Pumping station for a private home: how to choose and what to look for before buying

Remember how much time, effort, and sometimes nerves it takes to simply provide water to a country property. Try to transfer a considerable volume manually to the water collection points without getting tired.And if you still need to fill the containers for watering the garden, the swimming pool and the tanks in the bathhouse, then it is easier to abandon the idea altogether than to implement it. Is it true?

It’s a completely different matter if such a labor-intensive process is carried out by pumping equipment instead of you. Tireless “workers” will provide all facilities with water as quickly as possible. Therefore, a pumping station for your home or beloved dacha is simply necessary. And we will tell you in detail how to choose it in the next article.

The information we offer illuminates in great detail the nuances of the device and the principle of operation of the system. The criteria for choosing a unit and the most popular models are presented to your attention. The information we offer is supported by useful diagrams, photos and videos.

Choosing the best option for water supply

A private source in a suburban area can fully provide water to a residential building, local area, vegetable garden, or garden.

To create an uninterrupted, well-functioning water supply system, it is necessary to think through the supply process, that is, select a pumping station to pump liquid from the source to the house or to other water collection points and lay communications.

There are three generally accepted methods for water transfer devices:

• pumping using a pump directly to the consumer;
• use of a storage tank and pump;
• application hydraulic accumulator and pump.

The pump connection diagram is considered the simplest, since water is supplied directly from the well to the place of use - a kitchen tap, watering hose, etc.

When choosing equipment for connection, you must carefully study its technical characteristics and ensure the availability of a power source. Frequent activation (if automation is provided, then every time the tap is opened) leads to the fact that the pump quickly fails.

An example of installing a surface pump, which is used to water lawns, flower beds, and beds. To ensure garden water supply, a medium power model is sufficient

A pump without additional equipment is good for small summer cottages that are visited during the warm season or visited occasionally, for example, on weekends.

The second option is distinguished by the presence of a storage tank - a tank installed in the upper part of the building (most often in the attic).

The advantage of this design is the water supply equal to the volume of the tank. Even during power outages, you can freely wash dishes or take a shower.

Disadvantages of this design:

• a necessary condition is the presence of an insulated attic of sufficient area to install the tank;
• The large size of the container is important, so you will have to strengthen the ceilings;
• In case of an accident, high-quality waterproofing should be done.

Sometimes additional costs are required to purchase a second pump. It is necessary to maintain certain pressure parameters.

The more mechanisms, the more complex the system and the higher the likelihood of failures during operation.

Comparative diagram of two options for water supply to a house: 1 – with a submersible pump and storage tank, 2 – with a pumping station supplying water from a well

The third option is the most acceptable for those who constantly live outside the city and want to improve their home to the maximum.

The hydraulic accumulator provides the building and other consumer objects with the necessary amount of water, creating the required pressure. In addition, two most important principles for technology are observed - efficiency and high productivity.

The principle of the pumping station

The pumping station can be purchased ready-made or independently assembled from its component parts: a hydraulic accumulator tank, (submersible pump or surface type pump), pressure switch and automatic control unit.

Experts recommend choosing a ready-made pumping station, in which all elements are ideally suited to each other in terms of technical characteristics, material and size.

An approximate diagram of the installation of a pumping station indicating all the necessary parts (including pipes and connecting elements) and indicating the installation location of the equipment - in the basement

Submersible pump with filter and check valve can be replaced with a surface model - both options have their advantages.

The filter is necessary to protect communications from sand lying at the bottom and suspended impurities; a check valve prevents the outflow of water in the opposite direction when the unit automatically turns off.

The shutdown occurs by a signal from a pressure switch, which is activated when the pressure reaches its maximum level. As soon as there is less liquid in the accumulator tank, the pressure stabilizes, the mechanism turns on again and begins to pump water.

To operate the station, a 220 V power supply is required. The cross-section of the pipes must be selected so that water moves freely through the channels connecting the pumping equipment and points of consumption.

Powerful equipment is capable of providing water to a building in which a family of 5-6 people lives, and water points outside the house (in the garage, in the summer kitchen, in the garden or garden).

