Hydraulic Head Pressure Calculator

Please Use Our Hydraulic Head Pressure Calculator If You are Buying a Solar Water Pump

Knowing the correct Head Pressure you need is critical to buying a pump that will meet your needs.

Head pressure is not the same as its Gallon Per Hour capacity.

Head Pressure Capacity is not the same as the height of spray created by a pump, because pipes/tubes, bends and connectors all come into play must be considered. 

Go Directly to Calculator

If you understand how head pressure works and its importance when selecting the right pump, skip the following text and Go Directly to Head Pressure Calculator. If you need help using the calculator or applying it to your project, please contact us. 

Our Head Pressure Calculator factors in the resistance a pump must overcome to push water effectively throughout your water feature, particularly different levels or through piping, bends and any fittings between the piping/tubes and the pump. 

Ways to Reduce Hydraulic Requirements

Often rethinking your design will allow a solar pump to work effectively. Water in waterfalls, for example, often look most natural when the flow gently falls rather than being pushed through the fall. (Another tip: lots of people leave the stone where the water falls tipped down. For a more natural look and sound, the stone should actually be flat or even tipped up a couple of degrees.)

Some rethinking how you place your hoses and fittings will considerably lower head pressure. There are lots of things you can do with most fountains or water falls to reduce the hydraulic requirements. Sometimes a solar pump will not do what you want it do (especially for very high waterfalls) but you'd be surprised how often solar pumps can produce the effect you want.

If you enter the numbers and you see a head pressure that is higher than our pumps, there are things you can do:

• Reconfigure the design to shorten the conduit/hoses
  • If the pond is deep enough, place it on a rock or concrete block base. This will take a few inches out of the requirements and keep the pump off of the bottom where silt often accumulates.
  • Move the pump as close as possible to the water feature. Just make sure the water is deep enough to fully cover the pump, account for evaporating water, and that the intake valves aren't blocked.
• Configure design for less bends or connectors. You'll always need at least one connector to connect the pump to the hose. Try to avoid extra T-bends or sharp angles and you'll lessen the hydraulic demand.
• Moving water around bends or up through stones to create a waterfall does mean extra connections and bends than a more simple fountain.
• As much as you can, use one long conduit instead of configurations with T-bends. You may need to secure the tube so it doesn't move against the stones as water moves through the conduit, which over time will destroy most pumps
• The easiest (and cheapest thing) you can do is to use flexible polyvinyl tubing instead of copper pipes. Just make sure the tube doesn't crimp or get squashed by the rocks used to create the waterfall.  

Another trick is to get a smaller diameter hose. While you may need to add a connector to make it work with the diameter of the pump's valve, smaller diameter hoses have higher head pressure. 

Think of a toothpaste tube: the smaller the hole, the thinner but longer the strip of toothpaste when the tube is squeezed. A wider hole will create a thicker but shorter strip of toothpaste when the same pressure is applied.

Call us for suggestions. Along with our own experience, we often hear tips that other customers have used to get the most out of their solar water pump.

Importance of Accurately Estimating Head Pressure 

Head pressure is one of the most important factors to determine the strength of pump necessary for the effect you want. Using the diagram shown, please enter your numbers into the calculator below, and you'll find out the minimum head pressure recommended for your water feature.

Our calculator lets you enter information necessary to plan your water features (including pumps, tubes and fittings) and to replace pumps that have worn out. It factors in key information such as length of vertical lift, length of pipes or tubing, and the numbers of fitters, bends.

Important note:
Almost all of our pumps are variable: you can always turn a pump down to decrease hydraulic pressure, but you can't increase hydraulic pressure beyond a pump's maximum capacity. 

It's usually best to purchase a pump a bit stronger than what you need, since you may find that assembling your water feature may require extra hose/piping length or connectors that will increase the demand upon the pump and so it works well when sun conditions are less than ideal.

If you have any questions about what pump is best for you, how to use this calculator for your planned or existing water feature, please contact us by calling Toll Free: (866) 686-6903 or emailing info@SolarFlairLighting.com and we'll be happy to review your specifications and recommend your best option.

Head Pressure Calculator

Enter Vertical Lift/Height (Water Surface to Top of Tier or Waterfall) in Feet: 

Enter the Length of Pipe/Tubing (in Feet):

Enter Amount of 90 Degree Bends and/or "T-bends" To Be Used:

Enter Number of Other Fittings:

You Should Buy a Pump with Head Pressure of at Least: feet