When a pump finally gives up, the quickest route to the right replacement is usually stamped on the pump itself. Almost every pump carries a data plate, a small metal or printed label with the information needed to match it, and learning to read it turns a stressful, urgent replacement into a simple like-for-like. Here is what the plate tells you, which numbers actually matter, and what to do when the original model is no longer made.
Find and read the data plate
The data plate is usually on the motor housing or the body of the pump. It carries the manufacturer and model number, the electrical details, and the pump's performance figures. Take a clear photograph of it before anything else, because once a pump is removed and disposed of, that information is gone. If the plate is corroded or unreadable, the same details are often in the original paperwork or the model number moulded into the casing.
The numbers that must match
A replacement does not have to be the identical model, but it does have to match on the things that make the pump fit the job. These are the figures to capture.
What if the model is no longer made?
Pumps are replaced and ranges are updated, so the exact model is often gone, and that is fine. With the flow, head, power, voltage and connection sizes from the data plate, a like-for-like can be matched from a current pump that meets the same duty and fits the same pipework. This is also a good moment to ask why the old pump failed: if it failed early, it may have been the wrong pump for the system in the first place, and a straight like-for-like would just repeat the problem. If you are replacing a pool pump specifically, our guide to how to replace a swimming pool pump walks through the same idea with pool figures.
Send us the plate
The fastest way to get the right replacement is to send us a clear photo of the data plate and a note of the pipe size. We read those numbers for a living, and we will look to match a current pump to the same duty, supply and connections.
Frequently asked questions
What information is on a pump data plate?
Usually the manufacturer and model number, the electrical details such as kW and voltage, and the performance figures for flow and head. Many also show the inlet and outlet size and whether the pump is single or three phase. It is the key to matching a replacement, so photograph it before removing the pump.
Which numbers must match on a replacement pump?
The flow and head, so the new pump meets the same duty; the power and voltage, so it suits the supply and phase; and the inlet and outlet size, so it fits the existing pipework. The type and footprint should also match, such as surface or submersible and manual or automatic.
Can I replace a pump if the exact model is discontinued?
Yes. The model number is helpful but not essential. With the flow, head, power, voltage and connection sizes from the data plate, a current pump can be matched to the same duty and pipework. Send us the plate details and we will find a like-for-like even if the original is no longer made.
The data plate is unreadable, what can I do?
Check the original paperwork or any model number moulded into the casing, as the same details are often recorded there. Failing that, the pump's type, connection sizes and a description of the job it did let us estimate the duty and recommend a suitable replacement. A photo of the whole pump may help us identify it.
