Submersible Pumps
When the pit is nasty or the suction is impossible, go submersible. These pumps put the hydraulics in the fluid, eliminating priming issues and cutting through rags, wipes, grit, and sludge. We size sewage non-clog, grinder/cutter, vortex, and agitator slurry models for lift stations, dewatering, stormwater, mining sumps, and industrial wastewater.
- Hydraulics: non-clog, channel, vortex, semi-open, grinder/cutter, agitator slurry
- Protection: dual mechanical seals, seal chamber oil, seal-fail/leak probes, motor thermals
- Packages: guide rails, quick-disconnect base elbows, lifting eyes/chains, NEMA control panels
- Environments: municipal & industrial wastewater, abrasive slurries, sumps, stormwater, mining
Manufacturers We Represent for Submersible
Featured Submersible Products
What Makes Submersible Different (and When It Beats Other Pumps)
How Submersibles Work
- Motor and wet end are hermetically sealed and operate in the fluid.
- Eliminates priming/NPSH drama—great for deep pits, intermittent feeds, and storm surges.
- Seal chamber oil lubricates and cools; leak/thermal probes protect the motor.
Where Submersibles Win
- Municipal & industrial wastewater with rags/wipes and variable flow
- Dewatering & mining—portable, high head, and sand-tolerant options
- Stormwater & flood control—instant start, no suction setup
- Corrosive & hot sumps—SS and special seal options available
Best-Fit Submersible Configurations by Service
| Service | Ideal Configuration | Recommended Brands | Why It Works |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sewage with rags/wipes | Non-clog/channel impeller, large solids passage, cutter or shredder option | Grundfos • Goulds • Gorman-Rupp | Passes or macerates stringy solids to prevent clogging |
| Grease & fibrous wastewater | Vortex hydraulic, open passage, lower efficiency but high reliability | Grundfos • Goulds | Solids clearances avoid binding on stringy materials |
| Abrasive slurries / sand sumps | Agitator slurry submersible, high-chrome wear parts, hardened seals | BJM | Induced agitation keeps solids suspended and moving |
| Deep pit dewatering / mining | High-head submersible, staged impellers, stainless options | Grundfos • Goulds | Compact package produces high TDH without suction limits |
| Corrosive sumps / chemicals | 316SS or coated wetted parts, Viton/EPDM seals as compatible | Grundfos • BJM | Material upgrades extend life in harsh chemistries |
| Hazardous areas | Explosion-proof (XP) motor, proper cabling and panel | BJM • Goulds | Compliant motor packages for classified locations |
Sizing inputs: duty flow/head, solid size & type (rags, grit), temperature, chemistry, pit depth, rail size, power, and any hazardous ratings.
Materials & Performance
Wetted & Wear Sets
- Metals: CI/ductile iron for general wastewater; 316SS for corrosives; high-chrome for abrasives
- Seals: dual mechanical seals (SiC/SiC, TC/TC) in oil chamber; seal-fail probe available
- Elastomers: NBR, EPDM, FKM depending on temperature/chemistry
Real-World Ranges
- Flow: fractional to 3,000+ GPM (model dependent)
- Head: up to hundreds of feet TDH with multistage hydraulics
- Solids: 2–4″ passages typical on non-clog; cutters for stringy loads
- Temp: standard wastewater to elevated (verify seal & cable ratings)
Accessories That Make Submersible Installs Bulletproof
- Guide rail system with base elbow & quick-disconnect to service pumps from the deck
- Level control—floats or submersible pressure transducers; seal-fail/thermal monitoring
- Check & isolation valves in a vented discharge header to protect against slam/backflow
- UL control panels with HOA, soft-start/VFD, phase protection, and alarms
- Lifting chain & eyes with rated hardware and pump tag for safe retrieval
Submersible vs. Other Common Pump Types
| Use Case | Submersible | Self-Priming | End-Suction | Vertical Turbine |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep pits / variable level | Excellent | Fair (needs prime/foot) | Poor (NPSH limits) | Good (pit alterations) |
| Rags, wipes, fibrous | Great with cutter/vortex | Good (trash hydraulics) | Fair | Fair |
| Abrasive slurries | Great (agitator slurry) | Fair/Good | Fair | Fair |
| Maintenance access | Good (rails/lift chain) | Excellent (dry, at grade) | Good | Fair |
| First cost / controls | Moderate | Low | Low/Moderate | Higher |
What We Need to Size Your Submersible (5-Minute Worksheet)
- Duty: target GPM & TDH; static lift; discharge size/length; desired redundancy
- Solids: max size, type (rags, sand, stringy), concentration; H2S exposure
- Pit: depth, plan view, rail size, guide base, sump dimensions & inflow profile
- Power: voltage/phase/available amps; VFD or across-the-line; HOA/alarm needs
- Environment: temperature, chemistry, classified area requirements
Top Submersible Lines We Stock (Placeholders)
Send your pit sketch and duty point—we’ll return curves, rail BOM, panel spec, and a service-friendly package.
Need a Clog-Resistant, Service-Friendly Submersible Package?
We’ll size the hydraulics, rail kit, and panel with seal-fail/thermal monitoring—so your lift station starts clean and stays that way.
Submersible Pump FAQs
Non-clog, vortex, or grinder—how do I choose?
Non-clog/channel gives highest efficiency on typical sewage. Vortex sacrifices efficiency for maximum pass-through on stringy/greasy flows. Grinder/cutter macerates tough rags/wipes to protect small force mains and meters.
What protection should be in my control panel?
Specify seal-fail/leak and thermal inputs, overload/phase protection, and alarms. For varying inflow, consider VFD with level set-points and soft-start to reduce inrush.
How do guide rails work?
A base elbow bolts to the sump discharge. Pumps ride rails with a duckfoot that seals to the elbow when lowered. For service, lift the pump straight up without unbolting piping.
Do I need explosion-proof?
Only if your classified area rating requires it. Provide the class/division/zone and gas group; we’ll match an XP motor, cable, and panel suitable for the location.