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The short answer on how to use submersible water pump: lower the pump into the water, connect the discharge hose, plug it in, check the flow, and lift it out when the water is gone. A submersible pump sits in the water it moves, so the setup is mostly placement, hose, and power. The steps below walk through each part in order.
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How to use submersible water pump: the quick answer
Lower the pump into the water so the intake sits under the surface, connect the discharge hose and point it where the water should go, plug the pump into a grounded outlet, and check that water flows from the hose. Watch the pump while it runs, and unplug it before you lift it out. Clean the intake screen after use, since debris blocks the flow.
Lower the pump into the water
Set the pump in the water with the intake under the surface and the pump standing upright. A pump that sucks air will not move water, so check that the intake stays covered. For a pool cover, the Little Giant below switches itself on in 2 inches of water and off at 1 inch, so placement sets the working depth. Keep the power cord out of the water where you can, and never lift the pump by the cord.
Connect the hose
Fit the discharge hose to the pump outlet and run it to where the water should go, downhill where you can. The Little Giant below takes a 1 inch discharge with a 3/4 inch garden hose adapter, the AgiiMan below ships with a 16 ft drain hose and 3 adapters, and the Seesii below ships with a 23 ft hose. Tighten the fittings so the hose does not slip off under pressure.
Plug it in and check the flow
Plug the pump into a grounded outlet and check that water flows from the hose end. The AgiiMan below runs on 110V and the Little Giant below on 115V, so match the outlet to the pump. If the flow is weak, lift the pump out, unplug it first, and check the intake screen for debris. Never run a submersible pump dry, since the water cools the motor.
Lift it out and clean it
Unplug the pump before you lift it out of the water. Rinse the intake screen and the pump body, and clear any debris from the screen. The PULACO below comes apart without tools for cleaning, and the Seesii below has a filter bag that blocks small debris. Store the pump dry with the hose drained.
The gear for the job
Using a submersible water pump needs the pump itself and a hose to carry the water away: the Seesii and Little Giant pumps (on Amazon) handle big water removal, the AgiiMan pump (on Amazon) handles pool covers with its hose and adapters, and the PULACO pump (on Amazon) handles small fountains and aquariums.
| # | Product | Solar Score | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Seesii 1HP Submersible Pump | 9.5/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |  AgiiMan 850GPH Pool Pump | 9.5/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |  Little Giant APCP-1700 | 9.5/10 | Buy on Amazon |
| 4 |  PULACO 160GPH Water Pump | 9.4/10 | Buy on Amazon |
Seesii 1HP Submersible Pump
A 1 HP submersible water pump with 4755 GPH, a 36 ft lift height, a 23 ft hose and a 3-year warranty.
Pros
- 4755 GPH with a 1 HP motor
- 36 ft lift height for elevated drainage
- 23 ft hose and adapters included
- Filter bag blocks small debris and reduces clogging
Cons
- No certification is stated in the listing
- No noise figure is stated
- Made for clean and lightly dirty water only
- No dry run protection is stated
Detailed Review
The Seesii example is the pump for big water removal: a 1 HP submersible water pump with 4755 GPH, a 36 ft lift height, a 23 ft hose with adapters, and a 25 ft power cord. The listing states a built-in filter that blocks small debris, PP construction, and a 3-year warranty. The pump suits pools, hot tubs, ponds, flooded basements, rooftops and garden water removal. The listing states no certification, no noise figure and no dry run protection.
Who it's for: owners who need to move a lot of water fast from a pool, a hot tub or a flooded basement. Who should skip it: owners who need a small fountain pump, and owners who need a stated certification.
Its Solar Score of 9.5/10 comes from performance 30/35, build 20/25, value 21/25, safety 0/10 and warranty 2/5: 73 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Flow | 4755 GPH |
|---|---|
| Lift | 36 ft |
| Hose | 23 ft with adapters |
| Power cord | 25 ft |
Taken from the seller's listing on 14 November 2026. Capacity and output figures are rated by the manufacturer.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. This product does not plug in or run on a battery, so safety is not part of its score. 3-year warranty stated. It does not say everything a buyer needs, such as who pays return shipping, so warranty scores 2 of 5. See How We Pick.
