When browsing for products like the Tsurumi Pond Pump, you’ll notice two types of pumps being mentioned: sump pumps and pond pumps. What are the differences between these types of pumps, and which type of pump is best for your needs?
Sump pumps’ primary function is to remove water from one area and pump it into another area. This means that sump pumps are often used to prevent flooding and control moisture in places like a basement or the interior of a boat.
In contrast, the primary function of pond pumps is to move water within a pond to prevent it from stagnating and becoming an environmentally unfriendly eyesore. Pond pumps can create waterfalls or fountains for a variety of water circulation options.
Some may suggest that a sump pump can be used as a pond pump with some tools and effort, but there are a number of reasons to avoid this:
- Working with electricity and water in a DIY capacity always brings with it the risk of electrocution, and so only experienced electrical work professionals should attempt it.
- A sump pump will likely be less energy efficient than a pond pump if modified for the same purpose.
- This reduced energy efficiency means that a sump pump may be much more expensive to run than a pond pump. The difference in electrical bills means it would be more affordable to simply purchase a new pond pump than to attempt to use a sump pump as a pond pump.
- Sump pumps may not be designed to run 24/7, but are instead meant for short uses. This means another source of water aeration would need to be used when the pump is turned off, but that is not recommended. This also means that if the sump pump runs for too long, it can get very hot.
- Sump pumps may contain oil, so if a sump pump breaks it may contaminate the water source it is circulating.
As these points describe, each type of pump has its own unique uses and is best designed for those specific purposes.
