Water pump for home: types, head calculation and prices on Prayk

To choose a water pump for your home, answer three questions: where the water comes from, how many metres it has to be lifted, and how many taps run at the same time. A well or tank with the water level within 7–8 metres calls for a surface pump; a deeper borehole needs a submersible pump; a house with weak mains pressure needs a booster set with a pressure tank. Look at flow and head, not at watts.

Short answer: as of 22 September 2026, Prayk's Water pumps section has 133 listings; the median price is 230 AZN and half of the listings sit between 90 and 500 AZN. 76% of the listings are in Baku. A house with one or two bathrooms usually needs 2–3 m³ per hour, and the required head is the sum of the height difference, pipe losses and the pressure you want at the tap.

Which type of pump do you need?

Sellers name pumps in many ways, but by working principle there are five main groups. The first step is to know your water source and level: how deep the water is in the well and how far it drops in summer.

A surface pump draws water thanks to atmospheric pressure: the theoretical limit is about 10 metres, and after pipe and valve losses the practical limit is 7–8 metres. Jet (ejector) models reach a little deeper, at the cost of flow. In a city flat the problem is usually weak pressure rather than a lack of water, so a small booster set fed from a storage tank is the typical fix. Check the rules for connecting a pump directly to the mains supply with your building management or water utility first.

How do you size a pump?

A pump's data sheet has two key figures: flow (Q, m³/h or litres per minute) and head (H, metres). Wattage is only a consequence: of two pumps with the same power, one may deliver high head and the other high flow. Do these two calculations to choose correctly.

Flow: how many outlets run at once?

Not every tap in a house opens at once. Picture the busiest moment: say, a shower, the kitchen tap and the washing machine running together. A shower or kitchen tap typically draws 8–12 litres per minute, a washing machine or toilet cistern 6–10 litres. Three outlets together come to about 30 litres per minute, or 1.8 m³ per hour. That is why 2–3 m³ per hour is usually enough for a house with one or two bathrooms; if the same pump also waters the garden, add the irrigation line's flow.

Head: how high must the water go?

• Height difference — the vertical distance from the water level in the well to the highest tap in the house.
• Pipe losses — a rule of thumb: 1 metre for every 10 metres of horizontal pipe, plus a margin for bends and valves.
• Pressure at the tap — 1.5–2 bar for comfortable use; 1 bar is roughly 10 metres of water column, so 15–20 metres.

Example: the water in the borehole is 12 metres down, the shower on the first floor is 5 metres above ground, and 30 metres of pipe run from the borehole to the house. The sum is 12 + 5 + 3 + 20 = 40 metres. So on the pump's flow–head chart (the Q–H curve), head at 2 m³/h must be at least 40 metres. Because the water is deeper than 8 metres, this house needs a submersible pump, not a surface one. The "maximum head" on the data sheet applies to zero flow — do not treat it as the working head.

The electrical side

Most household pumps run on 220 V. Connect the pump through its own circuit breaker and a residual current device (RCD), and do not skip earthing: where water and electricity meet, this is the basic safety requirement. In areas with frequent voltage drops, a voltage stabiliser extends the motor's life. The electrical connection should be done by a qualified electrician.

How much do water pumps cost on Prayk?

The figures below were measured in the Prayk catalogue on 22 September 2026. Keyword-based groups contain few listings, so they show only the overall range, not a median.

Of the 133 listings, 101 are in Baku, 10 in Digah, 3 each in Saray and Khirdalan and 2 in Sumgayit — almost the entire supply is on the Absheron peninsula, so buyers in the regions should agree on delivery in advance. The 230 AZN median reflects a mix of small used pumps and new sets: the lower end is dominated by small and second-hand surface pumps, the upper end by new submersible pumps and complete booster sets. Browse the listings in the Water pumps section and compare market prices for other goods on the Prices page.

