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Best puddle pumps: Drain your garden fast
- October 25, 2020
Puddle pumps can be a fast solution to garden drainage issues and other general flooding. They can move hundreds of litres of water very quickly so they are great in some situations. As garden drainage experts we have found them to be a cheap and quick solution to some garden drainage issues.
Although conventional drainage pumps have been around for a long time, puddle pumps are a relatively new addition to the pump family. Most puddle pumps are in fact multipurpose pond pumps with a few small differences.
A puddle pump is a simple mechanism which you place, sucking end down, in the puddle, place the hose end wherever you would like the water to go, then turn it on and let it move the water from one location to another.
Puddle pumps can be a good solution for garden flooding but they have their limitations. It’s a good idea to read our guide below to see if a puddle pump is the right solution for you.
With an auto sensor and the ability to pump water up to 6m in elevation, this little work horse is a fantastic purchase. Its real setting point is that it can drain water down to 1mm, far below the capability of many other puddle pumps.
Its auto setting means that you can leave it to drain and it will turn off when the water level has dropped.
This is the best pump for clean sitting water but it will struggle with dirty water.
A dirty water pump which is fully submersible and can handle particles up to 35mm diameter. This reliable pump can be easily repurposed as a puddle pump.
With an incredible capacity of 240L per minute it will drain most large puddles in no time.
It was a touch choice not to rank this pump in first place but its 40mm minimum suction depth with make it impractical for draining some puddle.
Overall, a superior pump to the others but could do with the ability to go deeper.
Able to cope with slightly dirtier water than the number one choice, this little pump is a powerful alternative which can remove water down to 3.5mm depth.
Although not up to the same standard as the top choices, this is still a solid choice as a puddle pump.
A purpose designed drainage hose, the Silverline lay flat hose range are built to deal with much heavier applications than puddle drainage so you can be sure they are up to the task.
Make sure to get the correct size and some jubilee clips to attach it to the pump outlet.
Despite flat hoses being the most common some people report kinking issues, wear and tear and issues getting adequate pressure from small puddle pumps.
If you want to avoid all those issues then you can go for Braided PVC hose. Braided PVC is as sturdy as you would ever need and wont have any of the issues of the flat hose.
Just make sure to get the correct size or an adaptor to make sure it fits the puddle pump.
Puddle pumps can do amazing things and can get rid of huge amounts of water from your flooded garden but they are not the best solution for everyone. We will go through some of the situations where they are useful and some where they aren’t.
In flash floods
The strength of a puddle pump is its ability to move a large amount of water. This makes them useful for situations where there is a substantial amount of sitting water which needs to be removed.
If your garden rarely floods but there has been enough rain that on this occasion it has flooded, a puddle pump can be used to move the sitting water.
Move puddles from hard surfaces
If you get water pooling on a flat surface a puddle pump can be used to remove the puddle and dry the area. This is common on driveways, especially imprinted concrete.
A word of caution when redirecting water, in the UK it is illegal to redirect surface water from your property into the road. Redirect it somewhere on your property or ask for planning permission to stay on the right side of the law.
When there is nowhere to send the water
We occasionally come across garden flooding which has no solution. The reason is almost always the same; there is too much water and nowhere to redirect it.
Because puddle pumps only move water you need to be sure there is somewhere you can legally move the water too before starting.
When the ground is waterlogged
If your lawn soil is constantly saturated or water sits for days in the garden then a puddle pump will be of little use. Puddle pumps can tackle surface water but can do very little to help with water sitting below ground level.
If you have garden water logging issues you should look towards getting a proper garden drainage system installed which can collect sub surface water and dry out the garden.
When it is waterlogged or flooded often
If the garden floods frequently and is wet for many months of the year a puddle pump is most likely not the solution you are looking for. Puddle pumps need to be operated manually so unless you are happy spending the weekends squelching around in wellies sucking up puddles then you should look at more permanent garden drainage solutions.
An in between solution
If you have serious garden drainage issues then we would always recommend a garden drainage system but they can be expensive.
There is another temporary option which can work well for a short time. Dig a hole in a low point then drain the hole using a puddle pump.
This works much in the same way as having a sub-surface drainage pump installed. We have even seen DIY pump stations which use drainage cube soakaways and a puddle pump to remove excess water.
There are many causes of garden flooding and waterlogging, from clay soil to local building development and water table issues. Understanding them is key to choosing the right drainage solution. See our helpful guide on the causes of garden drainage problems before making a decision.
We have also created a tool which will help you work out the potential garden drainage options for your situation.
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A well-maintained garden with proper drainage is essential for a
Introduction Understanding drainage regulations and planning permission is crucial for
A beautiful and thriving garden starts with a solid understanding
Acorn Construction Ltd trading as Acorn Landscape Gardening
Company number: 11898363
VAT no: 333 3171 34
81 Alderfield, Penwortham, Preston, PR1 9HA
