There are many different types of pumps on the market. Not sure whether to choose a centrifugal pump or diaphragm pump? Know the difference between centrifugal pumps and diaphragm pumps before you buy.

The type of pump you'll need will depend on your application, including:

• The type of liquid you wish to pump
• The distance you wish to move the liquid
• The volume you need to achieve over a specific time frame

So it’s important to know how the different types of pump work and which one will be best suited to your task. Here, we look at two popular types of portable water pump: centrifugal pumps and diaphragm pumps.

Diaphragm pumps are recommended for sprayers needing pressures up to 700 psi, including applications like insecticide and fungicide spraying and spraying trees. If you need 100 psi or less for spraying or liquid transfer, consider a centrifugal pump, which will give you the option of higher flow plus these other features:

Centrifugal pumps are simple compared to diaphragm pumps. With so few moving parts, a centrifugal pump needs less maintenance and can last longer than a diaphragm pump. A centrifugal pump has no gearbox, diaphragms, check valves, sight glass, pulsation damper, gear lube, or crankcase oil.
This type of pump is one of the most common in use today. Like other pump designs, it uses an impeller, which is a rotating blade to generate suction which then moves fluid through pipes. The rotating impeller creates what is known as centrifugal force, giving this pump design its name. The pump can be driven by an electric motor or engine.