Fans and pumps. Keep fingers and cords away from moving blades and intakes, run pumps only submerged as the maker directs, and treat airflow and flow rates as the maker's figures.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
AgiiMan 850GPH Pool Pump
An 850 GPH pool cover pump with a 16 ft drain hose, a 25 ft power cord, 3 adapters and thermal dry run protection.
Pros
- 850 GPH with a 75W motor
- 16 ft drain hose and 3 adapters included
- IPX8 housing with thermal dry run protection
- Mesh screens on 4 sides let water in
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- Title and bullets state the flow in different units
- Maximum water temperature of 95°F is stated
- No handle is stated
Detailed Review
The AgiiMan example is the light pool cover pump: an 850 GPH submersible pump with a 75W motor, a 16 ft drain hose, a 25 ft power cord and 3 adapters. The listing states an IPX8 housing, a built-in temperature control core that prevents dry burning, and mesh screens on 4 sides. The title states 850 GPH while the bullets state a maximum of 3000 L/H and a maximum head of 3.2 m; the flow figures use different units, so compare them with care. The listing states a maximum water temperature of 95°F and no warranty term.
Who it's for: pool owners who need a light pump with a hose and adapters to drain a pool cover. Who should skip it: owners who need a stated warranty, and owners who need more than 850 GPH.
Its Solar Score of 9.5/10 comes from performance 28/35, build 20/25, value 21/25, safety 5/10 and warranty 0/5: 74 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Flow | 850 GPH |
|---|---|
| Motor | 75W, 110V |
| Hose | 16 ft with 3 adapters |
| Power cord | 25 ft |
Taken from the seller's listing on 14 November 2026. Capacity and output figures are rated by the manufacturer.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. IPX8 housing with thermal dry run protection, so safety scores 5 of 10. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.
Fans and pumps. Keep fingers and cords away from moving blades and intakes, run pumps only submerged as the maker directs, and treat airflow and flow rates as the maker's figures.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
Little Giant APCP-1700
An automatic pool cover pump with a 1/3 HP motor, 1700 GPH at 1-ft lift, a float switch and a 3-year warranty.
Pros
- Activates in 2 inches of water and shuts off at 1 inch
- 1700 GPH at 1-ft lift with a 21.5 ft shutoff
- Integrated float switch with a removable intake screen
- 25 ft power cord with a 3/4 inch garden hose adapter
Cons
- Title says 1745 GPH while the bullets state 1700 GPH at 1-ft lift
- No certification is stated in the listing
- No dry run protection is stated
- 1/3 HP motor with no larger option stated
Detailed Review
The Little Giant example is the automatic pool cover pump: a 1/3 HP submersible pump with an integrated float switch, a removable intake screen and a 25 ft power cord. The listing states 115 volts, 60 Hz, 2.2 amps and 270 watts, with a 1 inch discharge and a 3/4 inch garden hose adapter. The pump activates in 2 inches of water and shuts off when the water drops to 1 inch, and the shutoff is 21.5 ft. The title says 1745 GPH while the bullets state 1700 GPH at 1-ft lift; use the bullets' figure. The listing states a 3-year manufacturer warranty and no certification.
Who it's for: pool, boat cover and rooftop owners who want a pump that switches itself on and off with the water level. Who should skip it: owners who need more than 1700 GPH at 1-ft lift, and owners who need a stated certification.
