overloads, but don’t run the pump with a clogged hose or frozen discharge.

Pros & cons:

Pros

• Automatic operation — set it and forget it; float switch does the rest.

• Strong flow for its size (around 1,700 GPH) — will handle heavy rain or rapid snowmelt.

• Simple garden-hose hookup and removable intake screen make setup and cleaning easy.

• Long cord and compact, stable design make placement straightforward.

  
  

Cons

• Not a substitute for a proper pool-water management strategy; it drains cover water but won’t treat or filter pool water.

• Requires a properly located outlet and GFCI protection — sometimes inconvenient if your pool area lacks nearby outdoor power.

• Like any cover pump, it must be winterized or stored during long off-seasons to prevent freeze damage to hoses or fittings.

Use cases — who benefits most:

• Owners of seasonal above-ground or in-ground pools with covers who want to avoid the weight/damage that pooled water causes.

• Boat owners or homeowners who need a quick automatic solution for water that gathers on tarps, covers or flat roofs.

• Anyone who wants a low-maintenance, plug-and-play option rather than rigging manual siphons or frequent bucket-outs.

Final verdict

The Little Giant APCP-1700 isn’t sexy — it’s practical! If your priority is a reliable, automatic way to protect a pool cover (or similar surface) from standing water, it’s an excellent, purpose-built choice: solid flow for a compact submersible, easy hookup, automatic float control, and sensible safety features in the manual. It’s particularly appealing if you want a “set it and forget it” solution that won’t require nightly visits to the pool after a storm. If you do buy one, follow the manual’s safety guidance (GFCI, no extension cords, keep the intake clean) and you’ll have a dependable little workhorse for seasons to come.

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