Water and Pressure Pumps

Water and Pressure Pumps buying guide

Veldkraft lists 381 water and pressure pumps, priced from R1 to R116 065, from brands including Speroni, Pascali, Rovatti, Cascade. Orders are delivered to all nine provinces and to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Which type of water pump do you need?

The type of water pump you need depends on the job. Peripheral and booster pumps raise pressure for a house or garden. Single-stage, two-stage and multistage centrifugal pumps move larger volumes for irrigation and transfer. Drainage submersibles empty sumps, while petrol clear water pumps and tractor PTO pumps work away from electricity. Brands include Speroni, Rovatti, Pascali, Cascade, Quantum Pumps and Turner Morris.

Peripheral, centrifugal or multistage?

Choose by the balance of pressure and flow you need. A peripheral pump gives strong pressure at low flow, which suits a household supply from a tank, but it needs clean water because sand wears its tight clearances. A single-stage centrifugal pump moves more water at lower pressure for irrigation lines and tank transfer. Two-stage and multistage pumps stack impellers to build higher pressure at a steady flow, which suits long pipe runs and uphill delivery.

Measure head and flow first

Size a pressure pump from total head and required flow, then check both against the maker's performance curve. Total head is the vertical height from the water level to the highest outlet, plus friction loss in the pipe, plus the pressure you want at the tap. One bar equals roughly 10 metres of head. Flow depends on how many outlets run at once. An undersized pump gives weak pressure, while an oversized one cycles on and off.

Single-phase or three-phase power?

Check your electricity supply before choosing a motor. Most homes and small farms have 230 V single-phase power, which suits pumps marked 230V. Larger pumps in this range, such as the 4 kW, 7.5 kW and 11 kW Speroni models, are marked 400V and need a three-phase supply, so they will not run from a single-phase plug point. Have a qualified electrician connect it with the correct motor protection.

Booster pumps, flow controllers and combos

A booster pump lifts the pressure of water from a tank or weak municipal supply. An automatic flow controller or pressure switch starts the pump when a tap opens and stops it when the last tap closes. Twin-stage sets, such as the Quantum 2.2kW booster with flow controller, give more pressure where several outlets run at once. Tank combos pair a water tank of 2200 to 10 000 litres with a peripheral pump.

Petrol, PTO and drainage pumps

Choose an engine or PTO drive where there is no electricity at the water source. Petrol clear water pumps, such as the Turner Morris 50 mm 163cc model, move clean water from dams and tanks. Drainage submersibles, including vortex types, sit in the water and cope with dirty water. Surface pumps can lift water only a limited height by suction, about 7 metres at sea level and less at Highveld altitude, so place them close to the water.

Water and Pressure Pumps: common questions

What size water pump do I need for my house?

Add up the outlets likely to run at once to estimate flow, then work out total head: the height from the water level to the highest tap, plus pipe friction and the pressure you want. Match both figures to the pump's performance curve. A peripheral water pressure pump or a booster with a flow controller suits most homes fed from a tank.

How much does a water pump cost in South Africa?

Veldkraft lists 381 water and pressure pumps, spares and accessories priced from R1 to R116 065. Gauges, switches and pump bodies sit at the low end, with the largest pumps at the top. Price rises with motor power, the number of stages, three-phase motors, flanged connections, petrol engines and bundled water tanks.

What is the difference between a pressure pump and a booster pump?

In everyday use the two terms overlap, because both raise water pressure for taps, showers and garden lines. A booster pump usually means one added to an existing supply, such as a tank or weak mains, and paired with a flow controller or pressure switch so it starts and stops on demand. Pressure pump is the broader term for any pump used for this job.

Can a 400V pump run on household power?

No. A pump marked 400V has a three-phase motor and needs a three-phase supply. Most South African homes have 230 V single-phase power, so choose a pump marked 230V unless your property has three-phase power. An electrician can confirm your supply.

Can a water pump run dry?

No. Peripheral, centrifugal and booster pumps rely on the water passing through them to cool and lubricate the seals, so running dry damages them quickly. Keep the suction line full, use a foot valve where the pump lifts water by suction, and check whether your flow controller or pressure switch offers dry-run protection.

Need help choosing? Ask us and we reply within one working day.