Fire Fighting High Pressure Water Pumps

If you live on a farm or far away from the nearest fire station, you might have already thought about investing in a firefighting hose and pump. If you ever need to fight a potentially deadly fire, you can do so yourself while waiting for the professionals. As a farmer with crops, barns, and more at risk, a fire is always hazardous to your livelihood. A high pressure fire fighting water pump can help you battle the flames and reduce the danger to your farming operation.

Fire Fighting Pump

The most commonly used types of firefighting water pumps are designed with a portable gasoline or diesel engine that powers a high-pressure water pump designed to help fight fires. The entire pump and engine are typically installed in a roll cage designed to keep all machinery safe from damage. Our firefighting pumps are made from cast iron, steel and aluminum to ensure that you have the most durable, safe, and reliable fire fighting water pump available.

Flow vs. Pressure

When looking at the specs and information on a pump, you will see two acronyms that are very important to a water pump – PSI and GPM. PSI stands for pressure per square inch, and GPM stands for gallons per minute. Both of these are vital in helping you choose what kind of firefighting pump you need, and it is very important to know about the PSI and GPM before buying any pump, regardless of the use. As mentioned above, PSI relates to the pressure of the water coming out of the pump and hose, which basically means that the higher the PSI, the more force the water will have leaving the pump. Similarly, the GPM relates to how much water is coming out of the pump, and not so much how forcefully. Both of these are very important in determining what exactly you want out of a fire fighting water pump, so let’s take a closer look.

Flow

Water pumps will provide you with either a GPM or a GPH (gallons per hour). If the pump manufacturer does not provide a GPM, simply divide the GPH by 60 to find your GPM. These numbers determine the distance that the pump is capable of moving the water (PSI), and also how much water it is capable of moving over a period of time (GPM). The GPM all depends upon the job that you need done, in this case, fire fighting. The fire may require a pump with a very high GPM to move lots of water quickly, or it may hardly need any at all because the most common thing when looking for in a firefighting pump is the most pressure possible. Whatever the case, don’t become set on one pump with one set GPM. Be willing to look at water pumps with more variety and flexibility when it comes to GPM.

Pressure

The pressure of a water pump is very important when it comes to fighting fires, as you often need the water to have a lot of force to help fight the fire. The higher the pressure, the greater the Total Dynamic Head (TDH) and ultimately the distance that you will be capable of spraying water for fire suppression. That is why the PSI is so important, and why it’s so important to make sure you have the right PSI before buying a water pump. Just like the GPM, consider what kind of power you will be needing before you rush to make any purchases.

Flow and Pressure Together

Both the flow and pressure of a water pump are affected by each other, and as such can have an effect on how efficiently you are capable of fighting a fire. When the GPM of a water pump is increased, the PSI goes down, and vice versa for when the PSI is increased. Both are affected by each other. Whether you go with a higher GPM or PSI, it all depends on the job, as well as on the terrain.

Selecting the Correct Size

The size of the pump that you choose all depends upon the job required and the terrain. If your property has steep slopes, tall trees, or saltwater pools, then you may want to invest in a larger water pump that is capable of pumping out large amounts of water. If you don’t know what size pump or hose to get, feel free to contact our application specialists so that they can help you figure out exactly what you need so you can effectively and reliably keep your property and yourself safe from fire.

Selecting Your Hose Size

One part about purchasing a fire fighting water pump that a lot of people probably don’t think about is the hose size. A common hose size is 3/4”, and is generally suited for mop-ups, small maintenance jobs, and other jobs that don’t require as much water. They are easy to operate, and although they may look similar to a normal garden hose, they are much more resistant to higher pressure. A 1” hose finds the ideal blend of manageability and volume. The average user finds the 1” hose easy to hold and move, and it’s not too heavy to use over a long period of time. The final hose size to consider for your fire fighting water pump is a 1.5” hose. This is the hose size that many municipal fire department use (though 2” and even 2.5” are also utilized) and is the best size for fighting a major fire effectively. Just make sure that before you buy one, it’s going to be used for the correct application, and that a 1.5” hose is manageable enough for the task and that the hose you pick matches the discharge port size of your pump.

One of the best things that you can do in trying to find the correct pump for your application is to speak to a professional. Thankfully, we just so happen to know a few here at Absolute Water Pumps! Give us a call at 888-264-2189 and one of our Application Specialists will be more than willing and able to answer any questions that you may have.

See our selection of firefighting pumps here.