The business of self priming pumps (also called self priming centrifugal pumps) requires extensive education and training. You need to learn about various aspects of the business, including technical factors, market conditions and new developments in the pump industry.

In addition, choosing the right self priming pump is an important task. An education on self priming pumps can enable you to determine whether you require a self priming domestic pump, a self priming external pump or a self priming portable utility pump. If you want to use a self priming fuel pump or self priming drill pump, you will need to have adequate knowledge about the installation and maintenance of self priming pumps.

To educate yourself and/or your workforce about self priming pumps, you can:

1. Browse various resources that provide basic information about self priming pumps
2. Subscribe to magazines and periodicals to update your knowledge
3. Interact with experts in the field of self priming pumps

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

Understand the basics of self priming pumps and the relevant terminology

If you have very little exposure to self priming pumps, you can learn the basics by browsing different resources, such as websites of various self priming pump manufacturers and online knowledge resources.

I recommend: You can learn the basics of the design and application of self priming pumps at Goulds Pumps, a reputable manufacturer of industrial pumps. In addition, you can browse through information about the technology of self priming pumps at Processing, a good resource by Grand View Media that publishes articles related to process industries.

Subscribe to magazines that provide updates on the field of self priming pumps

You can update your knowledge about various types of self priming pumps, such as self priming water pumps and self priming fuel pumps, by subscribing to magazines dedicated to mechanical engineering and the pump industry.

I recommend: You can subscribe to Pumps & Systems, a magazine dedicated to the pump and rotating equipment industry. Impeller.net is an online magazine that provides useful updates on the global pump industry. You can also subscribe to Mechanical Engineering, a magazine by ASME (the American Society of Mechanical Engineers) International. In addition, Hindawi Publishing Corporation publishes the ‘International Journal of Rotating Machinery’, a magazine for the pump industry.

Learn about standards and codes about self priming pumps

If you are a self priming pump supplier, you must understand the different standards and codes related to self priming pumps. You can buy these codes from the organizations that establish the standards in the pump industry.

I recommend: Buy the standards for self priming pumps at the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). You can also buy the standards for centrifugal pumps at the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME International). Beuth Verlag, the publishing house of DIN (German Institute for Standardization), offers standards for fluid systems and components.

Self priming pumps are a great way to quickly move many types of liquids on a boat, on a farm or in any type of commercial application. Common types of self priming pumps go by many names, including a self priming utility pump, a self priming external pump and a self priming fuel pump.

Self priming pumps can move a variety of liquids and gases, including water, slurries and oils. So before you start to look for a self priming pump, determine which of these pumps you will need:

1. Self priming drill pump;

2. Self priming centrifugal pump;

3. Or self priming water pump.

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

Purchase a self priming drill pump

A self priming drill pump is a versatile and portable way of moving water or fluid. All you need is a drill with a chuck. It is particularly handy for use on boats.

I recommend: Jamestown Distributors is a Rhode Island company that has made and sold boat building supplies for more than 25 years. The company's self priming drill pumps are also sold as a kit that include accessories such as hose and hose adaptors. Boatingstore is a company based in Florida that sells a variety of boating products. Its catalog includes a self priming drill pump sold as a kit with hoses.

Buy a self priming centrifugal pump

A self priming centrifugal pump is especially useful because it can pump liquids, gases or a combination of liquids and gases. These pumps are sometimes called a self priming fuel pump or a self priming oil pump.

I recommend: The Gorman-Rupp Company features a full line of pumps that are made to be easy to operate and service. The pumps are specifically designed so that maintenance can be completed quickly. Franklin Electric is a global electric motor manufacturer headquartered in Indiana. The company makes a full line of pumps, including self priming centrifugal pumps.

Choose a self priming water pump

Self priming water pumps are handy for transferring water in a variety of marine, agricultural and commercial applications. They are generally recommended for moving clean water.

I recommend: Go2Marine sells a self priming water pump that is great for marine applications. You can use it for cleaning boats, as a shower pump or for general use. WattPower sells a portable water pump powered by gasoline that's great for larger jobs, including agricultural applications.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  Before you purchase a self priming pump of any type, be sure to inquire about the pump's warranty and the retailer's return and exchange policy. If the pump isn't exactly what you need and you have to return it, you may have to pay to ship it back to the place you bought it from. In some cases, you may even have to pay a restocking fee.

A self priming pump has a vacuum level that is strong enough to draw fluid without any external help. Self priming pumps are very useful for various applications ranging from overhead tanks, pressure boosting systems, treatment plants and even transporting highly viscous products like cream and butter.

Whether you want to use self priming pumps for residential, commercial or industrial purposes, you will need to be conversant with various technical terms related to these pumps. This guide will familiarize you with the key terms related to self priming pumps, such as centrifugal pumps, peristaltic pumps, sewage pumps, GPM, RPM and pump impeller.

