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Things to Consider When Buying a Water Tank Pump

water tank pump (also known as a pressure pump) is required in order to use tank water throughout your home. The pump pushes the water out of your tank providing you with pressurised water at the various tap points in your house.

Homeowners generally require the tank pumps either to service their household water supply and/or for garden use. When selecting a water tank pump for your home or garden you need to consider:

  • the distance the water needs to travel between your tank and home
  • your water pressure requirements
  • the noise made by the pump
  • energy usage

We discuss each consideration below.

Distance Between Tank and Home

Distance is a factor because you will need a more powerful pump to move water from your tank to your home if your tank is located further away or if you have a multi-storey property and have to move water to the higher floors.

Some pumps pre-label themselves as suitable for small or multi-storey homes, but generally you would need a pump that has a head pressure of 20-50 meters in order to move water upwards, against gravity.

Water Pressure

You need to consider what you are using the rainwater for and what kind of water pressure you need.

Water pressure is measured in litres per minute (LPM). If you are using your tank water for toilets and washing machines then a low flow rate could be acceptable if you don’t mind it taking a few more minutes to fill the toilet cistern or washing machine bowl. But if you need the water for showers or even watering the garden, you would want a more powerful pump that can push out water faster – around 20 LPM (which is about the same flow rate of a mains water tap).

When shopping for a suitable LPM, you need to consider the total pressure you require when you have multiple taps operating at the same time. So if you need a tap going in the laundry, and the kitchen and the toilet all at the same time, then you add up the desired water pressure for all those locations to determine the total flow rate required. Match this number to the pump’s “Max LPM” specification.

Water Pump Noise

The amount of noise a pump makes is dependent on its type and how active it is.

To reduce the noise of a free-standing tank pump you can purchase or build a pump cover to enclose it. A cover serves to protect the pump from the elements as well as muffle the noise. However, ensure the cover is large enough to allow airflow so the pump does not overheat.

Submersible tank pumps are installed inside your water tank and sit under the water. This has the effect of muting the pump noises, as well as saving space.

Energy Usage

While it’s tempting to choose the biggest and most powerful pump you can, it’s important to remember that pumps draw energy every time a tap is turned on. The more powerful the pump, the more energy drawn. So buying a pump that is too large for your needs can result in higher electricity bills, offsetting your water bill savings.

To reduce energy usage, aim to reduce the amount of times your pump needs to activate. This can be done by setting up a gravity feed system, a header tank system or by using a pressure tank.

Team Poly Water Pumps

Team Poly recommend and supply Davey and ClayTech water pumps – two well established and reputable brands. If you need help choosing the right tank pump for your home water tank, contact our expert team for advice today.

Click here to see our range of available pumps. The TotalFlo range of water pumps are suitable for domestic household water supply and offered in a range of Jet Pumps, Multistage Pumps and Submersible Sump Pumps.