The necessary steps you will need to follow when installing a new pump will depend on whether you have purchased an external or a submersible model. In this short guide, we are going to tell you how to tackle each type. Having invested in a decent pond pump, you will naturally want to make sure that it is correctly installed, both to maximise the efficiency of the pump and to avoid damaging it in any way. We carry a wide selection of high quality pond pumps so if you need any help in choosing the right model, please feel free to call at any time.
Buying and Installing Your New Pond Pump
Before you buy and install either type of pump in your garden, you will need to work out what flow rate you need in order to keep the water clean. Larger pumps with a higher flow rate are more expensive to buy but if you install a model that is not capable of shifting enough water every hour, you will almost certainly run into filtration issues further down the line and have to buy a bigger pump in any case. As a general rule of thumb, your pump should be able to turn over a minimum of 50% of the water volume of your pond every hour. For example: if you have a 5000 litre pond, you will need a pump with a minimum flow rate of 2500 litres per hour.
Installation Location for External Pumps - Many people prefer external pond pumps, because they are easier to access and service. However, they are often more expensive than their submersible counterparts so you need to take the initial cost into account as well. Assuming you have decided that an external pump is the best solution for your pond, you need to decide where it is going to be located. With the exception of self-priming pumps, a dry mounted pump needs to be positioned below the water level of your pond but on dry land, allowing the water to freely flow into the pump inlet via gravity (known as ‘flooded suction’). Unless your pond is situated at the top of a gradient, this will involve digging a small hole in the ground to accommodate a pump box. For practical reasons, the site should be as close to the pond as possible.
Installation Location for Submersible Pumps – as the name would suggest, a submersible pump will be located in your pond, and the closer to the deepest part you can site it, the better. Fountain pumps should be raised off the base of the pond to prevent the small strainer holes becoming blocked with debris whereas solids-handling filter pumps can be sited at the very base of the pond, passing larger debris and fish waste to a filter.
Once you have chosen the location, you need to connect the inlet and outlet hoses, prime the pump if applicable, and then, assuming there are no leaks or other issues, plug it in to an electrical socket and start it up. For external pumps, it is advisable to dry fit them before gluing the plumbing in place, in case you need to make any adjustments.