When it rains, it pours. And when it pours, and your home has bad isolation, or it just pours too heavily, your home gets flooded, so what do you do? For starters, you can get a water pump to remove all the water and continue living a normal life. Pumps are devices that are capable of moving large amounts of water from one place (your home) to another (not your home). They’re oftentimes the first and last line of defense against unwanted water, and they’re definitely the best solution to removing it.
If you’re living in an area that has high risks of getting flooded, then you should look to buy water pumps. And if you’ve decided to buy water pumps, worth knowing is that there are various different types, including: bore pumps, submersible pumps, firefighting pumps, pressure pumps, bilge pumps etc. All of the aforementioned types of pumps do the same thing – moving unwanted water from one place to another, however, they do it in a different manner.
All pumps fall under two sub-categories, depending on how they’re powered – petrol and electricity. Both these types have their advantages and disadvantages, and the one that’s right for you will be dependent on a few factors. Let’s break down both types into details.
Electric-Powered Water Pumps
Electric-powered water pumps are ideal for indoor use. You’ll typically see them in 120V, and they can be plugged into standard household power plugs. If you decide to go for a 230V, make sure you have the necessary wiring to support it. These pumps aren’t as powerful as gas-powered models, however, they do require less maintenance, mainly because you don’t have to worry about oil changes and other types of upkeep.
On the downside, they need an extension cord from an electrical source, which limits their portability.
Gas-Powered Water Pumps
Gas-powered water pumps are usually used for irrigation purposes and at job-sites. They typically have a powerful in-tow engine, which is capable of gushing out 750 GPM (gallons per minute). However, even though their primary purpose is outdoorsy, their portability allows you to use it indoors as well, in case you have a flooded basement, for instance. The GPM of the pump can vary depending on your needs. If you’re going to use it primarily for moving water out of your basement, about 30 GPM is fine, for bigger jobs, however, you’ll need slightly more muscle.
On the downside, gas-powered water pumps produce carbon monoxide, so they shouldn’t be used in places with low ventilation, or you should use them for a limited amount of time!
