Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Use tough industrial pumps for hazardous materials or waste

Rugged commercial pumps with extra-tight seals will keep hazmat from leaking. Suitable pumping equipment is made of heavy-duty plastic to avoid metal contact with corrosive fluids.

I recommend: Vanton Pump & Equipment Corp.'s Chem-Gard line of thermoplastic industrial pumps includes centrifugal, closed-coupled and vortex pumping systems. Three kinds of chemical transfer pumps from Tuthill are designed for farm chemicals and industrial fluids. Grainger offers pumping equipment for fertilizer and agricultural waste. Finally, the interactive pump selector at PumpBiz will determine which pumping equipment is capable of handling your project.

Hand pumps are inexpensive, effective pumping systems

Not all pumping equipment is mechanical: sometimes a hand pump packs all the power you need. Small models can be used for drawing well water, and hand-operated industrial pumps are a cost-conscious choice for removing groundwater, transferring slurry or clearing spills.

I recommend: To pump non-corrosive liquids between drums or vats, try Blackmer's sliding vane hand pump. Northern Tool + Equipment offers hand pumping equipment for home and commercial use.

Manage gases with vacuum pumping systems

Industrial vacuum pumping equipment is commonly found in laboratories, but vacuum pumps are also useful for de-gassing, air conditioning evacuation and cylinder filling.

I recommend: Cole-Parmer’s online catalog lists several dry vacuum/pressure pumps. (The selection guide will help you choose the best pumping equipment for your application.) US Vacuum Pumps offers discount vacuum pumps; some of these affordable commercial pumps come complete with filters, gauges and tanks.

Expand or repair industrial pumps with new parts

Many pump suppliers sell components that can make old pumping equipment more effective.

I recommend: Wastecorp specializes in replacement parts for several pumping systems – even obsolete ones. Select exactly what you need from the Pump Components main menu.

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Keep pumping systems humming with regular maintenance as specified by the manufacturer.
• •  Check your local phone directory for a technician who can repair and install industrial pumps on an emergency basis.
• •  Bigger isn't always better. Industrial pumps that are too small for the job will perform poorly, but pumping equipment that's too large can result in cavitation.