Rating of the best self-priming pumps for 2024

If there is a drilled well in a summer cottage or home area, then in order to organize watering of personal areas and to meet the needs of home water supply, you will need to use a special self-priming pump. Before purchasing it, you should learn more about the principles of operation of such equipment, familiarize yourself with the advantages / disadvantages of models on the market, study the procedure for installation and connection. This information will be useful not only for amateur gardeners, but also for residents of private houses who have problems with water delivery.

The structure and functionality of a surface pump

Self-priming pumps lift the liquid from the depth due to the pressure difference generated during its drops. The maximum effective depth of such a pump is about 10 meters, but usually household wells do not reach such depths, but there are only 8-9 meters, so the power of the device is usually more than enough. The mechanism of operation is based on blades rotating inside the apparatus, which create areas of reduced pressure, which it rapidly tries to fill with liquid.

Such units consist of an electric motor, a working chamber that pumps liquid through a pumping mechanism, which, in turn, is driven by a special rotor. All active elements are located around the shaft passing through the seal, and it also prevents liquid from getting onto the electrical parts of the device.

There are two types of seals - end seals and glands. The first option is not often found due to its high cost and reliability, but most of the existing models are provided with the second.

IMPORTANT! In "nature" there are models that are generally devoid of seals. They are replaced in the design by magnetic couplings. Such a decision often speaks about the greater reliability of the device, but it significantly reduces its performance. The reason for this is the decrease in torque during transmission from shaft to shaft. However, such equipment is considered the most expensive.

By the type of creation of the suction force, pumps are divided into vortex and centrifugal. Both designs use an impeller (water-running equipment impeller).

Centrifugal pumps

At first glance, the working chamber of such a pump looks like a snail shell. In its center, there are blades that make up a water wheel. The wheel can be in a single copy (one-stage pump), or there can be several of them (multi-stage form). Accordingly, the former will always work with the same power, while the latter (power) can be changed.

The blades are located in such a way that they diverge from the shaft and at the same time are bent in the direction opposite to rotation. In the process of rotation of the wheel, the blades repel the water from themselves, press it against the chamber sides, thus creating a centrifugal effect. Liquid seeps through diffuser - minimum distance from blade tip to wall. Thus, a high pressure arises on the diffuser, due to which the liquid goes up, twirls according to the "snail" principle, and then is transferred to the side of the outlet pipe.

At the same moment, a reduced pressure arises in the central part of the chamber, which draws water along with it through the inlet pipe. From it, the main line goes either into a well or into a reservoir. This process cannot even be called cyclical - it is simply endless, since it occurs permanently while the electric motor is running and the shaft is spinning.

In general, this method of pumping liquid is quite effective, however, it has a significant drawback - if the system is filled with air, then a reduced pressure cannot be created. The device will run idle, which will inevitably lead to overheating and breakdown. In order to avoid such a situation, when the equipment is first started, water is poured into it in order to fill the working chamber and the supply line. The water will no longer be able to drain back, since the check valve will prevent this. It is equipped with a coarse filter located at the end of the inlet line, which is immersed in the source.

Vortex pumps

They have a slightly different principle of operation. The main difference is that the impeller has a different shape - the blades are located on both sides at once, they are radial and straight. Such a structure is called an impeller. The design of the working chamber is arranged in such a way that the wheel is tightly covered, and only the side baffles have a large gap.

The rotation of this wheel makes the water move. Due to centrifugal force, the liquid is pressed against the chamber walls and moves along it. And when the second side of each blade touches, it receives another portion of acceleration, which is why it twists in the form of a vortex. All this action forms a vortex flow, which gave the name to this structure.

By the way, this system creates a pressure 5-7 times higher than that of centrifugal pumps of similar power. This system should be used in cases where it is necessary to provide a high head with low water consumption. Vortex pumps can create an area of ​​reduced pressure even when partially filled with air, so the cases of idling and overheating of such equipment are extremely rare. The mixture of water and air will not affect either the performance or the power of the device. Therefore, during the first start-up, the chamber can only be partially filled with water. The disadvantage of vortex models is high power consumption, therefore, such equipment is used where the water consumption is relatively small.

Ejector - a device for raising water from great depths

An ejector is used to resolve issues of water intake from great depths. It is a specially shaped tube that has one inlet and two outlets - the lower expanded inlet is used to draw fluid from the well, and the other, which narrows inside, is used to recirculate the water received from the pump. Then, through the outlet, both streams mix and rush back to the unit.

All this works on the provisions of Bernoulli's law.Water passing through a narrow nozzle creates the effect of a turbine, while, having received additional acceleration, it creates a low pressure region in the ejector. These voids are instantly filled with liquid, which flows through the main nozzle. As a result, the pressure in the well itself increases several times, its difference with the pressure on the wheel of the unit also increases, so the water begins to move quickly upward.

The disadvantage of the ejector is that it will reduce the efficiency of the equipment by 35-38% (water will have to be constantly returned to the well), but the lifting depth increases from 10 to 40 meters. Typically, an ejector is included with any pump.

Additional characteristics of pumping equipment

• The capacity of pumps, as a rule, is 3-5 cubic meters of water per hour, which is enough for a house with a decent number of residents;
• The pressure in the system is about 4 bar - it is enough for all plumbing fixtures;

IMPORTANT! The pump performance will depend not only on the depth of the well, but also on the length of the water supply system and the number of water points.

• The pumping equipment is quite noisy by itself, therefore it should be installed away from living quarters.

