18 FEATURES says Duncan Keil , CEO of UPP . “ There are different types of pumps with different power and installation requirements , which is why it is always best to talk to a pump specialist about your needs .”
Gareth Manson , sales manager : Stewarts & Lloyds points out that rainwater harvesting systems and backup water systems are different . “ Rainwater generally will be used only in the garden for watering . So we tend to stick with our fixed speed SALFLO range for rainwater systems . Backup systems will be run from a tank fed by council water , with the usage inside the house varying . From one tap to multiple taps and showers , we tend to use our VSD range for these installations . This offers the client a huge energy saving and can work with solar installations , without a huge energy spike on start-up of pump . The pump will increase and decrease in speed depending on the requirement . This allows a 1.1kw pump to operate a tap only using 250w of power .”
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Getting the copper pipes in place .
Romeo Giannone , also of Stewarts & Lloyds , says that common problems include using under-sized suction pipes to the pumps , and dry-running of the booster pumps . “ Always use suction pipes that are one size bigger than the pump suction port size and use adequate protection starter boxes ,” he advises .
When choosing a rainwater pump for your harvesting system , it ' s essential to consider several factors . Here are key considerations to keep in mind :