{"id":4394,"date":"2021-01-01T15:12:42","date_gmt":"2021-01-01T20:12:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/brewtogether.com\/?p=4394"},"modified":"2022-04-12T12:46:18","modified_gmt":"2022-04-12T17:46:18","slug":"best-pumps-for-homebrewing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/brewtogether.com\/2021\/01\/01\/best-pumps-for-homebrewing\/","title":{"rendered":"The 5 Best Pumps for Homebrewing [2022]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

There are a lot of equipment investments that homebrewers make over the years, but there aren\u2019t many that improve the experience of brewing as much as adding a pump. It can take a little bit of getting used to, but once you have it down it\u2019s pretty amazing not to be lifting, pouring, and siphoning gallons and gallons of water and wort. With the increasing shift towards electric brewing, especially using all-in-one electric brewing systems<\/a> (here’s a list of our favorites<\/a>), pumps are becoming increasingly common and important in homebreweries. There are a TON of pumps available that span a huge range in terms of price, quality, and features. It can be overwhelming, so we did the research for you! Here are our picks for the best pumps for homebrewing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Considerations When Choosing a Brewing Pump<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are several considerations you should make when choosing a homebrewing pump:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Material<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Pumps are usually made from plastic (often called polysulfone), stainless steel, or a combination of both. Plastic components reduce the price of the pump, but can become brittle over time and the threading on the pump head is prone to damage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

High Temperature<\/strong> Tolerance<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An effective brewing pump needs to be rated for high temperatures so that it can be used for a recirculating mash or even for moving boiling wort to another vessel or through a wort chiller. Most plastic or self-priming pumps aren\u2019t rated for boiling temperatures, though some are able to handle mash temperatures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Self-Priming<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Self-priming pumps are airtight and create suction that pulls the liquid out of the vessel, so they don\u2019t need to be set below the vessel to use the force of gravity to move the liquid. Unfortunately, magnetic drive pumps are not self-priming because they do not suck air sufficiently to pull wort from the vessel. Because of this, self-priming pumps work better for the cold side but are not generally able to be used with hot or boiling wort.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Magnetic Drive<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In a magnetic drive pump, a magnet is attached to the end of the drive shaft and another magnet is attached to the impeller so that the magnetic attraction causes the impeller to spin as the drive shaft does. Using a magnetic drive pump is important because it allows you to restrict the flow of the out-line on the pump with either a ball valve or a compression fitting. This is especially important for recirculating mashes where reducing the flow of wort is imperative to reducing stuck mashes. Unfortunately, magnetic drive pumps do not create air suction, so they are not self-priming. This makes them the best choice for pumping liquid on the hot side.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Connections<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another consideration when choosing a pump is the connections on the pump head. Most pumps come standard with \u00bd” threaded fittings that can be used with standard brewing hoses, but options for heads with barbs or higher-end connections like tri-clamps are available.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maximum Lift<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Maximum lift refers to the maximum height difference between the origin of the liquid and the destination. Consider your brewing setup when determining the amount of lift needed to move the water or wort between vessels to make sure it will have enough power.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Maximum Flow Rate<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Finally, comparing the maximum flow rates of each pump is worth considering, especially if you are brewing larger batches or have a need for a faster, more powerful pump. Most homebrewing pumps have maximum flow rates of about 7-8 gallons per minute (GPM).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Brewing Pumps Comparison Chart<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Affiliate Disclosure<\/strong>: <\/strong>BrewTogether is a participant in various affiliate programs, including the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. Some of the links in this article are affiliate links, which means that if you choose to make a purchase after clicking the link, I will earn a  small commission at no additional cost to you<\/strong>, which helps offset the cost of running BrewTogether. Please feel free to reach out with questions. Thank you so much for your support!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t
<\/th><\/th><\/th><\/th><\/th><\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Pump <\/strong><\/td>RipTide Brewing Pump by Blichmann Engineering<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Chugger Pumps X-Dry Series<\/a><\/strong><\/td>March Pump - Polysulphone<\/a><\/strong><\/td>Chugger Pump - Polysulphone<\/a><\/strong><\/td>MKII High Temp Magnetic Drive Pump<\/a><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Image<\/strong><\/td>\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"\"
Price<\/strong><\/td>$199.99<\/a><\/td>$179.99<\/a><\/td>$179.99<\/a><\/td>$129.99<\/a><\/td>$74.99<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maximum Flow Rate <\/strong><\/td>7 GPM<\/td>7 GPM<\/td>7 GPM<\/td>7 GPM<\/td>5 GPM<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Maximum Lift <\/strong><\/td>21 feet<\/td>18.6 feet<\/td>18 feet<\/td>18.9 feet<\/td>11 feet<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Material <\/strong><\/td>Stainless Steel<\/td>Stainless Steel<\/td>Polysulphone<\/td>Polysulphone<\/td>Polysulphone. Optional stainless steel head available for $29.99<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Heat Tolerance <\/strong><\/td>Heat resistant to boiling temperatures<\/td>Heat resistant to 250\u00b0 F<\/td>Heat resistant to boiling temperatures<\/td>Heat resistant to 250\u00b0 F<\/td>Heat resistant to mash and post-boiling temperatures<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Drive Type <\/strong><\/td>Magnetic Drive<\/td>Magnetic Drive<\/td>Magnetic Drive<\/td>Magnetic Drive<\/td>Magnetic Drive<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Self-Priming? <\/strong><\/td>Not self-priming, but includes air-release valve that makes priming easy<\/td>Not self-priming, but has dry-run protection from a carbon bearing included<\/td>Not self-priming<\/td>Not self-priming<\/td>Not self-priming<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Connection Type <\/strong><\/td>1\/2\" NPT inlet and outlet connections come standard, Tri-clamp version and upgrade kit are available<\/a><\/td>1\/2\" NPT inlet and outlet connections<\/td>1\/2\" NPT inlet and outlet connections <\/td>1\/2\" NPT inlet and outlet connections <\/td>1\/2\" NPT inlet and outlet connections <\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n\n\n\n\n

The Best Pumps for Homebrewing<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Best Overall: <\/strong>RipTide Brewing Pump by Blichmann Engineering<\/strong> – $199.99<\/a><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The single most recommended pump for homebrewing is the RipTide Brewing Pump by Blichmann Engineering<\/a>. It has the most built-in features of any pump on this list, making the $199.99 price point<\/a> less expensive than it initially seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The RipTide <\/a>features a built-in flow control valve, eliminating the need for an in-line ball valve or compression flow restrictor. It also includes a built-in pull-valve that releases air from the head, which allows you to prime the pump easily and reduces cavitation (the production of bubbles in the pump).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Its metal construction and stainless steel head are built to last, and the impeller is spun using rare earth magnets that form a strong magnetic connection. The RipTide <\/a>comes standard with \u00bd\u201d NPT inlet and outlet connections that connect to standard brewing lines, but there is a tri-clamp version<\/a> and a standalone tri-clamp upgrade kit<\/a> available as well. With a max flow rate of 7 GPM and a max lift of 21 feet, the RipTide <\/a>can handle large batches and moves wort efficiently on larger systems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Overall, the RipTide <\/a>is an incredibly well-built pump that you definitely won\u2019t regret investing in if it fits your budget.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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