Choosing the Correct Water Pump

We’ve all heard the saying 'when it rains, it pours', but when your home floods, what are you to do? 

Well, with the use of a water pump you can easily get the water out and get your life and home back to normal. 

Post-flood repairs can be a nightmare to sort out and often will involve a lengthy process. 

So, if you need to move large amounts of water from a basement or cellar quickly, or even in an emergency, for example, to the outside of the house during a bad flood or storm, a water pump can be a very useful tool.

Electric-Powered Water Pumps 

Electric-powered water pumps - or submersible pumps, as they are sometimes known - are the best choice for indoor use. 

Most are capable of being plugged into a standard household outlet and these are generally submersible, so they are designed to sit in water, which helps when trying to get as much standing water back out as you can. 

Just a word of caution though - as they use mains electricity for power, they will need to be plugged into the electric socket, so make sure it's safe to do so, as if you have had a flood, water damage might cause a few issues; make sure you stay safe. 

Pros: electric water pumps will require less maintenance as you won't have to worry about oil changes and other upkeep as much as you would on an engine-driven pump.

Cons: Also, as these water pumps will need to operate within an extension cord length from an electrical source, if you do have mobile pumping needs or want to move around, you’d be better off with a engine-driven model. Again, be careful  as you cannot operate these inside, so you will need some decent suction hose. Electric-powered pumps are also not as powerful as their petrol or diesel counterparts. 

Engine-Driven Water Pumps 

Petrol or diesel powered water pumps are better suited to more heavy duty, industrial jobs. 

They are commonly found on commercial or industrial sites or used for irrigation purposes within the agricultural and environmental industries. 

With powerful engines in-tow, these pumps can move colossal amounts of water. 

Pros: Quicker and more efficient pumping for large-scale or tough jobs, these pumps are ideal if you need a machine for a job that requires a bit more muscle.

Cons: We touched on this earlier but, again, as petrol or diesel pumps produce carbon monoxide emissions, they must be used outdoors. For indoor pumping, you need an electric model.