Best Submersible Water Pumps: Buying Guide and Reviews
Every home needs a constant supply of water, and when you live in areas that don’t have that, you’ve got to be creative. One of the most common methods of pumping water – both for industrial and home use – is by using submersible water pumps.
As the word suggests, they are submerged in water to push it to the surface from boreholes and wells. In this article, we look at the best options for submersible water pumps of different sizes, capacities, and prices, as well as how to make the right choice when confronted with the numerous brands on the market.
Table of Contents
- Submersible Water Pumps – Reviews & Buying Guide
- 1. Superior Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump
- 2. ECO-FLO Manual Submersible Utility Pump
- 3. Lanchez Submersible Utility Pump
- 4. TACKLIFE Submersible Water Pump
- 5. VIVOSUN Submersible Water Pump
- 6. WaterAce Submersible Utility Pump
- 7. Green Expert Submersible Utility Pump
- 8. Submersible Clean/Dirty Water Pump
- 9. FLUENTPOWER Utility Pump
- 10. FLUENTPOWER Portable Submersible Utility Pump
- Buying Guide – Submersible Water Pumps
- Frequently Asked Questions
Submersible Water Pumps – Reviews & Buying Guide
1. Superior Thermoplastic Submersible Utility Pump
This utility pump made of superior material moves up to 3,000 gallons of water per hour from under wells or boreholes at a decent rate without occupying too much space. At 1/2 HP, the flow is great and quite ideal for home and small industries. Because it is made of tough thermoplastic material, this pump lasts years that goes in line with the manufacturer’s guarantee of one year.
It comes with a long power cord – 10 inches – and a 3/4 inch garden hose adapter. It also has a 1.5-inch NPT discharge to ensure a nice continuous flow at a high capacity while its suction screen handles 3/8 inch solids effectively. And, it has a handle for easy transportation while the numerous hooks make it possible to connect it to a garden hose that is not included in the package.
Also, it has a top discharge, weighs 7.8 pounds and measures 7 x 7 x 12 inches that takes up little space. It is sealed ideally to prevent any damage or tampering with electricity, and you can use a back-up battery to power it.
- Reasonably priced.
- Quite small.
- Has a handle for easy porting.
- A garden hose is not included in the price.
2. ECO-FLO Manual Submersible Utility Pump
Though this Eco-Flo utility pump is quite small at 6.5 x 6.5 x 11.8 inches and only 7lbs, it is quite versatile and able to handle such jobs as getting rid of flood water, pumping from wells and boreholes, as well as emptying pools and clogged drains. Its size and price make it the ideal for home use, and thankfully the righty accessories come with the original package to save you extra expense. It is light for easy portability when you have to work outside its designated storage space too.
Being ideally sealed, it has no altercations with electricity, making is safe for submersion. It can be used for pumping out fresh as salty water, but you want to flush it with fresh water to dislodge any salt residue if you use it in salty water. The material, corrosion-resistant thermoplastic, ensures longevity while the yearlong warranty attached guarantees good service beyond that period.
This pump has an oil-cooled motor that will require to be activated, and the 10′ power cord makes it possible to hook it to a power source. It has capacity for solids of up 1/8″ in diameter and will pump to flat surfaces of up to 3/8″. With a 1-inch pump, you can get as much as 1800 gallons of water per hour.
- It is light for portability.
- Made of durable material.
- Versatile for home-use.
- Requires monitoring to turn the power on and off.
3. Lanchez Submersible Utility Pump
This 1/2 HP multi-purpose utility pump may look small, but it packs a punch. With a rugged thermoplastic body that resists corrosion and a 25-feet power cord, you can take this little pump anywhere there is a power source and use it on a variety of activities. It is sealed for safety when submerged and designed with noise reduction technology that makes it ideal for home users as well as small-scale businesses.
Though the motor needs a little supervision when turning on and off, it is equipped with thermal overload protection to avoid overheating while a motor protector keeps it in top-shape for long. It is reasonably priced with a year’s limited warrant, making it quote affordable for residential use.
When fitted with the right hose, it pumps water at 3,467 GPH. It can be submerged up to 36.5 feet and will lift water to 17-feet. This pump works best with fresh water since it can accommodate 1/5 inch solid grains. The package features a utility pump, hose adapter, and two detailed manuals with all the information you need to operate it.
- Small and portable yet powerful.
- Pumps lots of water per hour.
- Fitted with noise reduction technology.
- Doesn’t come with a garden hose.
