The Pump Room
Blog style practical advice and industry insights to help keep your systems running smoothly.
How to Select a Pump - The Basics
Choosing the right pump is critical to keeping your system running efficiently and reliably.
Whether you’re in manufacturing, mining, chemicals, or food processing, the wrong pump can lead to system failures, costly downtime, or even safety hazards.
Here are the basic factors to consider when selecting a pump:
1. Understand the liquid You’re Pumping
Start with the basics:
- What is the liquid? (Water, oil, slurry, chemicals, etc.)
- Is it corrosive or abrasive?
- Does it contain solids?
- Is it viscous (thick)?
- What temperature is it?
This helps determine the pump material (e.g. stainless steel, plastic) and pump type (e.g. centrifugal, diaphragm, gear).
2. Know Your Flow Rate
How much of the liquid do you need to move? How fast should the pump do it?
This is typically measured as volume over time e.g. in litres per minute (LPM) or cubic meters per hour (m³/h).
Choosing the wrong size pump can result in the pump not being able to keep up with demand or alternatively it can waste energy and risk damaging the system.
3. Check the Required Pressure (Head)
How much force does the pump need to get the liquid where it needs to go? How far and how high does the fluid need to be pumped?
You will need to calculate your Total Dynamic Head (TDH), which includes:
- Vertical lift (height)
- Friction losses in the piping
- Pressure required at the discharge point
This, along with the rate of flow are essential criteria for selecting the correct pump size.
Did you know?
Different pumps are suited for different kinds of jobs! for example:
• Centrifugal pumps – Best for clean, low-viscosity fluids at high flow
• Gear pumps – Great for thick, viscous fluids
• Diaphragm pumps – Ideal for aggressive, abrasive, or solid-laden fluids
4. Consider the Application
Ask yourself:
- Is the process continuous or intermittent?
- Does the pump need to self-prime or run dry?
- Is the environment hazardous or explosive?
- Do you need precision (e.g. dosing or metering)?
5. Power Source and Installation
- Will it run on electric, diesel, or air (pneumatic)?
- Is the pump stationary or portable?
- Any space constraints?
Tip! Make sure the pump suits your on-site conditions and consider access to it once it is installed. You don’t want to have to tear apart your whole system to access the pump if something goes wrong!
6. Maintenance and Reliability
A few things to think about:
- Are spare parts easy to find?
- How simple is it to service?
- Is local support available?
- Is the brand known for reliability?
- Consider how a certain type of pump will wear vs other potential alternatives