Thank you for your interest in Sump Pumps Direct. While the model 257 is the same pump as the 253, the 257 comes with a vertical float switch instead of the tether float switch on the 253. The tether float switches do tend to hold up and last a bit longer in cases where you also have laundry water draining into the pump. So, based on this, I would recommend sticking with the Liberty model 253.