Submersible Pumps
Sealed, submerged, and self-priming for dewatering, sump, sewage, and wastewater duty, matched to your solids and head.
When should I use a submersible pump instead of a surface pump?
Use a submersible pump when the liquid sits below grade and a surface pump would struggle to prime or lift it, which is the case for most dewatering, sump, sewage, and wastewater duty. Sitting in the fluid, a submersible is self-cooling, quiet, and free of suction-lift limits. Give us the fluid, the solids, the flow, and the head and we will match the impeller style and the pump.
How a submersible pump works
A submersible pump packages a close-coupled motor and pump in a sealed housing that runs fully immersed. The surrounding liquid cools the motor, and mechanical seals plus a moisture-protected motor keep water out of the windings. Because the pump pushes rather than pulls, it sidesteps the suction-lift and priming problems that limit surface pumps on deep or flooded applications. The impeller style, not just the size, decides what the pump can pass.
Where submersible pumps earn their place
- Dewatering. Construction pits, tunnels, and flooded basements where fast, portable water removal matters.
- Sump and effluent. Clear-water and light-solids duty in pits and drains.
- Sewage and wastewater. Solids-laden streams that need non-clog or vortex impellers.
- Lift stations. Wet-well pumping where guide rails and duplex controls keep service simple.
Submersible wastewater pumps
Wastewater duty is where submersible pump selection gets serious, because the stream carries rags, wipes, grit, and stringy solids that clog anything not built to pass them. Wastewater pumps use vortex, channel, or non-clog impellers sized to the largest expected solid, and they pair a robust mechanical seal system with motor moisture protection to survive the harsh environment. Setting float or transducer levels for a sensible run cycle keeps the wet well from short-cycling the motor. For municipal and industrial wastewater, we size the impeller style to the debris and the pump to the flow and head, then confirm the controls. These pumps most often live in lift stations; see lift station pumps and wastewater treatment applications for the full system picture.
Sizing checklist
- Solids rating. Match the largest particle and the debris type to the impeller style first.
- Flow and head. State total dynamic head including static lift and friction in the discharge run.
- Cycle. Size the pump and set levels so the motor does not short-cycle.
- Simplex or duplex. Critical service usually warrants a duplex arrangement with alternating pumps.
- Access. Plan guide rails and lift-out so service does not require entering the wet well.
Service and failure signals
The mechanical seals and the motor moisture protection decide how long a submersible lasts, so a tripped moisture sensor or a weeping seal is your cue to service the pump before water reaches the windings. Falling flow or repeated clogging points to impeller wear or a solids mismatch. Our factory-trained technicians rebuild submersibles and, for wet-well systems, service the whole station. Start at pump repair or, for stations, lift station repair.
Submersible pump lines available through Brabazon
We supply submersible dewatering, sump, sewage, and wastewater pumps from Tsurumi, Barmesa, and Power-Flo, with the seals and repair parts to keep them running.
Submersible pump questions, answered first
What is a submersible pump used for?
A submersible pump is used to move liquid from below the surface by sitting in the fluid itself, which makes it ideal for dewatering, sump, sewage, and wastewater duty. Because the motor is sealed and submerged, the pump is self-cooling, quiet, and free of the priming problems that plague surface pumps on deep lifts. The trade is that service means pulling the pump, so accessibility and guide rails matter in the design.
How do I choose a submersible pump for solids?
Match the pump solids-handling rating to the largest particle your fluid carries, then confirm flow and head. Clear-water and sump pumps pass small solids only, while sewage and wastewater pumps use vortex or channel impellers to pass stringy and larger solids without clogging. Undersizing the solids rating is the top cause of nuisance clogs, so describe the debris honestly and we will match the impeller style.
Why does a submersible pump keep clogging?
Repeated clogging usually means the impeller style or passage size does not match the solids in the stream, or the pump is oversized and runs the wet well down too fast. Rags, wipes, and stringy debris defeat pumps not designed to pass them. Moving to a vortex or a properly sized non-clog impeller, and setting float levels for a sensible cycle, resolves most clogging complaints.
How long does a submersible pump last?
Submersible pump life depends on the duty, the fluid, and the seal condition rather than a fixed number of years. The mechanical seals and the motor moisture protection are the parts that decide longevity, so seal failure or a tripped moisture sensor is the signal to service the pump before the motor is lost. Scheduled inspection of seals, cable, and impeller clearance is what keeps a submersible in service.
Talk to a Pump Engineer
Send the fluid, solids, flow, and head and an engineer will match the impeller style and pump, then quote it. We answer 24/7.
Request a submersible pump quote
Give us the application details and a pump specialist from your nearest branch will size and quote the right submersible pump. Or call 800.825.3222, answered 24/7.
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