As implied by the name, a submersible pump is designed to be placed (submerged) in the water or other fluid that is to be removed. Submersible pumps are not all alike. There are different versions of these mechanical devices, used in various applications, including borehole, pool, pond, fountain, well, bilge, and sewage, to name a few.
If these pumps are so popular, then there must be some advantages to using them. What are these advantages?
One advantage to a submersible pump is in the way it is designed. It is designed as a tightly contained unit, with watertight gaskets and seals that keep the liquid out of the housing and internal components. This design ensures that the pump will not leak or short out electrically when submerged.
Besides being tightly sealed and waterproof, there are other advantages of submersible pumps over non-submersible models. One advantage is how it pumps the water. The submersible uses direct pressure to push the fluid through the pipe or hose, rather than using the suction method. Using direct pressure means that the pump can move fluids a greater distance more efficiently than suction devices.
Being self-primed is another advantage over a non-submersible. Other types of pumps, such as jet pumps or shallow well pumps, require being primed to start up. Priming is not required to start a submersible unit.
Also, due to it being placed directly within the liquid, the submersible model can operate more efficiently when moving liquids a long distance.
Is There Any Disadvantage To Using a Submersible Pump?
When considering the advantages of any type of product, one must also look at possible disadvantages. Of course, as with any kind of mechanical device, there is always the risk of some sort of problem occurring.
One potential problem would occur if a gasket were to rupture or lose its integrity. This would cause the pump to leak, eventually corroding the internal components and causing it to fail.
A problem or failure of the pump brings a second disadvantage to light. If the pump does need to be repaired or replaced, it may be more difficult to retrieve, by nature of it being submerged in water.
Another disadvantage is that it may cost more than a comparably sized non-submersible unit. While the price may be a consideration when deciding on a purchase, when weighing the advantages and disadvantages, the submersible pump often wins out.
In conclusion, when looking at the advantages and disadvantages, you will likely come to the conclusion as have many others, that the submersible pump is a convenient and versatile device – useful for many different purposes.