Pond Pumps – How to Choose the Most Economical one

Executive Summary by: Keith Davitt

Pond Pumps: This article is not about what size of pump to choose, it is about comparing costs between pond pumps of the same size, in terms of their up-front cost and running costs.

pond pump

The larger the pump the greater the watts it uses, however pond pumps of the same pumping power can differ considerably in their watt usage. An energy efficient pump that delivers 4200 gallons per hour may run at 550 watts while another that delivers the same volume of water may run at 850 watts.

Does that mean that over time the 550 watt pump will save money? A Life Cycle Cost Analysis. Say your pump uses 550 watts/hour and you plan to have it running continuously. Multiply that by the cost of electricity in your area, say $.20 = $3,854.

Do the same for the 850 watts/hour pump and the result is $5,957. There is a difference in energy costs of usage over their lifetime between the two pond pumps of $2,102. In some areas the cost of electricity is much less so the cost of running the pump will be much less.

We’re looking at a pump that uses 550 watts/hour, running continuously. As you see, the less the pump is run, the cheaper electrical energy is in your area and the shorter the life of the pond pump, the less is the differential in running costs between energy-efficient and non eneregy-efficient pond pumps.

Multi-Purpose Pond Pumps Ideal for Small Water Gardens

Executive Summary by: Gerry Fung

For any pond owner, a pond pump is a mandatory requirement to circulate your water (because stagnant bodies of water are ideal breeding grounds for mosquitos). The standard pond pumps preferred by water gardeners is the magnet-driven submersible pump.

Are you looking for a pump for your backyard water garden? You may want to consider a multi-purpose pond pump.

There is no need to purchase extra pond pumps or hardware in order to create multiple water flows because these pond pumps come with built-in diverter valves. A properly sized multi-purpose pump can easily supply water to cascading filters and watercourses.

A second advantage of a multi-purpose pump is that they have built-in mechanical pre-filters to prevent the pump from becoming clogged.

Also, check out my other guide on water garden supplies and garden planters