What to check when buying a used pump

• Connect the pump to water in front of the seller and run it: the sound should be even, with no metallic grinding or strong vibration.
• Inspect the housing, the impeller area and the joints for rust, cracks and drips from the seal.
• Signs of overheating or burning on the motor housing can point to dry running.
• Ask about the pressure-tank diaphragm and check the tank's air pressure with a gauge: it is usually set about 0.2 bar below the pressure switch's cut-in point.
• On a submersible pump, check the cable length and insulation and the capacitor box.
• Ask for the model and the data sheet: find the flow–head curve in the manufacturer's official documentation and compare it with your own calculation.

To find other listings of the same pump, use search by photo; the market price indicator on the listing page shows whether the asking price is in line with the market.

Installation and care: what makes a pump last?

• A check valve and a strainer at the end of the suction line keep water from draining back and stop sand and grit from reaching the impeller.
• Dry-run protection (a float switch or pressure relay) turns the pump off when the water runs out — running dry quickly ruins the mechanical seal.
• Winter preparation: drain the surface pump and outdoor pipes in autumn; freezing water cracks the housing.
• Location: dry, ventilated, sheltered from sun and rain, with the pump fixed to a solid base.
• Frequent cycling: if the pump switches on and off every few seconds, the pressure tank is too small or its diaphragm has failed.

If you would rather not install it yourself, find a nearby tradesperson in the Plumbing and utilities services section. Hoses, drip systems and irrigation timers are in Irrigation equipment, and storage tanks in Water tanks, canisters and barrels.

Selling a pump: what to put in the listing

Buyers look first for flow, head, suction depth, power, voltage and installation type. Copy these figures from the data sheet, add a short video of the pump running and state honestly how long it has been in use. More tips are in 8 rules for a listing that sells fast; how to post a listing in about a minute is explained in this guide.

Frequently asked questions

How deep can a surface pump draw water from?

A surface pump draws water thanks to atmospheric pressure, so the real suction lift is no more than 7–8 metres, and less with a long, narrow pipe. If the water is deeper, you need a jet pump set or a submersible pump lowered into the borehole.

How many watts should a home water pump have?

Wattage is not the selection criterion. First work out the flow you need (usually 2–3 m³ per hour for a house with one or two bathrooms) and the head (height difference, pipe losses and 15–20 metres for tap pressure), then find that point on the pump's flow–head chart. The power of the model that reaches that point is the power you need.

What is a pressure tank and why do I need one?

A pressure tank (called "hidrofor" locally) is a diaphragm tank that works together with the pump. It holds a reserve of water and compressed air, so the pump does not start every time you draw a little water and the pressure stays steady. A pump, tank and pressure switch together are called a booster set or pump station.

How much does a water pump cost on Prayk?

As of 22 September 2026, Prayk's Water pumps section has 133 listings; the median price is 230 AZN and half of the listings are between 90 and 500 AZN. New submersible borehole pumps from shops are listed at 600–840 AZN.

What happens if a pump runs dry?

Water lubricates and cools the pump's seal and bearings. Without water these parts overheat and get damaged quickly. That is why well and tank systems should have dry-run protection, either a float switch or a pressure relay.

How do I protect a water pump in winter?

Drain the water from a surface pump and its pipes if they stand outdoors or in an unheated shed, and move the pump indoors if possible. A submersible pump stays under water in the borehole and does not freeze, but the above-ground pipe and pressure switch need insulation.

Sources and methodology

Listing counts and prices come from Prayk's public catalogue API on 22 September 2026: the Water pumps section (all 133 listings), searches for "səthi" (surface) and "hidrofor" within it, a search for "quyu" (well) in the Water pumps and Pumps and compressors sections, and the Pumps and compressors section itself. Medians and ranges (25th–75th percentiles) use only listings priced in AZN; groups with fewer than 15 listings get no median. The hydraulic rules (1 bar ≈ 10 metres of water column, the suction limit of surface pumps, head calculation) are general engineering principles; check the flow–head curve of a specific model in the manufacturer's official technical documentation.