4. TACKLIFE Submersible Water Pump
For a little more than what regular utility pumps cost, you can get this beast with an auto on and off switch that senses when water is below 1/4 inch to protect the motor. Thanks to its 1/3HP motor, this pump gets out 46 gallons of water per minute, making it a little over 2,600 per hour. You can improve the flow of water by using a larger impeller that the pump’s system allows.
Water is usually prone to reversing, which is why the 3/4” valve check on this particular make prevents this from happening. Its size makes it ideal for home use in pools, for irrigation, wells, boreholes, and draining water after floods. It is perfectly sealed to prevent any water damage or accidents, and you can use batteries for backup, though they are not part of the package.
The pump is made of non-corrosive material that will not be affected by submersion while some parts are reinforced with metal shell fir longevity. A copper nickel plated pump head reduces the chances of corrosion and oxidation even further.
- Automatic on and off switch that detects low water levels.
- Reinforced with metal for durability.
- Pumps 46 gallons of water per minute.
- More expensive than most while being more ideal for small jobs.
5. VIVOSUN Submersible Water Pump
This pump by Vivosun is quite powerful as the manufacturer says it pumps 2,600 gallons of water per hour. It is small and suitable for small jobs, but you may be impressed to know it pumps from fountains too, which most utility pumps don’t. It is ideal for irrigation and for use in pumping from aquariums and ponds. In case of flooding, 2,600 gallons an hour is a decent outflow, isn’t it?
It comes with a 20.3-inch power cord and since it is super light at 7lbs, you can use it anywhere that is close to a source of power. Its lift height is 14.8 feet and the package includes a hose adapter. You would have to buy the hose separately, though. It does not have an automatic on and off switch, and so you would have to monitor when water falls below the accepted level to protect the motor. This utility pump is reasonably priced and will last quite a while, thanks to the corrosion-resistant material used on it.
- Ultra-quiet operation.
- Submerges up to 20.3 feet.
- Multi-purpose – pumps from fountains too.
- It takes a while to properly attach the tube to the hose.
6. WaterAce Submersible Utility Pump
This 0.5HP pump is ideal for draining water in low-lying flooded areas and has the flow of a pump that can work both small and medium jobs. The corrosion-resistant thermoplastic material that makes it ensures long life and the fact that it is covered by warranty makes it even more attractive, even if it costs a little more than most utility pumps.
Measuring 10.3 x 6.7 x 10.3 inches and weighing just over 10lbs, this pump has a small footprint that makes it fit ideally in small wells. It works well submerged fully in water – albeit not recommend for very long periods – since the material is sturdy and can handle water. It can handle solid grains of up to 1/8 inches in diameter and so is ideal for fresh water usage. The manufacturer says it can pump up to 3,000 gallons of water per hour when a 1-inch hose is used. It uses a water-cooled motor and will need monitoring for on and off switching.
- Pumps over 3,000 gallons of water per hour.
- Ideal for fresh water.
- Works well on wells and ponds.
- No auto switch to detect when water level is too low for pumping.
7. Green Expert Submersible Utility Pump
This utility pump from Green Expert has a 25-inch power cord and uses batteries as backup when power of off. Installed with a motor protector, it does not require you to monitor its turning on and off, and so it can be left unsupervised. Made of thermoplastic material that is not affected by water, this 1/4HP pump can be fully submerged without fear that any of its reinforced seals will come off.
This pump is quite powerful to deliver water up to 27.8 feet while it can remove up to 26.5 gallons per minute. The package includes a through guide so that the learning curve, even for first-time users, is quite steep. It is also backed with a year’s limited warranty 3/4″ while it accommodates the standard garden hose as well as a 1-1/4″ hosepipe for options. The size of hose will determine the water flow.
- Multi-purpose.
- Connects to two types of pipes – hosepipe and garden hose.
- Quote affordable.
- You have to pay attention to water levels since it is not fitted with an automatic sensor.
8. Submersible Clean/Dirty Water Pump
This light and portable submersible pump has the ability that most in its class lack; to pump both clean and dirty water without any of its inputs failing. It easily pumps out 40 gallons per minute at 16 feet to make its total an hour 2,400, depending on the size of hose you use.
Since it has an internal automatic ON/OFF switch, you won’t have to monitor it since it stops as soon as water falls below the accepted level, which makes its motor last long. The outer part of the pump is all thermostatic for water tolerance while the seal ensures none of the electrical parts is exposed.
- Pumps 40gpm, which is decent flow.
