You can find refurbished pumps for nearly every purpose your business might need. Most manufacturers classify the pumps by the type of materials the pump can move. In most cases, the type of material will determine the type of pump you need. If you need to move gas, for example, you'll want to look into refurbished gasoline pumps.

Identifying your needs will help you narrow the choices for refurbished or used pumps. Once you know the main category for your pump, you'll want to look at the subcategories. For example, there are three main types of refurbished heat pumps for sale.

1. Determine the types of used vacuum pumps.

2. Consider buying refurbished heat pumps.

3. Save money with used concrete pumps.

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

Find used vacuum pumps

Vacuum pumps are common items that you will find in inventory of used industrial pumps. These pumps move air, water, acids, vapor and solvents. The different types of pumps have specific components that can handle exposure to the materials you need to pump.

I recommend: Edwards Vacuum sells refurbished vacuum pumps at list prices of 35% less than new ones. It also provides a datasheet that you can download on its refurbished equipment. US Vacuum Pumps provides information on the different types of vacuum pumps. Choices include dry vacuum pumps, rotary vane vacuum pumps and liquid ring vacuum pumps.

Shop for refurbished heat pumps

Manufacturers usually certify a used heat pump, so you'll know that you are getting a product that will last. Most heat pumps move air through a home or a business to warm the interior atmosphere. The layout of the space you want to heat will determine the type of pump you need. The other factor affecting this type of pump is whether or not you need the pump to actually generate the heat as opposed to simply moving air.

I recommend: Energy Right provides links with more information and definition for the three main types of heat pumps in use today. Use the links to find out more on air source, duel-fuel and geothermal heat pumps. The IEA Heat Pump Centre, an international organization, provides information on refurbished pumps types and styles with a special focus on heat pumps.

Pour concrete with used concrete pumps

With used concrete pumps, you have a variety of options available. Boom pumps usually come on trucks and handle a larger capacity than other types of pumps. Line pumps are versatile and portable, making them a better choice for smaller jobs. Separate placing booms are pumps that you can use without the truck.

I recommend: ConcreteNetwork.com gives an overview of boom and line pumps and separate placing booms used for pumping concrete. You'll also find other information on the types and styles of concrete pumps. UsedConcretePumps.com helps you find used concrete pumps. Use the site's search engine to locate pumps by manufacturer, price or boom length.

We all know that refurbished pumps come with greater savings than buying new. What you might not realize, though, is that you can find a product that is just as good as the original in terms of quality.

Whether you are looking for used concrete pumps, refurbished gasoline pumps, refurbished vacuum pumps or other used industrial pumps, dealers are available to help you with your replacement or refurbishment needs.

To determine if buying refurbished pumps is right for you:

1. Ask yourself if you are purchasing for show or for efficiency. If you are buying for show, a new part or product may be what you need, but if are just looking for something to get the job done, a refurbished item will work.

2. Look at the warranties offered with used pumps and parts. If no warranty is offered and your product breaks right away, you are out of luck. A quality refurbisher should offer you some sort of warranty package to backup their level of service.

3. Determine if cost is a major issue for you. If it is, refurbished pumps should be the route to go for quality at an affordable price.

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

Find suppliers of refurbished pumps with perks

Instead of settling for just refurbished pumps, instead seek out a dealer that gives you some sort of added value. Look for free shipping or free warranties. Look for informative company websites that walk you through their refurbishment process or staff qualifications.

I recommend: Septic Solutions, Inc. has a wide variety of refurbished pumps, and they will purchase your old air pumps. They also have free shipping on most items and have a low price guarantee. GASO.com walks you through their process of refurbishment, which is a reassuring step for a company to offer a consumer or business client.

Look at the abounding number of used pumps for vacuums available

Used vacuum pumps are in high supply online. Find a reputable seller, and consider asking for references on their service.

I recommend: A&J Vacuum Services sells refurbished Surplus Turbo Pumps, Surplus Vacuum Pumps and other High Vacuum Equipment. They offer a 12-month warranty on all of their used pumps for sale. Capitol Vacuum Parts also sells refurbished vacuum pumps and parts. Edwards refurbishes their brand's own products. They fully decontaminate and inspect the product before fixing it with Edwards original parts. They factory-test it to make sure it meets "as new" specifications, and they sell it to you with a standard warranty.

Seek used industrial pumps from other businesses

Refurbished pumps also come in the form of used industrial pumps as well. Finding a company with too much inventory can be a win-win for both parties, as they come up with cash to buy their next big item, and you walk away with quality equipment at a fraction of the price. You can easily find used gas pumps, a used heat pump or refurbished water pumps.

I recommend: C&C Pumping Services, Inc. has an impressive fleet of refurbished boom pumps for sale. Their refurbished concrete pumps come with all of their maintenance records, and they can even paint it to match your color scheme. Kitmondo is an online marketplace for mining and aggregates equipment including used pumps for sale.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you are buying used pumps from anyone other than a major manufacturer, look at return policies, warranties and other guarantees that the product will hold up to the claims they have made either verbally or in writing.

To establish a realistic price for purchasing and maintaining refurbished pumps, you must check a wide variety of available used pumps. The used and refurbished pump market ranges from used vacuum pumps to refurbished centrifugal pumps to used gas pumps. You will find all types of used pumps for sale, including a refurbished submersible pump, a used heat pump, slurry handlers, or used industrial pumps such as concrete pumps.

