Pump Comparison Tool
Compare two pumps using flow, head, electrical power and estimated running cost.
Design your pond. Engineer your pond. Or check the pond you already have. Choosing between pumps should be about the job they actually do, not simply which one has the biggest number on the box. Compare the important figures side by side and look at both performance and long-term energy use.
A fair comparison uses the same required flow, the same system head and the same electricity rate. That lets you see which pump offers the better balance of performance and operating cost.
Compare Two Pumps
| Measure | Pump A | Pump B |
|---|---|---|
| Flow at TDH | ||
| Required Flow | ||
| Power | ||
| Energy Per Day | ||
| Estimated Annual Cost | ||
| Flow Above Target |
KPE ENGINEERING CHECK
Do not compare pumps using maximum flow alone.
The useful comparison is the flow each pump can actually deliver at your calculated system head, together with the electrical power required to produce it.
A pump that uses less electricity but cannot meet the required flow is not the better pump for that system.
What Your Comparison Is Telling You
The tool compares the performance figures you enter under the same system conditions.
Flow at TDH
This is the most important performance figure. It tells you how much water the pump can actually move when connected to your system.
Power consumption
Electrical power shows how much energy the pump requires while operating. Lower power can mean lower running cost, provided the pump still delivers the required flow.
Flow above target
This shows how much additional flow the pump has above your required target. It can provide useful planning headroom, but more flow is not automatically better for every pond system.
Look Beyond the Cheapest Pump
The cheapest pump to purchase may not have the lowest lifetime cost. Likewise, the pump with the lowest electrical consumption may not be capable of producing the required flow.
A sensible comparison considers purchase price, actual performance, electrical consumption, expected running hours, reliability, control options and the requirements of the pond system.
One Important Rule
Make sure the flow figures you enter for both pumps come from comparable operating conditions.
If Pump A’s flow is measured at one head and Pump B’s flow is measured at another, the comparison is not meaningful. Use the manufacturer’s pump curves wherever possible.
What Happens If You Change the System?
Change the pipe size, filter, fittings, elevation or required flow and the comparison changes too.
The pump is part of the hydraulic system. It should never be considered in isolation.
The Next Engineering Question
The pump is only one part of the system. The next question is: how much filtration does the pond actually need?
Build the Calculation From the System
Compare pumps using the hydraulic calculations that come before the pump-selection decision.
→ Flow Rate Calculator
→ Total Dynamic Head Calculator
→ Pump Operating Point Calculator
→ Pump Size Calculator
→ Pump Running Cost Calculator