How to choose an automatic pumping station for a water supply system

A pumping station is a popular equipment option for organizing autonomous water supply for a private home.These are reliable and relatively compact devices that can ensure high-quality delivery of water to all points of consumption.

The equipment is not cheap, so before purchasing you need to weigh the pros and cons, study the characteristics and compare them with the upcoming operating conditions. Agree, at first glance the task seems quite complicated.

We will tell you how to choose a pumping station, describe the design and operating principle of the equipment, and also outline the main criteria for a smart purchase. In addition, we have compiled a review of popular brands whose products have won the trust of users. The information provided in the article will help you make the right choice.

How does a pumping station work?

A pumping station is a complex of devices consisting of a pump, hydraulic storage tank with rubber or membrane liner, pressure switch and control panel.

The principle of operation of the station is quite simple. The pump pumps water into the hydraulic tank; here the water is under a certain pressure, which depends on its quantity and the volume of air in the tank. As water is consumed, the pressure in the accumulator decreases.

Customized accordingly pressure switch records changes in the amount of water. When the minimum setting value is reached, the relay turns on the pump so that the hydraulic tank is filled with water. As the container fills, the pressure increases, the relay records its maximum level and turns off the pump.

The cycle of turning on and off is repeated in such a way that there is always an amount of water in the tank that can meet the needs of the residents of the house.

This system is highly efficient. For example, if the water supply were connected directly to the pump, the equipment would have to be turned on every time someone turned on the tap.

The basis of a pumping station is a pump of any system, but most often of a centrifugal type. Its operation is controlled by pressure sensors and a hydraulic accumulator equipped with an elastic membrane that responds to changes in water volume (+)

The presence of a pumping station with a hydraulic tank allows you to reduce the number of pump starts/stops to the required minimum. This significantly saves the resource of the equipment and extends its service life. Since the water in the hydraulic tank is under pressure, good pressure can be created throughout the entire plumbing system of the house.

An acceptable value is usually about 1.5 atm, but it can be increased if necessary. Separate household appliances (washing machines and dishwashers, Jacuzzi bathtubs, shower cabins with hydromassage) in the absence of sufficient pressure in the water supply system they just can't work.

The pumping station effectively solves this problem.

This diagram clearly shows the structure of the pumping station and the operating principle of such equipment: water enters the hydraulic tank, which is filled automatically (+)

If for some reason access to water is limited or absent (pump breakdown, sharp decrease in well flow rate, etc.), the supply of water in the hydraulic tank will be very useful.

Water will be available for use for some time until access to water resources is restored. If a pump is used instead of a station, turning it off automatically deprives all residents of the house of water.

Features of installation and operation

You can assemble the pumping station yourself, but it’s easier to buy a ready-made unit. These devices are relatively simple to install and operate.

To install the station you will need a flat area and shelter from bad weather. The hose of the surface pump is lowered into a well or well, the hydraulic tank is connected to the water supply system of the house, and the entire system is supplied with power (you will need RCD).

Before installing a pumping station, you should select a suitable location for it, provide a solid foundation and provide protection from the weather.

After this it remains configure the pressure switch and begin operating the station. No further intervention with the device is usually required.

The station will replenish the water supply in the hydraulic tank automatically. It is recommended to check the operation of all elements of the pumping station approximately once every three months. As necessary, maintenance of individual components is carried out: flushing the pump, adjusting the pressure switch, replacing the membrane in the hydraulic tank, etc.

If the pumping station is selected and installed correctly, it can operate without interruption for many years.

The problem of choosing a pumping station

Such equipment is offered to the consumer in a very wide range.

Models of modern pumping stations differ in a whole set of parameters, such as:

• price;
• equipment;
• place of manufacture;
• brand;
• performance;
• hydraulic accumulator volume;
• power consumption;
• design features;
• equipment, etc.

At choosing a specific model pumping station, you should first carefully study its operating conditions. If the source of water intake is a well, you should carefully study the structure’s passport; it contains a lot of useful information.

If there is no special technical documentation, you will have to find out the characteristics of the well yourself.

Here is a list of indicators that you should focus on when choosing a pumping station:

• well/well flow rate, i.e. the amount of water supplied per unit of time;
• statistical and dynamic water level in the well;
• the height to which water will have to be supplied;
• distance from the source of water to the place of its consumption.

Performance is one of the main indicators when choosing a pumping station. It characterizes the maximum volume of water that can be delivered to the house in a certain period of time.

First you need to calculate exactly how much water you will need. This takes into account the number of people permanently living in the house, as well as the presence and characteristics of household appliances that use water: washing machine, bathtub, hydromassage, etc.