You can also find a rebuilder willing to refurbish the pump you already own. Or, you may wish to trade in your old pump on a new or rebuilt one. You will also find specifications to help guide you when establishing refurbished pump pricing and costs. Before deciding whether to buy new or used or paying to have your own pump rebuilt, take into account the following information:

1. Consider the service a remanufacturer provides when you make a purchase and after the sale of refurbished pumps.

2. Look for added features that new pumps may have compared to used pumps or the one you already have.

3. Evaluate the efficiency rating and possible energy savings of a new pump compared to a used pump.

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

Look for refurbished pumps that carry warranties

Most pump rebuilders include a warranty on their products. Rebuilt vacuum pumps used in laboratories or medical use carry either a 90-day or a one-year warranty. Used gas pumps may have a warranty on the entire product, or they may have separate warranties on the mechanical and electrical components, such as 90 days on mechanical parts and one year on electrical. Warranties are usually part of the purchase price.

I recommend: A-Vac Industries claims 35 years of experience in rebuilding vacuum pumps. Their pumps include one-year warranties, with prices ranging from $1225 for a vacuum pump with a 3.2 cubic feet per minute capacity to $7900 for an 85 cfm capacity pump. Benfordfueling.com lists gas pumps for service stations, including various warranties, from $2800 to $5600, depending on the style of pump and whether it handles one or two gasoline products.

Find used industrial pumps to fit your needs

Whether you are looking for used gas pumps or refurbished vacuum pumps for medical applications, you will find a variety of sources. Some pump rebuilders and dealers will take a trade-in when you purchase a new or used pump. Manufacturers claim prices for used pumps as low as half the list price for new pumps.

I recommend: Turbo Pump Repair, which doesn't provide prices online, catalogs rebuilding services for vacuum and turbo pumps from several manufacturers, as well as including ads to buy, trade, or sell new or used pumps. Contact the company for a quote. Edwards Vacuum provides data sheets, a catalog, a newsletter, and a list of available vacuum pumps priced from $1000 to $14,000, depending on size, type of pump, and the type of material it pumps.

Compare prices for used pumps

If you are looking for something less in the line of medical or laboratory use and more in the industrial pump line, you can find used concrete pumps or used gasoline pumps. Prices for concrete pumps vary greatly depending on the pump capacity, and other equipment that may come with the pumps, such as the truck it mounts to and booms and hoses to carry the product. A pump not mounted on a truck would be at the lower end of the scale, while pumps mounted on trucks with derricks to lift concrete several stories would be at the high end. Gas pump prices vary by style, size, number of products handled, and whether the pump has a card-reader or not.

I recommend: Pumpco quotes prices for used concrete pumps mounted on trucks ranging from $30,000 for an unmounted pump to $400,000 for truck-mounted ones. C & C Pumping Services offers an inventory that includes an unmounted pump for $30,000 and truck-mounted pumps for $200,000 to $500,000. United Petroleum Equipment Company has refurbished gasoline pumps for sale but does not list the prices. It provides definitions for used, refurbished, and repaired pumps.

Buying refurbished pumps can help keep material costs low and most refurbished pumps carry similar warranties as the new ones. In order to know which refurbished pump to purchase, it's imperative to understand the types of pumps and the companies in the industry. Some of the major types of pumps are positive displacement and centrifugal pumps. There are also refurbished dealers with a long history of selling a quality product that you can rely on. To understand the refurbished industry, you should begin by learning a few refurbished pumps key terms and then expand your knowledge base from there.

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

Positive displacement pumps

A positive displacement pump is one with an expanding cavity where the liquid exits out of a decreasing cavity to the discharge side of the pump. When purchasing a refurbished pump of this type it's important to inspect the cavities thoroughly to make sure it marks correctly.

I recommend: Review the positive displacement pumps tutorial available at the Engineering Toolbox for more information.

Cavitation

Cavitation is when cavities form in whatever liquid a pump is trying to discharge. In refurbished pumps, cavitation can cause damage to components of the pump. Be sure to ask if cavitation was the reason for the refurbishing of the pump prior to purchase.

I recommend: Examine the cavitation primer available at the McNally Institute.

Centrifugal pumps

The centrifugal pump is one of the more simplistic pumps on the market and can be the easiest one to spot flaws on a refurbished pump. A centrifugal pump uses engine energy to make kinetic energy and then uses that energy to move liquid in the pump.

I recommend: Evaluate the centrifugal tutorial available at the Pump World for further details.

A-VAC

A-VAC is a primary supplier of refurbished pumps that has been in business for 35 years.

I recommend: Assess the scope and service of this company at the A-VAC website.

C&C Pumping Services

C&C Pumping Services offers a wide range of refurbished pumps for your business. Their main business is selling the refurbished concrete pump.

I recommend: Review the current inventory of refurbished concrete pumps for sale at C&C Pumping Services.

Submersible Wastewater Pump Association

If you are looking to purchase a submersible pump, the Submersible Wastewater Pump Association is an excellent resource for locating one. They also provide member services and other contact information that can be helpful in your refurbished pump search.

I recommend: Study the goals and objectives of the Submersible Wastewater Pump Association for more information on the topic.