Pumping water away down to the last millimetres
An ordinary submersible pump stops at a few centimetres of water; the rest you mop up. A flat suction pump keeps drawing down to a residual level of a few millimetres. That saves a lot of work on a flat roof, in a cellar, with a swimming pool being laid up for winter or with residual water after a leak.
What to look at
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Down to what level does it drain? The figure differs per model; see the product page for what the manufacturer states.
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How does it switch? A mechanical float needs room to move. In a small space or at a low level an electronic sensor or an electrode float works better, because you can set it to the millimetre.
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Maintenance. Electrodes and sensors have to stay clean; clean them at least twice a year, otherwise the pump switches unreliably.
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Water quality. Most flat suction pumps are intended for clean to lightly contaminated water. If there is coarse dirt in it, choose a dirty water pump.
You can read more about how they work and how they differ from a standard submersible pump in our article on flat suction submersible pumps.
Do you need to act fast when water comes in? Then look at the emergency kits: pump, hose and couplings in one box.
