Many owners of country houses and summer cottages are faced with the need to develop an autonomous water supply system, which is needed not only to satisfy domestic needs, but also to water the green spaces on their plots. In such cases, it is advisable to use a pump for a surface well.
Surface pumps are indispensable where it is not possible to install submersible equipment in the well
The modern market offers a wide variety of models of such equipment, differing from each other in both design and technical characteristics. Such a variety of offered options, although it allows you to select a hydraulic machine to solve specific problems, makes non-specialists wonder which device to choose. Meanwhile, it is the correct choice of a surface pump to equip a well or well that largely determines the efficiency of the autonomous water supply system.
What is a surface pump?
If we talk about this type of water supply equipment such as pumps, we note that they are divided into two types:
- superficial;
- submersible
Installations of the first type are mounted on the surface in close proximity to the water source from which the liquid will be drawn. Submersible models are used for pumping water from a well with a large water depth. This equipment is equipped with a multi-stage suction design , which, when using the pump, is immersed in water. This provides the opportunity to water the beds on your site over a long distance.
Surface pumps are often used in private homes as an additional component of the plumbing system. The surface pumps included in its composition are most often used for pumping liquids. With their help, water is pumped out from special reservoirs, which is then used to water vegetables and various plants.
This type of pumping equipment differs in its design. Each pump model of this type is designed for use in a well with a certain depth. The maximum depth from which such equipment can supply water reaches 10 meters.
The main difference between submersible pumps and surface pumps is that they do not have much power , so they can only be used for pumping water. It is prohibited to transport mineral oil, fuel and other dense liquids through pipes using them. Using this equipment for such purposes may result in pump damage or system malfunction.
Types and differences
Soil pumps, depending on the cross-sectional size of the flow path, are divided into three large categories:
- Enlarged.
- Normal.
- Reduced.
Flow path coating options:
- metal, rubberized;
- metal, corundum.
Metal used in the manufacture of high quality flow path. It has wear-resistant, anti-corrosion qualities.
Classification options regarding the body:
- Single casing pump.
- Double-casing pump - in cases where work is carried out on relatively large, dimensional materials. This type provides additional protection.
Classification by shaft location:
Soil pumps GRAT
- horizontal shaft arrangement (often used);
- vertical shaft arrangement (rarely used, in special cases).
Earth pump - belongs to the category of soil pumps, this is facilitated by the identical structure of the unit and operating principle.
Refuler pump – used at great depths. Low pressure and increased flow facilitate efficient use at great depths. Also classified as soil pumps. They have their own specific work and are manufactured to special order.
A pulp pump is a device designed to bring pulp to the surface. A liquid containing soil fragments is called pulp.
Slurry apparatus is a pump that pumps sludge out of the ground. Various particles of metals and chemical compounds are called sludge.
Submersible pump is a water type of pump. Designed to pump out water.
Criterias of choice
Before choosing a surface pump for drawing water from a well, you need to find out at what depth the water source is located on your site. The parameters of the equipment will largely depend on this. Since in most summer cottages the depth of the wells is shallow , for measurements it is enough to lower a fishing line with a weight inside the pipe.
This way you can find out the depth of your well. Next, based on this parameter, you can choose the right model that is suitable for your well. The technical data sheet for the pumping equipment indicates the maximum depth from which it can supply water. Therefore, familiarization with the technical data will allow you to select the right model.
Key parameters
When choosing a pump, you need to focus on:
- maximum height of water rise;
- take into account the distance of the water source from the house;
- take into account the volume of pumped water.
To make it clearer, let's explain this with a specific example. Let’s assume that there is a well on the site 10 meters deep, located 15 meters from the country house. The owner's water consumption is 60 liters per hour. This means that when you come to the store, you need to consider models that have a capacity of 60 liters with a lifting height of at least 12 meters. The resulting calculation of water consumption will be the main parameter when choosing a surface pump.
Well cross section and pressure
When creating a well, pipes of a certain cross-section are used. Taking into account their diameter, it is necessary to select pumping equipment. If the owner will submerge the installation to supply water, then in this case its size should be slightly smaller than the cross-section of the wells. Currently, the most common cross-section of casing pipes is 4 inches, which in terms of the more familiar measurement system is equal to 100 mm. Therefore, when choosing a pump, it is necessary to focus on this size.
Before purchasing a device, it would be a good idea to consult with specialists who will be drilling wells. They can give you recommendations on which well pump is best for your shallow well. You should also know which models are best for sand wells. If you do not take this point into account when purchasing pumping equipment, then during operation it can quickly fail due to the strong influence of sand fractions on its operation.
For example, if the owner decides to use the most popular model of the “Rucheek” pump, then he will be able to ensure efficient water supply in a well up to 15 meters deep. With its help, you can organize a stable water supply in your area at low cost.
