Multi Stage Pumps

Multi Stage Pumps NZ

GoodsDirect2U stocks Aquastrong multi stage pumps for New Zealand homes, lifestyle blocks, farms, irrigation systems, tanks and clean water pressure applications. Multi stage pumps are electric water pumps designed to produce strong pressure by using multiple impellers and diffuser stages inside the pump.

Compared with many jet pump setups, a multi stage pump can often deliver strong pressure and flow with lower power use, especially where water is already feeding into the pump and suction lift is not required. They are also often quieter than jet pumps, which can make them a good option when the pump is installed near a house, garage, shed or living area.

About Aquastrong Multi Stage Pumps

Aquastrong is a dedicated water pump brand based in Italy and established in the 1990s, with pump products for domestic, garden, agricultural and commercial water applications. The Aquastrong electric pump range includes multi stage pumps, jet pumps, booster pumps, deep well jet pumps, variable speed pumps, centrifugal pumps, submersible pumps and sewage pumps.

GoodsDirect2U supplies Aquastrong multi stage pumps in New Zealand for suitable household pressure systems, tank water supply, pressure boosting, irrigation and clean water transfer. Choosing the right Aquastrong multi stage pump depends on the water source, pipe size, required flow rate, required pressure, pump head and whether the pump has positive water feed.

What Is a Multi Stage Pump?

A multi stage pump uses several impellers and diffuser assemblies, also called stages, to increase water pressure as water passes through the pump. Each stage helps add pressure, allowing the pump to deliver higher pressure than many single-stage pump designs.

Multi stage pumps are commonly used where steady pressure is important. They can be useful for household water supply, pressure boosting, irrigation, garden watering, tank water systems and clean water transfer where the pump has water feeding into it.

Most multi stage pumps are not self-priming, so they are generally not designed to suck water up from below the pump. For best results, they should usually be gravity fed or supplied with positive inlet pressure.

When Is a Multi Stage Pump the Best Choice?

A multi stage pump is often a good choice when the water source is already feeding into the pump. For example, if you have an above-ground water tank with the outlet at the bottom of the tank and the pump installed near the base of the tank, the pump may have positive head pressure available.

In this type of setup, a multi stage pump can be a strong option because it does not need to work hard to suck water up before pumping it out. This can help the pump deliver better pressure and flow for the power used.

Multi stage pumps can also be a good option where noise matters. If the pump is installed close to a house, garage, workshop, shed or living area, a multi stage pump may be a quieter option than a jet pump.

Common Uses for Multi Stage Pumps

• Household water pressure: Suitable for clean water pressure systems where water is already feeding into the pump.
• Tank water supply: Useful where an above-ground tank can gravity feed water into the pump.
• Pressure boosting: Can help improve pressure in suitable water supply systems.
• Garden irrigation: Useful for garden watering, small irrigation systems and outdoor water supply where flow and pressure are required.
• Lifestyle blocks: Suitable for clean water transfer, pressure supply and general water use where the pump has positive inlet pressure.
• Clean water transfer: Can move clean water efficiently where higher pressure is needed and the pump does not need to self-prime.

Positive Head and Gravity Feed

Positive head means water is already available at the pump inlet, usually because the water source is above the pump or feeding into the pump by gravity. This is important for most multi stage pumps because they are generally not self-priming.

For example, if a water tank sits above or beside the pump and the tank outlet feeds directly into the pump inlet, this may be a positive head setup. This is different from a suction lift setup, where the pump has to draw water up from below the pump.

For best results, keep the inlet pipe correctly sized, avoid unnecessary restrictions, and do not reduce the suction or inlet pipe below the recommended size unless the pump specifications allow it. Restricted inlet pipework can reduce flow, increase noise and affect pump performance.

Multi Stage Pumps vs Jet Pumps

A jet pump is usually the better choice when suction lift is required and the pump needs to draw water up from below. Jet pumps are self-priming surface pumps and are one of the most popular options for household tank water systems where the pump is above the water level.

A multi stage pump is usually the better choice where water is already feeding into the pump and suction lift is not required. In this type of setup, a multi stage pump can often provide strong pressure and flow with lower power use than a similar jet pump setup.

Multi stage pumps are also often quieter than jet pumps. If the pump will be installed near a house, garage, shed or living area, this can be an important reason to choose a multi stage pump over a jet pump.

Multi Stage Pumps vs Centrifugal Pumps

A centrifugal pump is often used for clean water transfer where water is already feeding into the pump. It can be a good option for moving water, filling tanks or general transfer jobs where high pressure is not the main requirement.

A multi stage pump is generally a better choice where more pressure is needed. Because it uses multiple stages, it can build higher pressure than many basic centrifugal pump setups, making it useful for pressure boosting, house water supply and irrigation applications.

Variable Speed Multi Stage Pumps

Some multi stage pump setups include variable speed operation. A variable speed pump can adjust motor speed depending on how much water is being used. Instead of running at full speed every time water is required, the pump can slow down for lower demand and increase speed when more water is needed.

