Best Sprinkler Pump for Your Yard

The rise in elevation, or lift, is the distance from the water source to the level of the highest point in your sprinkler system. In ideal situations, lift should be around five feet high but with some pumps, can rise up to 20 feet. It’s also important to determine the amount of water you’ll be moving from the source to the sprinkling system. A lower lift can move water faster. Finally, remember to account for drought when the water table drops.

Most pump manufacturers make choosing a sprinkler pump easy based on a few criteria, including lift and your sprinkler heads. Many will even include a chart to help you determine the size of the pump you need.

Criteria for choosing a sprinkler pump can include:

• The lift required for your system.
• The number of sprinkler heads in your system.
• The total length of your system’s longest pipe run.
• The pipe’s diameter.
• The collective capacity of the sprinkler heads in gallons per minute (GPM).

Once you know the size of the pump you need, durability and portability should be considered. Look for sprinkler pumps housed in sturdy, durable thermoplastic or cast iron with cast iron volutes (spiral casing). A portable pump might be a good option since it is smaller and can be relocated. Horsepower also varies in range from ¾ to 2 HP. A general rule of thumb is to have 1 HP for every acre. Also, make sure your fittings have the right male or female thread to connect to your garden hose. Finally, remember that larger pumps required hardwiring to a 240 volt electric source.

For best use, install your sprinkler pump as close to the water source as possible. Make sure to protect the pump from the elements, either with a plastic cover or underneath a covered area where it won’t be exposed to the elements. And remember that water flows easiest downward, so if possible, install the pump at a bit higher elevation than the sprinkler system.