Petrol Water Pumps FAQs

A key element of a rainwater harvesting system is often a water pump. While the roof, guttering and water tank play the role of collecting and storing water, the pump is what moves the water to where it’s needed.

How does a petrol water pump work?

When the engine begins operating, the rotation of the centrifugal impeller pushes water out of the pump via the discharge port. The displacement of this water then creates a vacuum to draw water from the tank, into the inlet side of the water pump.

This cycle then continues to keep the water flowing.

Which water pump is best?

Understanding your water usage requirements is the best way to decide which water pump¹ is right for you. Look for features such as:

• Electronic ignition
• Flow
• Pressure
• Suction
• Portability

While you want to ensure you can move enough water at the required speed, you don’t want to buy something that’s beyond your capacity needs. If you’re unsure, get in touch with our specialists today who can assist you in choosing a pump that will fit your water needs.

If there’s a risk the pump could run dry, which in some cases can damage the engine, also look for a ‘run dry’ model that is designed to cope with thermal and run dry protection.

What is the most common water pump?

There are two common types of water pumps. They are:

• centrifugal pumps
• positive displacement pumps.

Centrifugal pumps are the most common type and best suited to pumping water.

How do I choose the right water pump?

To decide what model is best for you, questions to ask are:

• what’s the water usage demand (suction/pressure/flow)
• how many storeys is your home or business
• Will the pump remain in place, or will it need to be portable
• Will I need a rainbank pump (automatically switches to mains water as tank supply runs out)

Summary

While there are myriad choices available when it comes to selecting a water pump, we’ve hand selected the best to suit pumping water from your water tank, and highlighted some of the best features you need to look for. If you have any further questions, contact our friendly team on 02 8521 6606.