Pumping stations are used as units for collecting water from underground and open water supply sources.Capable of pumping water from a depth of 8 - 10 m and transporting it to a height of 12 - 30 m, depending on the technical capabilities laid down by the manufacturer (+)

In this case, the parameters of the pumping station should be correlated with data on the flow rate of the well or well. Problems can arise if water is withdrawn from a source at a rate greater than natural replenishment. In such a situation, there is a possibility that one day the well or well will be empty.

And this will lead to the operation of the equipment in dry running mode. Therefore, if the productivity of the pumping station significantly exceeds the flow rate of the structure available on the site, it is worth looking for a more suitable model.

Usually, to organize an autonomous water supply in a private house, pumping stations are chosen, the power of which varies between 3-6 thousand l/hour.

To roughly imagine the required equipment performance, you can focus on the following information:

• Peak water consumption at a summer cottage is usually about 0.8-1.5 cubic meters. m/h.
• A family of 4-6 people living in a medium-sized cottage consumes approximately 1.5-2 cubic meters. m/hour.
• For a large country house, taking into account the need for watering, maintenance of the pool, fountains, etc. the water requirement will be at least 3-4 cubic meters. m/h.

The power of pumping equipment can be 0.6-1.5 kW. What matters here is not only the amount of water that needs to be pumped into the house, but also the distance from the point of water intake to the point of its consumption, as well as the height that the water column will have to overcome to get into the house.

The higher these indicators, the more powerful equipment you should choose.

The depth from which water must be taken can be of decisive importance.Typically, pumping stations are equipped with surface self-priming pump, which is effective at a depth of 6-8 m. Owners of deeper wells, as a rule, must use more powerful submersible pumps.

The problem can be solved using a self-priming pump with remote ejector. This is a more complex device, but it allows you to increase the depth of water intake to 30 meters and even more. Moreover, such equipment can be used in standard four-inch wells.

Of course, the dimensions of the hydraulic accumulator tank also deserve attention. You should not choose a container that is too large in volume, since when filled with water it will acquire significant physical weight. Hydraulic tanks are usually made of stainless steel, but also cast iron or plastic.

The hydraulic tank of the pumping station must provide sufficient pressure and water supply, but you should not purchase a device of excessively large volume

For long-term use, it makes no sense to take a plastic container; it has too short a service life. Cast iron tanks are extremely reliable, but are expensive. Lightweight, relatively inexpensive and durable steel is most often used for the manufacture of hydraulic tanks.

The inner rubber liner can be pear-shaped or made in the form of a membrane. Since this element experiences a constant and at the same time changing load, it may fail over time. When choosing a pumping station, it makes sense to think about the possibility of replacing the hydraulic tank liner.

The cost of a pumping station can be significantly affected by the presence of protective modules. This equipment allows you to automatically turn off the pump if the source of water is exhausted.If you do not turn off the equipment in time, operation in the “idling” mode will cause the engine to overheat, which will lead to significant damage.

In some cases, it is necessary to completely replace the motor, pump or entire station. Is it worth spending money on a pumping station with an automatic control unit? On the one hand, this is a very convenient module, on the other - additional expenses.

In almost all cases, automation is an appropriate purchase, especially when it comes to supplying water to a large house throughout the whole year. Manual control of a pumping station should only be considered if it is purchased for a small dacha, where such equipment is used irregularly.

Recommendations for selecting equipment

A pumping station is not cheap equipment. When choosing a suitable model, it makes sense to pay attention to products from well-known brands with a good reputation.

Too low a price is not the best indicator for a pumping station. Typically, such units have quality problems that will only appear during operation.

The most important point is after-sales service and warranty. The product must be supplied not only with a technical data sheet and detailed instructions, but also with properly executed warranty documents, which should be carefully studied.

A long warranty period for an automatic pumping station usually indicates its high quality. You should also familiarize yourself with the procedure for providing warranty services in advance.

It happens that for pumping station repair Under warranty, you have to go to the nearest city, region, or even send broken equipment to a neighboring country, and this is long and extremely inconvenient.

After the warranty period expires, you will have to carry out repairs and maintenance yourself. You need to make sure that the materials, spare parts and components necessary for this are on free sale, so that you do not have to wait for months for the delivery of the element necessary to repair the station.

Over time, even the best pumping station can fail. Simple repairs can be done yourself if you have the right materials and spare parts.

Usually, there are no big problems with pumping stations from well-known foreign companies, since they not only have a wide dealer network, but also an established after-sales service system for their products.

It is worth paying attention to domestically produced products, which, with high quality, can offer more attractive prices for pumping stations.

Recommended Models

Marina APM 100/25

This is a fairly powerful Italian-made pumping station with a durable cast-iron body. It is designed for pumping clean water.