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

Centrifugal pump

A centrifugal pump is a pumping device that works on the simple principle of centrifugal force. Centrifugal pumps are very popular in the industry by virtue of their wide range of applications. A self priming pump is an example of a centrifugal pump.

I recommend: You can read through basic information on centrifugal pumps at Pump World, an online knowledge resource.

Peristaltic pump

A peristaltic pump is a type of fluid transfer pump. These pumps use rollers to squeeze a tube and thus force the fluid along a hose and into the discharge pipe. Peristaltic pumping systems use self priming pumps very extensively.

I recommend: Machine Design, a knowledge resource, provides detailed information about peristaltic pumps.

Sewage pump

A sewage pump lifts wastewater to a gravity sanitary sewer line. Self priming pumps are very common in sewage systems.

I recommend: wiseGEEK, an online information resource, provides detailed information about sewage pumps.

GPM (Gallons Per Minute)

GPM is the measuring unit of discharge flow of a self priming pump. It is one of the most important criteria for choosing the right self priming pump.

I recommend: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill offers detailed information on GPM.

RPM (Revolutions Per Minute)

RPM is a term related to electric and electronic rotating devices. RPM is a measure of the rotational speed of a motor. It measures the revolutions the spindle of a motor makes in one minute.

I recommend: You can read through the definition of RPM at Convertworld.com.

Pump impeller

In a self priming pump, you will need a pump impeller, a rotating device that pushes liquids, gases or vapors into a desired direction. Axial and radial are the most common type of pump impellers.

I recommend: Learn more about pump impellers and the various types of impellers at Engineers Edge, a useful resource for technical information on engineering components.

Viscosity

Viscosity of the fluid is an important parameter for the design and performance of a self priming pump. Viscosity indicates the resistance of the fluid to flow.

I recommend: To understand the meaning of viscosity, read through information at STLE (Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers). Additionally, Eaton Corporation offers a hydraulics glossary that explains various terms, including viscosity.

Pump head

When a self priming pump operates, the liquid moves rapidly inside the pump. The force of this moving liquid exerts tremendous pressure. This pressure, measured in feet, is pump head.

I recommend: At impeller.net, you can read through basic information on pump head and the formula to calculate it. PlumberSurplus.com, a supplier of valves, water heaters and pumps, also provides detailed information about pump head and its various types.

Pump curve

Pump curve evaluates the efficiency of all pumps including self priming pumps. In a pump curve, the fluid flow is plotted on the X-axis and the pump head on the Y-axis.

I recommend: You can read through detailed information on various aspects of a pump curve at Cole-Parmer, a leading supplier of pumps.

Business owners look into purchasing self-priming pumps for a variety of reasons. Whether you plan to buy a self-priming pump for your office coffee maker or you're looking for something much larger, it benefits you to look into self-priming pumps pricing and costs.

Researching the self-priming drill pump costs and other self-priming pump expenses lets you know that there's more than one option when it comes to purchasing. You might want to consider the following things:

1. Purchasing self-priming water pumps or other pumps with an extended warranty;

2. Looking into refurbished items to cut down on self-priming pumps pricing and costs;

3. Or finding a great deal on renting a self-priming fuel pump or other type of self-priming pump.

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

Search around for the price of a particular self-priming pump

Looking for self-priming centrifugal pumps gives you a very different price category than other types of self-priming pumps. Look for a specific model you want to use then consider pricing according to warranties offered and pump applications.

I recommend: You can find a variety of pumps at Homer, which offers products such as a self-priming portable utility pump for under $100. The company offers selections for other self-priming pumps for under $200. Northern Tool + Equipment offers a large inventory of self-priming pumps ranging in price from a couple hundred dollars to just over $1000.

Check into purchasing a used or refurbished self-priming domestic pump or other type pump

Purchasing a used or refurbished self-priming portable utility pump or other type of self-priming pump helps you cut down costs. Frequently this type of product works as well as a brand-new one. Be sure to see whether the supplier offers a warranty on the product.

I recommend: Scientific Support offers refurbished equipment for labs such as the Variable Flow Peristaltic Pump. This self-priming pump costs around $200. Genemco offers businesses used and refurbished vacuum pumps such as the self-priming Multistage Liquid Vacuum Pump. The company offers you a quote for each piece of refurbished or used pump.

Look into renting a self-priming oil pump or other type of self-priming pump

When you rent a self-priming external pump or any type of self-priming pump, renting the equipment helps you become familiar with it. You learn the pros and cons of dealing with it before investing.

I recommend: Sunbelt Rentals offers equipment such as its Diesel High Head self-priming pump for rent. With prices ranging from just under $500 for a day to over $2000 for several weeks, it gives you a price quote according to your ZIP code. Allied Technical Services rents self-priming pumps for high-volume and high-lift pumps. It offers quotes based on rental location.