When choosing a pump, you should pay attention to the maximum pressure it can support. To do this, you need to refer to the technical documentation. The value of this parameter in the passport for the pump is indicated in bars. The most important parameter is the suction depth. To determine the maximum pressure, it is necessary to use the suction depth characteristic. To this value you need to add 30, and for greater reliability add an additional 10%. If the well has a total depth of 15 meters, then to ensure water intake using a pump, a device is needed that provides a pressure of 50 bar.
Top rated household pumps
Aquario ARM-100
The model has minimal characteristics, but is durable and economical to install and use.
Gilex Jumbo
The device has high performance. Consuming 600 W, the pump is capable of providing a head of about 35 meters.
Wilo PB-088EA
This model from a German manufacturer consumes 140 W per hour of operation, while the pressure is 9 meters.
Devices for domestic use are quite economical compared to industrial units.
Devices of this type are divided into two types:
- Centrifugal single stage
- Centrifugal multistage
The choice of design should be made taking into account the characteristics and purposes of use.
Peculiarities:
- Compact drive and low noise level during operation
- Water consumption – maximum 70 liters per minute
- Fluid pressure level – 17 meters
- Electricity consumption – minimum 500 W
Device advantages:
- Possibility of long-term uninterrupted operation
- Easy to install
- Availability of pricing policy
- Small dimensions
Flaws:
- The suction height is a maximum of 9 m.
- The distance for pumping water is from 17 to 42 m.
Additional accessories
You can find out which pump is best to choose for a sand well only after a detailed analysis of the model has been carried out. The choice should be made in favor of one that suits the technical characteristics. Such wells place high demands on filters , which are included in the pumping equipment.
In order to ensure high operating efficiency when using a well pump, it is necessary to use various components. To do this, you need a cable for a submersible pump, and a hose for a surface pump. In addition, to connect the equipment you will need an electrical cable and circuit breakers. The latter will be needed in case of an emergency shutdown. The control of the pumping equipment must be located outside. It should be placed in a room that will be protected from external influences.
If the surface pump does not pump water from the well, then it is necessary to turn it off and then carry out initial diagnostics. If a malfunction is detected, repair work must be carried out. In this case, it will be possible to restore its functionality.
To carry out repairs, it is better not to try to do something yourself. It is best to contact specialists from a service organization that provides warranty and post-warranty maintenance of pumping units.
If there is a surface well on the site, then during operation water may enter it. Pumps used in wells for water with sand must be equipped with additional filters to prevent dirt and sand from entering the water supply system.
Pump connection installation diagram and list of required components
- Surface pump
- Hydraulic accumulator with a volume of 50 l or more
- Check valve with or without strainer
- Connector with 5 terminals
- Pressure switch with internal or external thread
- Pump filter 5 or 10 SL
- Dry running sensor
- Thermal manometer
- Brass plug 1
- Brass plug ¼
- Coupling 32 x 1 (metal-plastic)
- Reinforced pipe 32 by 1 (metal-plastic)
- Corner 32 by 1
- Nipple 1 ShSh
- Hose for corner connection 1
- Bleeding plug
- American
- Fitting with 3 outlets for draining water
- Stabilizer
- Heading
- Heat shrink sleeve
- Steel cable
- Submarine cable
- Metal-plastic fittings and pipes
In addition to the above elements, along with the installation of a surface pump, it is necessary to have float switches that allow you to automate the operation of the device. Such switches perform the function of automatic start when the water filling level reaches its maximum. The pump turns off automatically if there is little liquid in the source.
Expert opinion
Kuznetsov Vasily Stepanovich
The design features of the surface pump require reliable protection from high levels of humidity. For this purpose, a special place is equipped near the source.
Selecting a pump model
In order for the choice of a well pump to be correct, when searching for equipment, it is necessary to focus on the most important parameters of the equipment. In some cases, for effective water supply on the site, it is necessary to install powerful high-power pumping equipment. With the help of such devices, it is possible to ensure an uninterrupted supply of water to the area. However, you should know that such models are not cheap , and you will have to spend significant amounts of money to purchase them.
If the pump works to pump water out of a well with sand, then you will have to spend money on protecting the water from sand. And for this you will need to purchase:
- settling tanks;
- filters.
An exact list of additional accessories that ensure efficient, long-lasting operation of the pump can be obtained from specialists.
Surface equipment can be used for wells located at a depth of no more than 20 meters. If the water source lies at a greater depth, then the best solution in this case would be to install a submersible pump.
For shallow well depths, using an inexpensive pump model will be sufficient. Before purchasing a device, you need to decide on the purpose of its use. To ensure water supply on the site, some models of pumping equipment are used, but for agricultural purposes the choice is made in favor of completely different ones.
Surface pumping stations - the best models
To completely solve the issue of water supply in a private home, it is better to use not a simple pump, but a pumping station. It is more functional and is often equipped with a storage tank - its volume can vary significantly. The check valve prevents water from pouring into the well or borehole after shutdown, which reduces the amount of idle work. Yes, the cost of such equipment is higher than that of standard pumps. But using them is much easier and more comfortable, which is appreciated by many owners.