This can help maintain more consistent water pressure when taps, showers, hoses or irrigation outlets are turned on and off. In suitable systems, variable speed operation may also reduce pressure fluctuations, reduce pump cycling, reduce stress on pipework and fittings, and reduce power use compared with a standard fixed-speed pump setup.

Variable speed pumps can also be much quieter than many standard pump setups, especially when only a small amount of water is being used. This can make them a good option when the pump is installed close to the house, garage or living area.

Pressure Switches for Multi Stage Pumps

A pressure switch helps a multi stage pump start and stop automatically as water is required. Without a pressure switch, flow sensor or suitable controller, a pump may continue running instead of turning on and off on demand.

A pressure switch is normally installed after the pump outlet. When pressure drops because a tap, shower, hose or outlet is opened, the pressure switch can turn the pump on. When water stops flowing and pressure recovers, the pressure switch can turn the pump off again.

When choosing a pressure switch, make sure it is suitable for the pump’s power requirements, pressure range, pipe size and application. Matching the pressure switch output power range to the pump’s overall power requirement is important.

Pressure Tanks and Multi Stage Pumps

A pressure tank can be used with a suitable pressure switch to reduce how often the pump starts and stops. This can be useful in household water systems where small amounts of water are used often, such as washing hands, filling a glass or a toilet cistern refilling.

By storing pressurised water, a pressure tank can reduce pump cycling, reduce wear and tear, reduce noise during small water draws and help extend the life of the pump. Because pumps use extra power when starting, reducing unnecessary starts may also help reduce power use in suitable systems.

The correct pressure tank size depends on the pump, water use, pressure settings, available space and how often small amounts of water are used.

Choosing the Right Multi Stage Pump

Before choosing a multi stage pump, check your water source, pipe size, required flow rate, required pressure, vertical lift, pipe length, filters, fittings and total head. The maximum flow rate shown on a product listing is usually measured at low head, so real-world flow will reduce as head and pressure increase.

Use the pump curve on the product listing to check how much flow the pump can supply at the head required for your setup. If you are unsure how to work this out, read our Water Pump Flow Rate & Head Guide.

If the pump needs to suck water up from below, a multi stage pump may not be suitable. In that case, look at a jet pump, deep well jet pump or suitable submersible pump instead.

Multi Stage Pump FAQs

What is a multi stage pump?

A multi stage pump is a water pump that uses multiple impellers and diffuser stages to increase water pressure. Each stage helps add pressure as water moves through the pump.

What is a multi stage pump used for?

Multi stage pumps are commonly used for household water pressure, tank water supply, pressure boosting, irrigation, garden watering and clean water transfer where water is already feeding into the pump.

Are multi stage pumps self-priming?

Most multi stage pumps are not self-priming. They are usually best where the pump has positive water feed or gravity feed. If the pump needs to suck water up from below, a jet pump or deep well jet pump may be more suitable.

What is positive head pressure?

Positive head pressure means water is already available at the pump inlet, often because the water source is above the pump or feeding into the pump by gravity. This is the ideal setup for many multi stage pumps.

Are multi stage pumps quieter than jet pumps?

Multi stage pumps are often quieter than jet pumps. This can make them a good option when the pump is installed near a house, garage, shed or living area.

Are multi stage pumps more efficient than jet pumps?

In many positive head setups, a multi stage pump can deliver strong pressure and flow with lower power use compared with a similar jet pump setup. Jet pumps are still the better option when suction lift is required.

What is the difference between a jet pump and a multi stage pump?

A jet pump is usually better when the pump needs to draw water up from below. A multi stage pump is usually better when water is already feeding into the pump and strong pressure, quieter operation or better performance for the power used is preferred.

What is a variable speed multi stage pump?

A variable speed multi stage pump can adjust motor speed depending on water demand. This helps maintain more consistent pressure and can reduce noise, pump cycling and power use in suitable systems.

Do I need a pressure switch with a multi stage pump?

A pressure switch is commonly used when a multi stage pump is part of an automatic household or pressure system. It helps the pump turn on when water is used and turn off when pressure recovers.

Do I need a pressure tank with a multi stage pump?

A pressure tank is not always required, but it can be useful in household water systems. It can reduce pump starts, reduce wear and tear, reduce noise during small water draws and help extend pump life.

Can a multi stage pump be used for dirty water?

Multi stage pumps are generally designed for clean water or non-aggressive liquids. They are not suitable for sewage, sludge, sand-heavy water or abrasive liquids unless the product listing specifically says the pump is designed for that use.

Are Aquastrong multi stage pumps good?

Aquastrong is a dedicated water pump brand based in Italy and established in the 1990s, with pump products for domestic, garden, agricultural and commercial water applications. GoodsDirect2U supplies Aquastrong multi stage pumps in New Zealand for suitable clean water pressure, tank water, irrigation and pressure boosting applications.