The Marina APM 100/25 pumping station with a cast iron body is manufactured in Italy and is distinguished by high performance and increased reliability

The power consumption of the equipment is 1.1 kW, the productivity is 2400 l/hour, the available immersion depth is 25 m. Such a pumping station is perfect for servicing a relatively large cottage.

Grundfos Hydrojet JPB 6/24

The pumping station from the famous Italian brand consumes 1400 W of electricity, while allowing you to obtain about 5 cubic meters. m of water per hour.

The Grundfos JP 2 PT pumping station, a product of a famous Italian company, supplies water from a depth of 8 meters, suitable for a summer cottage or a small cottage

The immersion depth of this device is relatively small - only 8 m. It is designed for operation in moderate latitudes and is of high quality, as are all products with the GRUNDFOS logo. Suitable for a summer house or small cottage.

Gardena 4000/5 Classic

This unit consumes little - only 0.85 kW with quite impressive performance, which is about 3500 l/h.

The GARDENA 4000/5 CLASSIC pumping station features a high performance of 3,500 l/h with relatively low power consumption of only 850 W

This is a universal version of a pumping station that can be used for the needs of the house and the adjacent area. Such equipment is even used to service water supply units.

Jumbo 50/28 Ch-24 and Jumbo 70/50 N-50 N HOUSE

Jumbo Gilex pumping stations are very diverse. The performance of these devices, immersion depth and power vary over a fairly wide range, which allows you to choose a model that is ideal for specific conditions.

Jumbo Gilex pumping stations are the most popular choice in Russia, since at a reasonable price they demonstrate a high degree of reliability

For example, Jumbo 50/28 Ch-18 with a productivity of about 3 m³/h, it is suitable for a small cottage.

And here Jumbo 70/50 N-50 N HOUSE can be used in a medium-sized cottage. Some models are additionally equipped with an ejector, which allows you to significantly increase the immersion depth. The cost of pumping stations from this manufacturer is relatively low, while reviews about the quality of the products are mostly positive.

AQUAROBOT M

This is a series of water supply pumping stations designed specifically for low-flow water sources. Such models are relatively inexpensive, the power of the pumping station is less than 250 W. Such a unit can be an excellent choice for a summer house or a small house.

The AQUAROBOT M pumping station is the most suitable option for water sources with low flow rates. The unit is characterized by low power, only 250 W

AL-KO HW 4000 FCS Comfort

This is an ideal solution for deep wells. This compact model can also be safely used for wells. A power of 1000 W allows you to lift water from a depth of 45 m. Maximum productivity is 4 m³/h.

The AL-KO HWA 1300 F pumping station is perfect for wells up to 50 meters deep. It will provide water not only to the house, but also to the plot

Such pumping stations will provide the necessary pressure in the house, as well as carry out watering work on the site.

Wilo Jet HWJ 203 50l

This is a pumping station with an open tank. With a power of 1000 W, it can be used to draw water from a depth of 42 m. Peak productivity will be 5 m³/h.

For work in difficult weather conditions, the pumping station of the famous brand Wilo Jet HWJ 203, made of durable materials, is ideal

All units produced under the Wilo brand are characterized by increased reliability. Equipment of this type is designed to operate in harsh climates.

Vortex ACB-800/24

This is a small pumping station, popular in dachas and private homes, but equipped with a capacious hydraulic tank. The maximum immersion depth is 9 m, power is 800 W, productivity is 3.6 m³/h, average price range. All this made the Vikhr pumping stations extremely popular.

The Vikhr pumping station is a relatively inexpensive unit, but reliable and very popular, designed for immersion depths of up to 9 meters

It is worth noting that this equipment is suitable for use in hot climates, since it works without interruption even at 50 degrees.

Belamos XK 08 ALL

This is a pumping station made in Belarus - it has similar characteristics and is in the same price category. With a power of 800 W, it provides a productivity of about 3 m³ of water per hour.

The BELAMOS XK pumping station, produced in Belarus, is a worthy alternative to the “Vikhr” both in terms of performance and price

This pumping station can be used both with a well or borehole, and when connected to the main water supply. In any case, it will provide the necessary water pressure.

Recommendations for choosing a pumping station for a summer residence are given in this article, and for a private house - here.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Here you can see an overview of various models of pumping stations:

This video contains useful recommendations for choosing a pumping station based on operating conditions:

If the equipment is chosen correctly, it will work for a long time and without breakdowns. A pumping station is a great way to ensure there is enough pressure in your home's plumbing system to make it truly comfortable.

Are you looking for an efficient and inexpensive pumping station? Or do you have experience using such installations? Please leave comments on the article and share your impressions of using pumping stations.