Did failing to winterize your lawn pump result in the need to replace? With spring right around the corner are you looking to replace an aging unit and not sure which is best for your installation? Here are a few helpful tips and a bit of information to consider before you purchase.

Lift

Lift is the distance from the water body source to the level of the highest point in your sprinkler system.

Most sprinkler pumps provide lift to 25 feet.

When determining the lift for your system, consider whether the water table drops during droughts.

Pumps are most effective with lifts to approximately 20 feet.

Criteria

Most pump manufacturers make choosing a sprinkler pump easy based on a few criteria, including lift and your sprinkler heads.

Specific criteria are:

The lift required for your system.

The number of sprinkler heads in your system.

The total length of your system’s longest pipe run.

The pipe’s diameter.

The collective capacity of the sprinkler heads in gallons per minute (GPM).

With this information, you can now refer to the chart provided by most manufacturers to determine the size of the pump you need. When deciding, also consider factors such as pump durability and the quality of the housing. Pumps housed in durable thermoplastic or cast iron tend to be most durable. Most sprinkler pumps are available in horsepower ranging from ¾ to 2 HP. A general rule of thumb is 1 HP for every acre.

If you are not comfortable with this type of DIY project, don’t hesitate to call the pros at Prestige Landscaping, Northwest Florida’s leading commercial and residential design, installation and maintenance company.