Selecting a model based on specific characteristics

The variety of models on the market is explained by the fact that the conditions for connection can be completely different: some require an option well pumping station (with a surface pump installed in a caisson), others need a submersible mechanism or a more powerful model with an ejector capable of pumping water from a well from a depth of 20-25 m.

When choosing pumping equipment in a store, the properties of the samples provided must be compared with individual requirements.

Calculation of pump performance

There are difficulties with calculating productivity, because many people do not know what to start from. In fact, for objective calculations, several factors should be considered.

For example, it is important to take into account the volume of drawdown of a well - a one-time water intake at zero flow rate, the rate of restoration of the volume of liquid in the source, the mode of active operation of the water supply system, etc.

To find out the average, data for 1 day is enough. This is possible due to the complete restoration of the volume of water in the well in 5-6 hours (the time when the liquid is not consumed at all).

The busiest “rush hours” are periods of time when there is active use of bathrooms or watering of a personal plot. They are the ones most suitable for the objectivity of calculations.

To calculate, you need to add up the parameters of all consumption points, not forgetting the correction factor, and derive the unit of productivity - l/min or l/hour

Let's assume that the well has a flow rate of 200 l, and the drawdown volume is 50 l. If three family members take a bath (200 l each) sequentially, and we need water to flow freely to other water collection points, the productivity should not be lower than 300 l/h.

Sometimes the calculation is made based on the sum of water consumption by all family members or by calculating the maximum water use - peak consumption.

It is assumed that all water points are used simultaneously, the average flow of which is:

• washbasin mixer – 0.1 l/s;
• kitchen mixer – 0.15 m/s;
• drain tank - 0.1 m/s;
• shower – 0.25 l/s;
• washing machine – 0.3 l/s.

The maximum possible productivity is considered to be 800-1000 l/h (or more), but not every well has such a water supply and high recovery rate.

Maximum water intake depth

To find out this parameter, you need to know exactly the dimensions of the well (well) and measure the distance from the installation site of the accumulator to the source.

The basic value is taken to be the height from the water surface to the axis of the pump installed near the well or well. If the station is located at any distance, for example, in the basement of a house, then the horizontal section must also be taken into account.

When making calculations, you should rely on the value of not the static, but the dynamic level - the average value for regular fluid intake for 1-2 days

There is an allowance for error due to the resistance exerted by pipes, check valves and filters. This means that you need to add about 15% more to the amount received.

By the way, the resistance of stainless steel pipes, which is used less and less, is much higher than that of plastic communications.

The vertical arrangement of pipes relates to the horizontal in a ratio of 1:10. For example, the distance to the installation site of the hydraulic accumulator is 20 m, the depth of the well to the water surface is 8 m, therefore, equipment with a minimum intake depth of 8 m + 20 m is required: 10 = 10 m

Hydraulic accumulator tank volume

When choosing a pumping station for a private home, do not forget to inquire about the volume of the hydraulic accumulator, since the full supply of water depends on the size of the tank. The larger the tank, the more space the equipment takes up and the more expensive the entire installation costs.

It is believed that large tanks have less frequent on/off cycles, which increases their service life significantly.

Gilex Jumbo pumping station with built-in ejector and automatic control: power – 1100 W, hydraulic accumulator capacity – 24 l. Suitable for use in wells and wells

For a single resident or a couple, a volume of 24-30 liters is sufficient. A small container is also appropriate when the need for water supply occurs periodically, for example, on weekends.

A volume of 50 liters is an average capacity, suitable for serving a group or family of 3-5 people permanently living in a country house. For housing that unites more than five people under its roof, you should purchase equipment with a 100-liter tank.

It is irrational to buy containers smaller than 24 liters, as they wear out quickly and, accordingly, have a short service life.

Water pressure in the system

The functioning of the system will be complete and comfortable only if there is sufficient water pressure at each point of water consumption. It means that network pressure ensures uninterrupted, correct supply.

For example, for a kitchen faucet, a pressure of 1/1.5 atmospheres is sufficient, which equals 10/15 m of water column. More serious equipment requires increased parameters.

