Submersible Water Pumps

Ideal for Any Drainage Job

Submersible water pumps are the quickest and most efficient way for you to drain large quantities of water. If you already know all about them and you know what you’re looking for, just click one of the great-value models above to learn more about them. If you’re not sure about what features you need to look out for, keep reading; our guide to submersible pumps will tell you everything you need to know!

How Do Submersible Pumps Work?

Submersible pumps are, as the name suggests, designed to be completely submerged in a body of water. The way they work is surprisingly simple. Most models are fitted with a float switch, which is an air-filled box that’s attached to the pump by a waterproof cable. When it’s fully submerged, the pocket of air inside the box makes it float above the main body of the pump. When the switch box floats above the unit, the pump will turn itself on. This makes submersible pumps extra-useful for dealing with floodwater as you won’t have to wade into dirty, potentially hazardous water to drain it.

When the water is drained to a lower, more manageable level, the float switch will sit below the pump, which turns it off. This means they’re really low-maintenance, as you can simply set them in a body of water and leave them alone until the job is done.

Safe Depth

By their very nature, submersible pumps have to be waterproof. They are electrical items, after all! What many people don’t realise, though, is that being waterproof isn’t a one-size-fits-all certification. Some things are more waterproof than others, which means they can be used at lower depths. This is the single most important thing to remember about these pumps.

There are two things you need to look out for when buying a submersible pump; IP rating and waterproof certification. You want to make sure that your pump has a rating of at least IPX8, which shows you can safely totally submerge it. You should also check that its depth rating is high (or low, as the case may be) enough for your needs. If you want to drain an 8m deep well, and your pump is only certified to operate up to 5m deep, you’re going to have issues.

Flow Rate

The second thing you want to watch out for is the flow rate of the pump. Simply put, this tells you how quickly your chosen model can move water and it’s usually measured in litres per hour. More powerful pumps with a higher flow rate will get jobs done faster. If you have a very large pool or a flooded room you need to drain and you don’t have all day to do it, then you’ll want something with a higher flow rate. If you don’t mind waiting, or if you only need to use your pump occasionally in smaller bodies of water, then you can save a bit of money by picking up a lower-powered model.

Does It Come with a Hose?

You might think it’s obvious, but it’s worth double checking before you buy to ensure your chosen model includes a hose if you don’t already have one. If you’re dealing with floodwater, remember that any old hose won’t do – you need a tough flat hose to cope with all the bits of debris that you find in dirty water. Regular garden hoses are often too narrow, so they’re only really good for draining clean water.

Which Submersible Pump is Best for Me?

As with any tool, the answer to this question depends on what you need it for.  The most important factor is to check what depth it’s safe to use the pump at. If you know what depths you’ll be working at – for example, if you want something to drain your pool – this is easy. If you want a pump to keep around the house in case of emergency, though, this is something you’ll have to work out for yourself based on your room sizes. If you only intend to use your pump for draining your pool or hot tub, then you can be a bit more conservative. You don’t need to worry about picking a pump with a deep operating depth or that can cope with dirty water and can focus on choosing one with a powerful motor. However, if you want something that’s a bit more rugged and versatile, choose one of the models above – they all come with durable pump mechanisms that can cope with large particles of up to 35mm in size. This means they can easily handle bits of dirt, mud, twigs, leaves, and small bits of rubble.