How Long Do Pond Pumps Last?

Before proceeding to how long do pond pumps last, first, let’s get an idea about pond pumps. Pond pumps are an indispensable portion of pond amenities. It is vital for most of the pools. Generally, all lakes or ponds in the ecosystem are powered by a stream, so the water flow is entirely natural.

These pumps are also a fundamental part of the pond filtration process. The UV-C’s and other filtering tools are unable to circulate water without the help of these water pumps. Moreover, it generates water in fountains, streams, and waterfalls. These units keep the water in a flowing motion to prevent stagnation and also assist in the addition of oxygen. Oxygenation occurs when the water from waterfalls and fountains reaches the surface. This enhances the absorption of oxygen.

Nowadays, there are various brands of pool pumps available in the market. Hence, choosing a correct one can sometimes seem confusing. The majority of these pumps remain submerged. It means they work from below the surface of a pond. Solar pond pumps are also available, which eliminates the use of electricity.

These submersible pumps come at an affordable price and produce less noise. A lot of these pumps vouch to provide more numerous features. But, one has to keep in mind that only a single pump cannot support a fountain and flow of water of the same water unit. Here are a few kinds of pumps with their market availability that might prove beneficial for a person who wants to purchase it.

  • Feature pond pumps ( 5% of the pool pump market)
  • Fountain pond pumps (25% of the pool pump market)
  • Filter pumps (60% of the pool pump market)
  • High-pressure pond pumps (5% of the pool pump market)
  • Dry mounted pond pumps (5% of the pool pump market)

Now that you have understood what pond pumps are, next move on to the average lifespan of these pumps. 

How long do pond pumps last on average?

To answer the question of how long do pond pumps last, one must understand that each single pumping tool present in the market is different from each other. Suppose a person has a submersible pump, but it may not be an energy effective one. Usually, the average working duration of a pond pump is 1 to 3 years. It makes people worried about when is it going to stop working. According to Murphy’s Law, it is predicted that “your pump will always stop running while you are not at home or, worse yet, while you are out of town.”

A pump having a longer lifespan is considered for pools, which are more than 1200 gallons. The pumps which possess a prolonged duration of its working life provides more energy and does not necessitate underwater electricity. These kinds can be non-submersible centrifugal drive pumps. The external low-head, low amp, and high volume pump last for more than 8 years before the motor parts require rebuilding. A non-submersible pump machine also helps in filtering out fish debris and waste from the pool.

First things first – introduction about pond pumps

All the pumps available are not similar to each other. Considering a practical example, in mostly all the duplex pump units (two pumps), both the pumps never quit simultaneously. However, in a common configuration, they distribute workloads between them equally. It should also be counted that if a water pump has stopped working, that does not mean a better quality pump is present. If someone’s pump is unable to work, they must give a second thought. You can do this by examining the pump, whether it is the best one for your requirement or not. 

One must also carry out prior research about a pump before purchasing it. Referring to different user reviews will aid you in making the correct decision to buy or switching to another pump.

When an individual is out for buying a pump for his/her pond, it is necessary for him/her to know all the details about how long do pond pumps last and submersible pumps. These pumps which remain submerged are designed to work completely underwater. They are considered best for small size water bodies and do not add much to the electricity bill. Hence, it’s entirely satisfactory from the economic side.

To understand the size which you require, evaluate the gallons per hour (GPH). This calculation shows a pump’s capacity to push water in one hour. Usually, a person would want all the water to flow within an hour, and hence a 300 GPH pump is required for a pond measuring 300 gallons.

If a pond contains waterfalls, UV clarifiers, and filters, it will need a higher GPH pump to pull the same quantity of water. A pump dedicated to the waterfall needs to be installed to relieve the extra load that waterfalls have on the main pump. There are few other things that influence load are the length of the pipe, several turns present in it, and the number of the total fitting. Every pond owner must rule out the stress level. Because the more loaded a pump is, the less is its life expectancy. This is a crucial point in deciding how long do pond pumps last.

A superior quality submersible pump offers a warranty of two years, so one must look for that while purchasing it. A person must also look for other necessary items like long cables. If they do not come with long cables, you will have to join it with another one. Solar pond pumps are a good option from which you can choose. Furthermore, confirm that the cables have three conductor wires as well. Two conductor wire pumps are mainly used in aquariums and will not work effectively for a pool.

To remain environment friendly, try using a new magnetic drive pump instead of the older ones. These types use water to lubricate rather than oil, which prevents any contamination of water. They also use less power, which reduces the electricity bill cost.

As mentioned earlier both submersible and non-submersible pumps are obtainable. Some examples are pond pumps, that have GPH less than 5000 have a lifespan of 1 year and those which have GPH more than 5000 work for one to two years. Domestic grinder and sewage pumps provide a span of two to three years and five to seven years, respectively. However, if the working of a pump exceeds the average lifespan, it is considered a good selection of the motor product.

Common factors that decrease the lifespan of a pond pump

In general, how long do pond pumps last is dependent on the usage by the consumers, i.e., how the pump is maintained and functioned? Here are some primary factors which reduce the longevity of a water pump:

Radial force

The lifespan of a pump reduces with high radial power and consecutive shaft deflection. Both of these kill mechanical seals. Radial force can make the shaft to bend or deflect. When a pump is not in an operating mode, you will not see anything wrong, as this situation is a dynamic one.