The main differences between vortex and centrifugal pumps

Centrifugal models are much superior to vortex ones in size and weight, however, they work somewhat quieter. In addition, the simplicity of their design without fear can allow the injection of liquids with foreign inclusions - such are fecal and drainage units. Vortex pumps are quite sensitive, so they are specially equipped with filters;

Centrifugal units are considered more reliable - their service life can be up to 20 years. In repair, they are also quite simple, if desired, the problem can be fixed on your own. Vortex units are considered more delicate equipment, carrying out meticulous cleaning and high-speed pumping of liquid - it is unlikely that it will be possible to repair them yourself;

The energy consumption of vortex pumps is 40% higher.

Good choice rules

Before buying, you should familiarize yourself with the information stated in the product data sheet. You need to be interested in the following data:

• Power and productivity - this indicator must be compared with the distance of the well from the house, the number of water distribution points and the maximum required volume of water at a time. Naturally, this will require precise mathematical calculations. However, by correctly calculating the required power of the pump, you can extend its service life, as well as avoid premature breakdowns and overheating;
• The minimum dispensed pressure - it should be 0.3 bar. Otherwise, household appliances connected to plumbing communications may fail.
• You also need to correlate the pump capabilities with the diameter of the casing that is installed in the well. It is better to contact the drilling specialists with this question.

Rating of the best self-priming pumps for 2024

The pump models presented below are ordered by price index ascending.

The best self-priming pumps costing up to 10,000 rubles

5th place: ZUBR NPG-M1-400

The device has an automatic on / off function, a thermal fuse to protect the electric motor. It is used for pumping clean and contaminated liquids, it is indispensable for dehumidification, as well as for drainage and aeration.

Specifications:

Name	Index
Lifting height, m	6
Productivity, l / min	125
Dry run protection	there is
power, kWt	0.4
Suction depth, m	7
price, rub.	1940

• The body is made of reinforced plastic;
• Convenience of transportation (presence of a special handle);
• Universal fitting.

• Differences in performance.

4th place: AL-KO Drain 20,000 HD

Designed for pumping liquids with foreign inclusions. Able to work in extreme conditions. Also suitable for draining basements and swimming pools. The impeller is funnel-shaped, which increases the efficiency of the machine.The kit includes a universal nipple.

Specifications:

Name	Index
Lifting height, m	5
Productivity, l / min	720
Dry run protection	there is
power, kWt	0.43
Suction depth, m	6
price, rub.	3590

• Special travel wheel technology;
• Increased foreign grain size - up to 30 mm;
• Robust case.

• Great weight.

3rd place: Metabo P 2000 G

The model belongs to the line of budget pumps and is intended exclusively for the intake of clean water. Has some internal rubberized parts to reduce operating noise during operation. It has excellent throughput. Afraid of low temperatures

Specifications:

Name	Index
Maximum depth, m	8
power, kWt	0.45
Productivity, l / h	2000
Maximum height (with ejector), m	30
price, rub.	4400

• Affordable price;
• Extended pumping distance - 30 meters;
• Good build quality.

• Reduced power;
• Failure to work in low temperature conditions.

2nd place: Jileks Jumbo 70/50 P 3701

Model from a Russian manufacturer. It has an increased immersion depth - 9 m. The set includes an ejector. The electric motor is characterized by extremely economical energy consumption. Due to the use of special treatment, which the chassis elements have undergone, the operational life has been significantly increased (the pump is designed for at least 5 years of continuous operation).

Specifications:

Name	Index
Lifting height, m	5
power, kWt	1.1
Dry run protection	Is absent
Productivity, l / min	70
Suction depth, m	9
price, rub.	6940

• Ease of use;
• Acceptable cost;
• Good build quality.

• High noise level.

1st place: GARDENA 8500 Comfort

All pump parts are made of high-strength materials that perfectly resist both chemical and mechanical stress. Has a high level of fluid pumping speed. The power cable has been significantly increased - up to 10 meters. The maximum immersion depth is 8 m.

Specifications:

Name	Index
Lifting height, m	8
Productivity, cubic meters / hour	8.3
Dry run protection	there is
power, kWt	0.38
Suction depth, m	7
price, rub.	9300

• Reduced noise level;
• High-quality assembly;
• Advanced functionality.

• High price among analogues.

The best self-priming pumps cost over 10,000 rubles

2nd place: Calpeda MXHM 205 / A 230/50 Hz

A very popular model due to its high-quality and trouble-free operation at low temperatures. It has a very compact size. The casing is made on the principle of a monolithic type and has special moisture / dust protection properties. Equipped with a fuse against overheating in case of interruptions in the water supply.

Specifications:

Name	Index
Suction depth, m	8
power, kWt	0.75
Productivity, l / h	4800
Weight, kg	12.5
Suction system	multistage
price, rub.	24105

• Long-term service life (monolithic body);
• Increased reliability;
• Provision with accessories (universal attachments).

• Used only for clean water.

1st place: Grundfos JP 6 46811202

Designed exclusively for pumping liquids from wells, wells, reservoirs. It has a filter with carbon brushes, which allows you to get almost potable quality water at the outlet. It can be used as water supply equipment for small residential buildings, and as a small fire extinguishing installation.

Specifications:

Name	Index
Lifting height, m	6
Productivity, cubic meters / hour	55
Dry run protection	Not required
power, kWt	1.4
Suction depth, m	5
price, rub.	34000

• Increased power;
• Robust body;
• Multifunctionality.

• Extremely high price.

Instead of an epilogue

When choosing a suction pump, you must always remember that it is a complex technical equipment, therefore, before buying, you should clearly establish the purposes for which it is being purchased. The use of a pump that is not adapted to a certain type of work will invariably lead to its failure. You should also pay attention to the warranty period: does it correspond to the type of equipment purchased? As a rule, it is more in centrifugal ones, and less in vortex ones. It is better to buy a pump through online trading platforms, thus saving yourself from unnecessary retail "markups".