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Centrifugal Pumps vs. Jet Pumps

May 23, 2024

By webfx

Your property depends on a high-quality well pump to deliver clean water and create a comfortable living environment. Centrifugal and jet pumps are two of the most popular well pump types, offering unique advantages to users. Before making any purchase, it’s crucial to understand how each type operates to find the right pump for your needs. 

What Are Centrifugal Pumps? 

Centrifugal pumps are among the most popular used pumps, operating efficiently across various industries. It transforms a motor’s mechanical energy into kinetic energy, driving fluid through the pump into a discharge pipe. This process is fueled by a rotating impeller, which creates centrifugal force and increases momentum before discharging through the volute casing. 

Centrifugal pumps are generally used within shallower environments to handle water, sewage and more. There are numerous configurations of this pump, offering various performance abilities: 

  • Single-stage: This pump type utilizes a single impeller to move water, making it ideal for low-pressure applications. 
  • Two-stage: Leveraging the power of a dual impeller set-up, this pump is productive in medium-head tasks for a more reliable performance. 
  • Multi-stage: Multi-stage centrifugal pumps rely on three or more impellers to increase pressure as fluid passes through each blade. 

What Are Jet Pumps? 

Jet pumps are aboveground machines commonly used within warmer climates and areas with high water tables. They leverage a similar construction to centrifugal pumps, utilizing an impeller, electric motor and a suction pipe to transport fluid successfully. 

However, these tools are built with a venturi tube and ejector that reduce pressure and boost the liquid’s velocity to increase the distance the system can push fluids. This capability is vital in various applications, such as providing residential water, removing water from ponds and irrigating large land areas. 

Depending on the operating environment, you’ll choose one of the following types: 

  • Shallow jet well: These shallow well pumps are mounted to the well, pumping water at 15 gallons per minute in wells up to 25 feet deep. 
  • Convertible jet pump: Convertible jet pumps operate within water sources with a depth of up to 70 feet and can move fluid at a rate of 10.6 gallons per minute. 

Which Pump Is Right for You? 

Wondering which type of pump is best for your home? Consider the following factors to ensure you invest in the right piece of equipment: 

  • Horsepower
  • Size of your home
  • Depth of fluid source 
  • Required task

Choose Between a Centrifugal Pump and Jet Pump With Zoeller at Home

Installing a pump within your home is crucial to protect and ensure it functions properly. At Zoeller, we maintain a high-quality inventory of the finest pumps you can trust. Check out our Retail Locator to discover where you can get your hands on a model in your area. 

If you still aren’t sure which type of pump is right for your needs, you can get in touch with a representative online to talk about your options.