Oil contamination

Most of the pumps fail because of contamination due to debris and dirt.

Pipe strain

It is caused when there is a wrong alignment of the suction pipe with the pump flanges.

Fluid properties

Fluid properties comprise pH, particular gravity, and viscosity. Acidic or corrosive water has an effect on the impeller parts and casing of a pump. Various solid particles that are present in the fluid, including their shape, abrasive quality, and size are factors.

Service

Many users switch on their pumps and switch it off after a few seconds. By doing this, pumps wear out more often.

Measures that will increase the lifespan of a pond pump

Submersible pump for pools has many compensating characteristics. These pumps offer easy installation, reduced noise level and also hassle-free replacement. Moreover, they have a satisfactory working capability and provide safe and dirt-free water for people and fishes. One major disadvantage of such pumps is that they cannot be re-build once they are at the verge of their lifespan threshold.

Here are some measures that will help you to determine how long do pond pumps last

  1. The very first point to extend the life of a pump is by keeping it completely free of dirt. In magnetic drive pumps, it is the magnet that makes that initiates the flow of water with the help of a magnetic motor. The area is tight between the wall of the pump and the impeller and can get easily clogged with sticky and gummy waste from the pool.
  2. One needs to make sure to remove the dirt and keep it clean regularly to prevent any kind of clogging. As soon as that tiny space gets obstructed with debris, it may overheat the pump. Eventually, overheating may damage the motor, and it might not be repaired anymore.
  3. There are absolutely no fixed rules to clean a pump, as each pond unit are different. Various factors like filter quality, amount of fish, feeding regimen and also pool volume affects the duration for cleansing a motor.
  4. A small pond which has a high fish load and a fish lover who loves feeding will require more cleaning. Conversely, a larger pond with fewer fishes and the owner of that water unit forgets to feed the fishes regularly, needs less frequent cleaning. The former pool may call for cleaning of the pump once in a month, whereas, the latter one’s pump can be cleaned once in every five or seven months.
  5. To determine the cleaning of the magnetic drive pump, one must check the impeller after three months of working. If it does not show any dirt or spots, look over it after six, then nine, and then 12 months. As soon as you find an impeller containing debris, wash it. But, you have to check it a month before the next cleaning process.
  6. Like, if a pump is free of dirt at three months but is quite dirty at the end of 6 months, the next time for checking the pump is at 5 and not 6. Again if it is messy at 5 and still dirt-free at 3, you must clean the impeller after 4 months.
  7. To extend and enhance the life of a pump, keep a completely clean impeller. The next thing you can do is by applying a superior pre-filtration. A pump must not be fitted at the bottom of a pond. Rather it should be in a skimmer. However, if you do not have a skimmer, make sure to insert it in a box that contains filter media. These filters also require cleaning regularly, and one must use the time technique given above. Only after using a pump you will understand how long do pond pumps last.
  8. If a pump is present in a skimmer, it will be already pre-filtered with a net and brush, a basket and pad, or a net and pad. Whichever the combination may be, you will have to clean the pads, brushes and nets at least after every seven days. If a pond area is dusty and windy, and also has a lot of leaf debris, cleansing needs to be done more frequently.
  9. The final tip may be weird, but most of the people overlook it and can result in the failing of a drive pump. You have to protect the cord. Magnetic drives are quite sensitive about its cords. If by any chance a gardener cuts a cord and tries to repair it, the pump may experience a short circuit. Apart from purchasing a new pump, there is no other option to fix it.

To prevent any cuts, place the cord in a PVC electric line to the plug point. If you don’t get an electrical channel, use the regular PVC. This will help you in saving a pump.

By the above discussion, you may have understood how long do pond pumps last. Next, let’s move on to a clearer knowledge about solar pumps.

Solar pond pumps longevity

In today’s world, with the advancement of technology solar powered pond pumps are the best option present for people. Individuals will always choose it over electric pumps. As the name suggests, it refrains the use of electricity and ultimately works with the help of solar energy. These pumps will save you from paying hefty electricity bills.

Apart from pond pumps, solar pumps for fountains, are also available. These are entirely oil-free and will make a yard or a garden look beautiful and attractive. Solar power fountain pumps need very less maintenance and are a great choice among people who have a busy schedule. Additionally, these solar pumps are long-lasting and waterproof as well. Various kinds of solar water pumps are present in the market and can be bought online also. Some even have a battery backup feature. You can also choose between submersible and surface water pumps.

All of the mentioned pumps are also great when asked “how long do pond pumps last?”. Most of these solar pumps will last 1-3 years. The manufacturers also give at least 1 year warranty even with money back guarantee e.g. they say “1 Year Warranty – 100% Money Back Guarantee if our pump kit doesn’t meet your water pumping needs!”. It is great for your wallet (and the environment too)!

Conclusions

Both electrical and solar powered pond pumps are a huge demand among users, but at the same, it is vital to determine your requirements before making any purchase of the pumps. One must also comprehend how long do pond pumps last to rule out longevity and lifespan of a pump.

Share