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What are the Different Types of Water Pumps?

By Shannon Kietzman
Updated May 17, 2024
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There are many types of water pumps, each serving a special purpose in a home or business. All of them, however, are responsible for moving water in one way or another.

Well pumps help push water from underground water sources through pipes leading to a home or business. Well water pumps come with various amounts of horsepower. The size of the home and the number of bathrooms and sinks it contains are important consideration when deciding which well pump to purchase. If a home has many water outlets, or if the well water pump is located a great distance from the bathroom, sink, or tub, the home will need a stronger well. In addition, well pumps supplying water to more than one home will need to have more horsepower.

Well water pumps contain a motor, which spins a blade. This blade creates suction and draws the water into the pipes. It then pushes the water through the pipes and into the building. From there, a pressure tank helps distribute the water to all areas of the home or business.

Pressure tanks are also water pumps. Pressure tanks help regulate the pressure of the water as it comes into a home. Seasonal changes can alter the pressure of the water, such as when it is increased by snow melting in the spring. A water pressure tank helps keep the water flow steady year round.

Sump pumps are also water pumps. Many home and business owners battle basement seepage issues. With excessive rain, flooding, or melting snow, water can become a troublesome nuisance as it collects indoors. The best way to remove water from a basement is with a sump pump.

Similar to well pumps, sump pumps have a blade that is spun by a motor. Sump pumps are usually installed in the wettest part of the basement by first inserting a sump bucket into the floor. This bucket sits below the floor level as water flows into it. The sump pump's motor turns on when the float inside the sump pump is triggered by the water level. The motor spins the blade, which pushes the water up the drain hose and out of the building or house.

There are two different types of sump pumps. A submersible sump pump can be placed below the water line. A floor model sump pump, on the other hand, sits at floor level. Both water pumps work in the same manner, but submersible sump pumps handle larger quantities of water and can be fully submerged without any danger of electrical shortages.

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Discussion Comments
By anon136375 — On Dec 22, 2010

Good info, but my backyard is flooded right now and as I have some hydrology background I know that the slope is poor and sprinkler repair guy said the main drain to street is useless as the prior owner planted giant stupid date palm -- new drain would be tree and cement removal and be expensive.

I'm thinking a temp fix is water pump and 100' hose since we don't get much rain so ponding not often. But how powerful of a pump? This isn't a basement but would this still be called a sump pump?

By anon46938 — On Sep 30, 2009

first costruct an intake downstream, then put pipe cover by stainer wire and do not deep until the pipe touches the ground. costruct pump foundation to avoid shocks, then power the pump.

By brose923 — On Jul 28, 2009

I don't know a lot about water pumps. I have a water pump which sits on the ground and pumps water from a well (sand point) to water our lawn. The pump has stopped working. When I plug it in I can hear it 'click' but the pump does not turn on -- just a couple of clicks and then it stops. I am getting electricity to the pump, but the pump does not engage. The pump is extremely hot to the touch. Does it need some sort of lubrication? Is it toast? Like I said, I do not know a lot about pumps.

Any assistance would be truly appreciated.

By gauridatta — On Apr 18, 2007

what different does it make if the pump is axially split or radially split, except general conditions of space.

plz suggest technical view

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