Pumping station Grundfos JPBasic2 PT with a power of 600 W and a maximum head of 42 m. Purpose - increasing pressure in household systems, watering summer cottages or gardens

The water pressure value can be found in the instructions. Units with a maximum head of 45-50 m can be used equally well both in country cottages and in small businesses.

They have increased productivity (up to 4500 l/h) and are often equipped with an additional storage tank

Power and voltage

Installation power and supply voltage are required for correct pumping station connections. The standard power supply voltage - 220 V - is typical for most household pumping stations, since single-phase AC networks are much more common.

A voltage of 380 V is necessary for high-performance operation of equipment on an industrial scale, and in the residential sector it can only be found in multi-story buildings.

The Parma CH-600P model is equipped with a self-priming pump and is used to supply water to a house or garden from a tank, pool or well. AC voltage – 220 V, power – 600 W

The power of household installations with a hydraulic accumulator is from 600 to 2000 W. It influences the choice of protective devices and power cable. If overheating, short circuit, or dry running occurs, modern models automatically turn off.

Unit type and functionality

Models from the same manufacturer, and even more so from different brands, differ in appearance and potential capabilities.

Suppose pressure switch, which ensures timely shutdown of equipment, can be connected in two ways: using a flexible hose or directly to the housing. This does not change the principle of operation, only the external design is different.

More serious differences relate to the type of pump - the main working part. The most common are self-priming devices, which easily tolerate light contamination of water and the presence of air in the pipes.

The main disadvantage of units of this type is the limited height of liquid lifting from the source (from 6 to 9 m). Another small drawback is the high noise level, but this can be solved by installing the pump in a separate room.

Some models are equipped with an ejector, built-in or external. The built-in one allows you to increase the depth of water supply to 15 m, while the external one is capable of extracting liquid from a depth of 45-50 m. The disadvantage is reduced efficiency and noise.

The ejector provides recirculating (loop) movement of water thanks to a special design - an additional hose immersed in water with a special nozzle

For wells and boreholes up to 10 m deep, quieter multi-stage devices are used. They are more expensive and more complex in design, have powerful pressure and a high degree of productivity. The main external difference between units of this type is the elongated shape of the working chamber, which accommodates several wheels instead of one.

For summer cottages with a small house and a shallow well (6-7 m), vortex pumping stations are suitable. They are characterized by high pressure (which allows them to be used to increase pressure in the system), quiet operation, efficiency, but low productivity

Reputation of the equipment manufacturer

When choosing this or that model, you definitely pay attention to the manufacturer and try to remember how reliable its products are. This is the right approach, because the life of a pumping station is measured in years, and there is no point in purchasing a low-quality one.

Nowadays, almost all companies involved in the production of pumping equipment are focused on the interests of the consumer and have in their arsenal a whole set of models that differ in technical characteristics.

Well-known domestic brands Gilex, Zubr, Vikhr compete with the Italians Marina, Ergus, Pedrollo in terms of the number of lines presented.

However, the palm belongs to the German brands Gardena, Metabo, Wilo SE, Kärcher, Grundfos, which have always been distinguished by excellent quality and maximum functionality.

All brands that have taken root in Russia have adapted their equipment to local climatic conditions. Let's consider the rating of popular models so that the idea of ​​pumping devices becomes more complete.

As you can see, there can be significant differences in performance, lift height and power between different models.

We also have an article on our website with a rating the best pumping stations for the dacha. Please go ahead and see which option is best for you.

Conclusions and useful video on the topic

Useful educational video reviews will help you better understand the purpose, technical characteristics and selection of pumping stations.

Detailed informative video about modern models from the manufacturer Aurora:

All about the technical characteristics of household pumping equipment:

If you own a private home, you will definitely need modern pumping equipment. Before purchasing, carefully study the technical data of the automatic pumping station and find out whether it is suitable for your home.

You can install the unit yourself, but only experienced professionals can take into account all the installation tricks.

Do you use one of the pump models discussed in this article? Please share your impressions with us!

Or do you have questions about choosing equipment for your country water supply? Please ask your questions in the comments to this article.