- Automatic on and off switch to protect the motor.
- Handles water at a minimum level of 2.4 inches.
- A little expensive when compared to modes in its class.
9. FLUENTPOWER Utility Pump
This utility pump from FluentPower is quite easy to use, thanks to the fact that it is installed with a switch float that detects when the level of water is ideal. If it is too low, it stops working but you can still manipulate it manually. This feature prevents dry-running which takes a toll on the motor.
The pump has a 5 mm solid passage that only allows in clean water, while the 1.5″ discharge port can push out as much as 3,300 gallons per minute depending on the size of hose you use. The maker gives this pump 2 years of warranty which is longer coverage than most pumps get.
This 3/4 HP utility pump that is made of stainless steel is durable and will not succumb to rust or oxidation. It comes with a garden hose adapter and a float switch, and since it only weighs 10lbs, is easily portable.
- Has a maximum flow of 3300 GPH.
- Steel outer body for longevity.
- Lengthy power cable.
- Only submerges to 23 feet.
10. FLUENTPOWER Portable Submersible Utility Pump
This lime green 1/4 HP utility pump is made of stainless steel that will not succumb to rust and its seals are reinforced to prevent electricity and water from coming into contact. With a 1500 GPH, it is great for home use and especially draining small amounts of water.
Fitted with thermal overload protection mechanism for its motor, the inner workings of this pump remain safe for long, which is also idea for its yearlong warranty coverage. It comes with a 16.4 feet power cable which is easy to connect to any source of power and its 16.5 feet water lift is decent. Since it is small and best for home usage, this utility is quite affordable. Use it for draining the hot tub, pool, and small wells.
- Thermal overload protection.
- Reasonably priced.
- A year’s warranty.
- Only pushes out 1,500 gallons per hour.
Buying Guide – Submersible Water Pumps
If there was only one brand of submersible pumps on the market, then the search for the perfect one would be pretty easy. That is not the case, unfortunately – or fortunately – and so you have to consider some factors before making the final choice. Here’re our must-haves.
There are two main types of pumps; lifting – used to drain wastewater or rainwater that are usually quite small, and feeding pumps that work for wells and boreholes. They are larger and have a higher capacity as compared to their counterparts, the lifting submersible water pumps, and they can be used commercially.
Type of Water
Before you can look at any other feature, you want to consider the type of water you will be pumping with your submersible pump. Fresh water – mostly from the rain – calls for one with a narrow granulometry – maximum grain diameter – of about 5mm because the solid grains from this type of water are super small. For wastewater, the granulometry is usually 10–20mm while that of highly populated water is above 25mm.
Swapping one for the other will be a waste as they cannot be interchanged. You want to look clearly at the specs to see what size of granules can pass through each to make the right choice.
Discharge Height
Expressed in column meters of water – CMW – it is the factor that determines whether or not water gets to its designated discharge point. It could either be calculated as the discharge height denoting the difference between your pump and point of discharge or a combination of discharge height, the pressure at the point of discharge, as well as the intervening pressure drops. This applies to both lifting and feeding water pumps.
Flow Switch
Flow of a water pump dictates how much water will flow through a pump at any given time, and it will mostly be dictated by the discharge height. A float switch will be one of the factors to consider since it could affect the final flow. There are two types; Vertical Switch Pump, used in smaller pumps with a 10-inch diameter and is mostly meant for lifting water pumps. It moves straight up to activate the pump and get water flowing. The second type, Tethered Switch Pump, moves diagonally upwards to activate the pump. These floats are only available in 14 inch intake and above, and so they are ideal for commercial water pumps.
Back-up System
Most submersible pumps use electricity, but that could fail once in a while. If it did without your knowledge – or when you are away from home – it could lead to flooding that would mean cleaning up way too much water. A proper backup system prevents this from happening, and so you want a pump that can use a battery too so that it can be set up to take over whenever there is a blackout. Go for a battery with lots of power to see you through as many hours as it may take to get power back.
If you are replacing an old pump, you may want to look at the previous installation to see its details. You will get to know the pump type, diameter of the discharge, and smaller accessories used during installation that will be handy.
Frequently Asked Questions
Conclusion – Wrapping Up
We hope we simplified the process of getting a new submersible water pump based on the list and options we listed in this piece. We haven’t recommended a particular brand as we would rather you choose that for yourself, but we do hope you find one that suits your needs and budget. Each of these products is available online and from reputable dealers. They are also positively reviewed by users and industry leaders.
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