FPS Engineered™ Automatic Puddle Pump Kit for Basements & Cellars

Automatic puddle pump kit for basements, cellars and flood water

An automatic flood pump kit designed to deal with water before it becomes a bigger problem. The pump starts automatically when water reaches approximately 20mm, switches off again at around 10mm, and includes a non-return valve to stop pumped water running back down the hose.

The FPS Engineered™ Automatic Puddle Pump Kit combines the Stream SPP2-4A automatic puddle pump with everything needed for a practical basement, cellar or low-level flood pumping setup: 10m of reinforced 25mm hose, a 25mm non-return valve, hose tail and stainless steel hose clip.

Its separate crab-style floor sensor can be positioned at the lowest point of the area you want to protect. There is no control panel to install and no separate wiring required. Position the pump and sensor, connect the hose and valve, and plug it into a suitable protected power supply.

At a glance

• Automatic operation: starts at approximately 20mm of water and stops at around 10mm.
• Low-level pumping: clears lower on automatic than conventional float-switch pumps that require greater water depth to operate.
• Separate floor sensor: position the sensor where water reaches first.
• Non-return valve included: prevents water in the discharge hose flowing back towards the pump.
• Maximum flow: up to 70 litres per minute.
• Maximum head: 6 metres.
• Typical basement performance: approximately 2,700 litres per hour at a 2m vertical lift.
• 10m reinforced hose included: holds its shape better than layflat hose in confined basement installations.
• Ready for a UK socket: supplied with a 10m cable and fitted 3-pin plug.
• Compact and portable: pump weight approximately 3.3kg.
• 2-year manufacturer's warranty.

What's included?

• 1 × Stream SPP2-4A automatic puddle pump with crab floor sensor
• 1 × 10m power cable with fitted UK 3-pin plug
• 1 × 10m length of 25mm reinforced suction and delivery hose
• 1 × 25mm non-return valve
• 1 × 25mm hose tail
• 1 × stainless steel hose clip, 20–32mm

The non-return valve fits at the pump outlet, with the hose tail fitted after it. The reinforced hose then connects to the hose tail using the supplied clip.

Why does an automatic basement pump need a non-return valve?

How much water will the pump actually move?

Pump performance reduces as water has to be lifted higher. Maximum flow and maximum head are opposite ends of a pump curve, so a pump cannot achieve both figures at the same time.

The table below gives a more useful indication of the expected performance of the SPP2-4A when used with the 10m of 25mm hose supplied in this kit.

Estimated from the published SPP2-4A pump curve with friction through 10m of 25mm hose. Actual performance will vary with hose layout, bends, fittings and site conditions. Keep the hose as straight as practical. For a specific installation, use our pump performance calculator.

As an example, 25mm of standing water across a 30m² cellar is approximately 750 litres. At a typical 2m lift, this pump would theoretically move that volume in around 17 minutes, subject to the floor draining towards the pump and normal site losses.

Is this the right basement flood pump kit?

We offer different pump kits because a pump for occasional attended clean-up is not necessarily the best pump to leave protecting a basement automatically.

For most homes with occasional or gradual basement water ingress, this FPS Engineered™ kit is the sensible starting point. Choose the manual kit if you only need an emergency pump you will operate yourself. Choose the high-flow kit where water enters rapidly, the pumping height is greater, or the required flow exceeds the capability of the SPP2-4A.

Where can I use this automatic puddle pump?

• Cellars and basements affected by groundwater or rainwater ingress
• Lower-ground rooms and converted basements
• Basement light wells and external stairwells
• Garages below driveway level
• Utility rooms and under-stairs voids
• Formed sumps within basement or cellar floors
• Outbuildings, sheds and workshops
• Properties requiring an automatic standby pump for recurring water ingress

The pump is intended for clean and slightly dirty water with solids up to 3mm. It is not a sewage pump and should not be used for sewage, heavily contaminated water, corrosive liquids, oils, fats, flammable liquids or other unsuitable fluids.

Technical specification

How do I set it up?

1. Fit the non-return valve. Install it at the pump outlet with the arrow pointing away from the pump, then fit the supplied hose tail and secure the hose.

2. Position the pump and sensor. Place the pump where water will collect and position the separate floor sensor at the lowest point or where water is expected to arrive first.

3. Route the discharge hose. Take the hose to a suitable discharge point and avoid unnecessary bends, kinks or coils. Do not simply discharge water immediately beside the wall of the building where it may soak back towards the basement.

4. Connect to a suitable electrical supply. Keep the plug and socket completely dry and above the area at risk of flooding.

Frequently asked questions

What is the best pump for a basement that floods?

For shallow or gradually accumulating clean water, an automatic puddle pump is often more suitable than a conventional float-switch pump because it can operate at much lower water levels. This kit starts automatically at around 20mm and stops at approximately 10mm. For fast inflows or larger pumping duties, choose a higher-flow basement pump instead.

Can I leave this basement pump in place?

Yes. The SPP2-4A is designed for automatic operation, making the kit suitable for standby use where recurring water ingress is expected. The pump remains off until the floor sensor detects sufficient water. The electrical connection must always be kept dry and the installation should be checked and tested periodically.

How low will the pump remove water?

In automatic mode the sensor switches the pump off at approximately 10mm. The effectiveness across a whole room depends on the floor falling towards the pump or sensor. A formed low point or sump provides the most effective arrangement where recurring water ingress needs to be controlled.

Why not use ordinary layflat hose?

Layflat hose is convenient for temporary pumping but can fold, kink or collapse when routed around a basement. This kit uses reinforced 25mm hose so the discharge route keeps its shape when the pump is left in position.

Can I connect it to a garden hose?

We recommend retaining a 25mm discharge hose. Reducing the outlet to a narrow garden hose increases friction loss and can significantly reduce the amount of water the pump can move.

Can this pump handle sewage?

No. This is a puddle pump for clean and slightly dirty water with small solids up to 3mm. For sewage or heavily contaminated water, choose a pump specifically designed for that duty.

Explore our wider ranges of water pump kits, Stream pumps, puddle pumps and flood protection products.