Puddle Pumps are a hidden gem in the water pump world. Although they are fantastic products it appears that there is little knowledge of how they work and their use of them.
A Puddle Pump is a special type of water pump which can pump to very low levels of water without overheating or burning out. This removes the need for a chamber to be dug. Traditional Submersible Pumps tend to be water cooled and unable to pump to low levels.
They can be used on most surfaces to pump away residue and nuisance water, which may occur because of seepage, rainfall, or flood water. Puddle Pumps are perfect for emergency response situations because they can be positioned straight onto a surface to pump shallow water. This feature means that puddle pumps can hugely improve flood response.
Electric puddle pumps can be used internally or externally.
This ability to pump shallow water makes them an invaluable part of any flood response.
Puddle pumps are a cost-effective solution for councils, businesses, homeowners, and emergency response teams. Because there’s no chamber required, one pump can be used in multiple locations, either across several sites or in different areas of the same property.
With standard submersible pumps, there’s always a layer of water that can’t be reached. The image below shows a comparison between a traditional submersible pump and a puddle pump.
Puddle pumps are incredibly versatile and can be used for:
There are many types of flood protection, for example, door barriers, flood guards, and air brick covers. These can help buy time, but no property is completely watertight. Water often finds its way in through brickwork, mortar joints, or other weak points.
Some flood protection schemes include a sump and chamber to deal with any ingress, but these can be disruptive and expensive to install. A puddle pump offers a simpler, cheaper solution, helping to keep water levels low and reduce flood damage.
Flooded basements are common in the UK, and puddle pumps are an excellent option for both temporary and permanent installations. They can be deployed quickly during an event or fitted in fixed positions with automatic operation.
The Tsurumi LSC1.4S is a great example. It can pump down to 1 mm and even run dry for prolonged periods thanks to its air- and water-cooling design.
Every flood defence scheme should include a pump. Puddle pumps can be used to control seepage, rainfall, and rising groundwater without the need to excavate a chamber or sump. This saves cost, reduces disruption, and provides flexibility for site drainage and flood prevention.
Whilst Puddle Pumps are traditionally manual pumps, certain models are also available as an automatic, although usually an automatic puddle pump will not pump as low as a manual. For instance, an EGO 500 GI Submersible Drainage Dual Automatic and Manual Puddle Pump will pump as low as 10mm in manual mode, but 60mm in automatic.
Certain models will pumps lower with sensors, however this will increase the budget, which leads us nicely into the next section of this blog – how much does a puddle pump cost?
The cost of a puddle pump varies greatly depending on certain factors. Generally speaking, the more powerful the pump, the more expensive – however, this is not always the case as certain premium brand demand a higher price.
Small puddle pumps such as the Stream SPP2-4 Submersible Puddle Pump - Great Value Easy to Use Flood Pump are just £105+VAT, however at the higher end, you can have a Tsurumi LSC2.75s - Puddle Sucker Pump at £965+VAT. Albeit, the flow rate is over 3 times greater and the Tsurumi made pressed steel and cast aluminium as opposed to plastic.
If we look at our top four bestselling puddle pumps, the following models are consistently popular:
It’s worth noting that bestselling doesn’t always mean best suited to your particular needs. Each pump has different features, such as manual or automatic operation, discharge size, or intended use, so it’s important to choose one that fits your specific setup.
Flooding is the biggest threat to the UK as a result of climate change, yet 67% of people still don’t know their flood risk. At Flood Protection Solutions Ltd, our goal is to help as many people as possible reduce that risk, and puddle pumps are one of the simplest and most effective tools available.
We believe every community, council, and emergency response agency should have a stock of puddle pumps ready to deploy. Quick access to the right equipment can dramatically reduce the disruption, cost, and stress caused by flooding.
No matter what flood defence products are in place, there will always be a need for water pumps, whether for groundwater, seepage, rainfall, or overland flow. Flooding is unpredictable, and being able to respond quickly with the correct pump is essential.
At floodandwaterpumps.co.uk we pride ourselves on offering great service, and great products, from real people. With next day delivery available on most pumps, and same day collection available on certain models, we’re here as your chosen puddle pump supplier.
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