Its Solar Score of 9.5/10 comes from performance 29/35, build 20/25, value 20/25, safety 0/10 and warranty 2/5: 71 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Flow | 1700 GPH at 1-ft lift |
|---|---|
| Motor | 1/3 HP, 270W, 115V |
| Shutoff | 21.5 ft |
| Cord | 25 ft |
Taken from the seller's listing on 14 November 2026. Capacity and output figures are rated by the manufacturer.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. No weather rating or protection feature is stated, so safety scores zero. 3-year manufacturer warranty stated. It does not say everything a buyer needs, such as who pays return shipping, so warranty scores 2 of 5. See How We Pick.
Fans and pumps. Keep fingers and cords away from moving blades and intakes, run pumps only submerged as the maker directs, and treat airflow and flow rates as the maker's figures.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
PULACO 160GPH Water Pump
A small 160 GPH submersible water pump with a 10 watt motor, a 4.0 ft maximum lift and 3.3 ft of silicone tubing.
Pros
- 160 GPH with a 10 watt motor
- Adjustable flow valve sets the flow rate
- Comes apart for cleaning without tools
- 3.3 ft silicone tubing included
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- No certification is stated in the listing
- 4.0 ft maximum lift suits small features only
- No dry run protection is stated
Detailed Review
The PULACO example is the small pump for fountains and aquariums: a 160 GPH submersible water pump with a 10 watt motor, a 4.0 ft maximum lift and an adjustable flow valve. The listing states 600 L/H, 3.3 ft of silicone tubing, and a motor that does not produce much noise. The pump comes apart for cleaning without any tools. The listing states no warranty term, no certification and no dry run protection.
Who it's for: aquarium, pond fountain and indoor water feature owners who need a small quiet pump with adjustable flow. Who should skip it: owners who need more than 160 GPH or more than a 4.0 ft lift, and owners who need a stated warranty.
Its Solar Score of 9.4/10 comes from performance 27/35, build 20/25, value 20/25, safety 0/10 and warranty 0/5: 67 of 100 points, placed on our 9.2 to 9.8 scale.
Key Specifications
| Flow | 160 GPH |
|---|---|
| Motor | 10W |
| Lift | 4.0 ft |
| Tubing | 3.3 ft silicone |
Taken from the seller's listing on 14 November 2026. Capacity and output figures are rated by the manufacturer.
Safety and Warranty
What this listing states. No weather rating or protection feature is stated, so safety scores zero. No warranty term, so warranty scores zero. See How We Pick.
Fans and pumps. Keep fingers and cords away from moving blades and intakes, run pumps only submerged as the maker directs, and treat airflow and flow rates as the maker's figures.
This is general buying information, not professional advice. Follow each product manual and local rules, and see our Safety Disclaimer.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
FAQ: power away from the grid
Can a submersible pump run dry?
No. A submersible pump needs water around it to cool the motor. The AgiiMan below states thermal dry run protection, but the rest state none, so unplug the pump as soon as the water is gone.
How deep can a submersible pump go?
Check the lift the listing states. The Seesii below states a 36 ft lift height, the Little Giant below states a 21.5 ft shutoff, and the PULACO below states a 4.0 ft maximum lift. The depth you need decides the pump.
What hose fits a submersible pump?
Match the hose to the discharge the listing states. The Little Giant below takes a 1 inch discharge with a 3/4 inch garden hose adapter, the AgiiMan below ships with a 16 ft drain hose and 3 adapters, and the Seesii below ships with a 23 ft hose.
Can I use a submersible pump in a flooded basement?
Yes, for clean and lightly dirty water. The Seesii below is made for flooded basements, pools, hot tubs and ponds, and it states a filter bag that blocks small debris. Keep the power cord dry and unplug the pump before you lift it out.
Why is my submersible pump not pumping?
Check the intake screen for debris, check that the intake sits under the water, and check the hose for kinks. A pump that sucks air will not move water, and a clogged screen blocks the flow. If the pump hums but moves no water, unplug it and clean the intake.
Related solar guides
See the best water transfer pump, the best RV water pump, the submersible vs floating solar fountain pump guide and the solar vs electric pond pump guide. For fans and pumps, see every Solar Fans and Pumps guide.