VORTEX ASV-370/2 H
A simple but high-quality surface pumping station with a relatively low productivity - 2.7 cubic meters. at one o'clock. This is enough for a small family, but for a household or a large group of people you will have to look for a more powerful analogue. Thanks to a maximum pressure of 30 meters, it can deliver water to a house from a well located at a great distance. A plus is the nine-meter suction depth. Equipped with a small hydraulic tank - only two liters. In general, the station is designed to work with clean water, but the content is no more than 150 grams of sand per cubic meter. water won't be a problem. Works with a fairly wide temperature range - from +1 to +50 degrees Celsius.
Advantages:
- small dimensions;
- low price;
- powerful pressure;
- maintainability.
Flaws:
- very small hydraulic tank.
GILEX Jumbo 50/28 Ch-18
A very successful surface pumping station for a summer cottage and home. It has good throughput - up to 3 cubic meters per hour. water. The maximum pressure of 28 meters makes it possible to deliver water to the house from a remote well. And a suction depth of nine meters is quite enough for most regions of our country. The model is equipped with a fairly large hydraulic tank of 18 liters, which makes it possible to start the pump less often, and therefore increase its service life.
The built-in hydraulic tank allows you to have a certain supply of water on hand, so as not to turn on the pump every time you need to wash your hands.
The weight is quite large - about 15 kg, but for pumping stations this figure is rather modest. In general, the pump is designed to work with clean water, but a special filter efficiently retains particles up to 0.8 mm in size.
Advantages:
- good power;
- spacious hydraulic tank;
- high-quality materials and assembly;
- easy to purchase spare parts;
- small size.
Flaws:
- makes a lot of noise when working.
Grundfos MQ 3-35
Easy to use and reliable model. The risk of failure is almost completely eliminated by the overheating and dry-running protection function. Electronics monitor the water level, which is an additional advantage. A throughput capacity of three cubic meters per hour is enough for most small farms, not to mention summer cottages. The maximum pressure of 35 meters solves the problem of remoteness of a well or well. The pressure boost function is another major plus.
Advantages:
- high-quality assembly;
- low noise level;
- high degree of reliability;
- small size and weight;
- possibility of increased pressure.
Flaws:
- there is no hydraulic tank.
Which garden pump is best?
Surface pumps for providing water supply at a summer cottage are offered by many companies whose specialization is the production of installations for water supply systems. Several companies are currently market leaders.
- Jumbo;
- Whirlwind;
- Neoclima;
- Grundfos;
- Wilo.
You can purchase the pump needed for water supply in one of the specialized stores or by visiting the online store. The price for them is quite consistent with the quality of the devices.
Popular surface pump models
Among all the pump models, we can highlight those that are in greatest demand among consumers today.
- Elitech NS 600P. The peculiarity of this installation is that its design includes a self-priming pump , and also has a steel frame. This pump can be used for pumping clean water in conventional and drip irrigation systems. The power of the model is 620 W. As for its productivity, it is at the level of 50 liters/hour. The depth from which these installations can supply water is 8 meters.
- "Jumbo 70 50 P." This model is able to work at a maximum depth of up to 9 meters. The power of this model is 1100 W. The pump capacity is 4.2 cubic meters. meters/hour.
- "Whirlwind PN 1100N". The power of this pump is 500 W. Its performance is the same as the previous model.
- "AQUARIUS BC-1.2-18U. The peculiarity of this pump is its vertical position. The power of the equipment is 690 W. It has a capacity of 4.5 cubic meters of water per hour. This model can operate at a maximum depth of 8 meters.
If in a summer cottage the source of water supply is located far away, then in this case, in order to ensure constant watering of plants and beds, it is necessary to drill a well and install a pump. Choosing a pump is a responsible matter, since there are quite a few models and each has its own performance and purpose of use. For irrigation, you need to choose a suitable model , taking into account not only the price, but also performance parameters and water supply depth.
In order not to make a mistake with your choice, you must first familiarize yourself with the types of pumping equipment and then make a choice. To avoid mistakes, it would be useful to consult with specialists who will not only help you choose an installation, but also give advice on operation.
How to calculate the required productivity?
According to SNiP standards for watering 1 sq.m. beds or flower beds require 3-6 liters of water per day (depending on climate and soil condition). This means that if the area of your garden is 20mx20m = 400 sq.m., then you will need 400x6 = 2400 liters of water per day. If you are going to spend, for example, 2 hours a day on watering, then the pump should be able to pump 1200 liters in an hour. Accordingly, the productivity you need is 1200 l/hour. Productivity is usually designated by the letter Q, and in our case it should be close to 1.5-2 cubic meters. at one o'clock.
