Irrigation Pumps

An irrigation pump must supply the outlets you intend to run at the pressure they need.

Shop the collection

An irrigation pump must supply the outlets you intend to run at the pressure they need. Filling a tank quickly is not the same duty as feeding several sprinklers through a long hose. Plan the watering zones and the source water first, then compare a pump at that working requirement.

Add up the demand of one watering zone

List the sprinklers or outlets that will operate at the same time and their required flow and pressure. A large garden can be divided into zones instead of assuming every outlet must run together. This gives the supplier a clearer requirement than the total property area or motor wattage alone.

Include the route between pump and garden

Height changes, long pipes and fittings affect the delivered result. Use the pump curve to check the required flow at the system’s total head, rather than comparing maximum figures independently. A high-flow transfer pump and a pressure-oriented multistage model can have very different roles in an irrigation plan.

Choose the control arrangement for your routine

A garden pump supplied with a pressure controller offers a different starting point from a standalone pump. Decide whether you need manual operation or an automatic response to demand, and confirm how the chosen system handles an empty source. Plan access for inspection and maintenance alongside the water and power connections.

Further reading: Grundfos: selecting and sizing a pump

Further reading: Grundfos: reading a pump curve

Useful answers

Irrigation Pumps questions, answered

How do I size a pump for several irrigation zones?

List the outlets that will operate at the same time and their required flow and pressure. Zones used separately do not have the same combined demand as every sprinkler running together. Give that schedule and the pipe route to the supplier so the pump can be assessed at the intended duty point.

Why can two irrigation pumps with similar wattage perform differently?

Motor wattage does not describe the full flow-and-head relationship. A transfer-oriented pump and a multistage pressure pump can serve different duties. Compare the pump curve at the flow and total head your irrigation system needs, including elevation and pipe losses, rather than choosing by wattage alone.

Do I need a pressure controller with an irrigation pump?

That depends on how the system is intended to start and stop. A controller-equipped model is a different purchase from a standalone pump, and scheduled irrigation may use its own control arrangement. Confirm compatibility, source-water conditions and the documented response to an empty source before choosing the package.