Using Trash Pumps to Clean High Volumes of Water

Trash pumps allow efficient collection of excess water, such as that remaining after a storm, flood, or burst pipe. A water trash pump can get the water out of the way to allow the drying process to begin.

When buying trash pumps, first determine the type of water you wish to pump. Some are designed for extremely high volumes of water, and they are the sensible choice for cleaning large areas of water quickly. Others can pump “dirty” water containing mud, stones, or other solid debris that would clog an ordinary pump. Some can even handle solid objects as large as 5 inches, although most only handle solids up to 1” in diameter. Standard centrifugal pumps are the worst at handling the solids in trash water; high pressure centrifugal pumps can pump high volumes of trash water but should also only be used for clean water; trash centrifugal pumps are specifically designed to handle the debris present in trash water. These trash pumps can typically handle debris up to 1/2 of the diameter of the inlet. This type of pump usually has a higher quality impeller so that it will not be damaged by the debris, and a higher horsepower to provide suction power to draw the solids through.

These water pumps are used for a variety of applications, ranging from removing the water at construction job sites, flooded basements, or swimming pools. Others can handle other chemicals in addition to water, such as agricultural fertilizer. However, such chemicals may break down the parts in a trash pump, so be sure to find one that can be used for such non-water applications.

Some trash pumps are designed to be extremely portable, while others specialize in high volume applications, up to a maximum 1,200 gallons per minute. Even these high-volume water pumps can be portable, with some weighing in at well under a hundred pounds, so they are easily transported to wherever you need them.

There are several different kinds of trash pumps available. Some are submersible, meaning that they can be placed directly in the water. Most, however, are meant to be placed out of the water, with a hose running from the pump to the pool of water. Some are even capable of a vertical prime of up to 30 feet, meaning that they are able to suction water from quite far away from the pump itself. Submersible pumps are usually only used when the water exceeds the limitations of the pump. If you plan to use the trash pump in a situation with intermittent water flow, be sure to find one that won’t be damaged by running dry.

To use a trash pump, attach it to a pipe or flexible hose. Most trash pumps are centrifugal pumps, which work by using an impeller to create a partial vacuum. When choosing a trash pump, make sure to find one with high-quality parts to withstand heavy use; cast iron is a popular material for the impeller.

When choosing a trash pump, there are four ratings that should be considered. These are maximum expulsion flow, maximum discharge pressure, horsepower, and discharge size. Most trash pumps measure either 2”, 3”, or 4” in diameter. This affects the amount of water able to be pumped, although the other ratings also affect this number. Most trash water pumps have a maximum PSI of around 30 or 40 pounds per inch, and range from 1.5 to 12 or more horsepower.

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