 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Before buy a snowmaking pump from us or another
manufacturer, it is important to understand how
snowmaking pumps work and what is required to operate
them. Buying just any snowmaking pump can cause
unwanted headaches and expenses down the road if
you do not do your research.
This guide will explain everything you need to know
about buying and selecting a snowmaking pump. We
also explain the advantages of using a snowmaking
pump over a pressure washer. If you still have any
questions, please feel free to contact us and we would
be happy to assist you.
manufacturer, it is important to understand how
snowmaking pumps work and what is required to operate
them. Buying just any snowmaking pump can cause
unwanted headaches and expenses down the road if
you do not do your research.
This guide will explain everything you need to know
about buying and selecting a snowmaking pump. We
also explain the advantages of using a snowmaking
pump over a pressure washer. If you still have any
questions, please feel free to contact us and we would
be happy to assist you.
What are the advantages of using a snowmaking pump over a pressure washer?
Simply put snowmaking pumps are designed specifically for making snow. This means they allow your
snowmaker to run as efficiently as possible. While you can use a pressure washer in place of a snowmaking
Simply put snowmaking pumps are designed specifically for making snow. This means they allow your
snowmaker to run as efficiently as possible. While you can use a pressure washer in place of a snowmaking
pump, it will not allow your snowmaker to run as efficiently as it could with a snowmaking pump. Snowmaking pumps operate at a higher flow rate and
lower pressure than pressure washers do. The higher flow rate allows you to make more snow because you are flowing more water to the snowmaker.
The lower water pressure prevents evaporation from occurring. Evaporation is very common when you use a pressure washer above 2200psi with your
snowmaker.
Evaporation occurs when the water pressure inside your snowmaker exceeds the desired water pressure for snowmaking. If the water pressure gets
too high inside of the snowmaker, some of the water droplets flash evaporate into the surrounding air as they exit the snowmaking nozzles. When these
water droplets evaporate they do not fall to the ground as snow. If you have a very powerful pressure washer above 3000psi and cannot regulate down
your pumps pressure, you lose a considerable amount of water to evaporation which cuts back on how much snow you can make.
Your Household Water Flow Rate (VERY IMPORTANT)
This is probably the most important part of buying a snowmaking pump and you should make sure you fully understand this section. The biggest factor
in determining how much snow you can make is how much water your pressure washer or snowmaking pump flows. The more water the pump flows, the
more snow you can make. The biggest mistake you can make in buying a snowmaking pump is purchasing one that flows more water than your house
can supply. When this happens you end up with a very expensive snowmaking pump that you cannot use or return since it was custom made.
The flow rate of water is measured in "gallons of water per minute" or more commonly known and referred to as "GPM". Before purchasing a
snowmaking pump, you need to know your household water flow rate. This is to make sure you can supply enough water for the snowmaking pump you
wish to purchase. Household water flow rates vary from house to house, especially if you are on well water and not city water. If your garden hose
faucet can only flow 5 GPM of water then you cannot purchase a snowmaking pump that flows 7 GPM, it's that simple. This is because the snowmaking
pump is demanding more water than what your water faucet can provide.
Only you will be able to determine what your household water flow rate is. Chances are if you have a very low flow rate of water at your home, you are
already aware of it and know what your water flow rate is. If you are unsure about what your water flow rate is, you can test it very easily on your own.
Simply hook a garden hose up to your water faucet and remove any attachments you have installed on the end of your garden hose. Open the water
spigot all the way and time how many seconds it takes to fill an empty 1 gallon jug to the top with water. Take this number and divide it by 60 to
determine how many gallons per minute your water faucet flows.
Here are some examples:
60 divided by 15 seconds to fill a one gallon jug = 4gpm water faucet flow rate
60 divided by 10 seconds to fill a one gallon jug = 6gpm water faucet flow rate
As long as your water faucet can provide at least the same flow rate as your snowmaking pump you will be fine. If you purchase a snowmaking pump
that flows more water than your faucet can provide, the snowmaking pump will not work and could be permanently damaged. We always recommend
giving yourself a buffer between your water faucet and pump flow rates just to be safe.
Important Note to People with Well Water
Running a very high flow rate pump for prolonged periods of time, such as for overnight snowmaking runs, can cause your well to run itself dry. This
means your well will no longer supply your house with water and you may need to drill a new well which can be very expensive. We urge extreme
caution to those who have well water and if you are concerned at all about running your well dry that you stick to a lower flow rate pump or pressure
washer that does not exceed 3gpm.
Gas vs. Electric Drive Snowmaking Pumps
Gas snowmaking pumps are the most popular since they are the least expensive and require no special outlets or wiring like electric snowmaking
pumps. The downside to a gas pump is the fact that it is very noisy, which isn't ideal if you live close to your neighbors and plan to make snow late at
night. Electric pumps are the quietest, but will require a 230 volt outlet to be installed and have the proper plug for your outlet installed onto your
pumps power cord. Gas snowmaking pumps are ideal for making snow in locations where there are no nearby power outlets but they will require
re-fueling every few hours. These are all factors to consider before purchasing a snowmaking pump.
Power Requirements for Electric Drive Pumps
If you plan on purchasing an electric snowmaking pump you will need to have a 230 volt outlet installed to power the snowmaking pump, unless you
purchase our 3 GPM Snowmaking Pump which runs on 115 volts. This should be done by a LICENSED ELECTRICIAN only for your safety and to
ensure the outlet complies with your local building codes. For your safety, all electric snowmaking pumps are not shipped with a plug on the end of the
power cord. This is to ensure an electrician properly installs the outlet and the proper plug for the outlet they installed.
Depending on where you live and where you want your outlet installed it should cost an average of $150 to $300 for an electrician to install your outlet
and power cord. Before buying an electric pump, your best bet is to contact an electrician in your area for an estimate of the total cost. If you do not
want to have an electrician install an outlet or power cord, we suggest our gas snowmaking pumps instead.
Shipping Your Snowmaking Pump to a Residence
Due to the weight and size of our snowmaking pumps they are shipped truck freight. Lift gate service is included in the freight price in case you are
shipping to a residence or a commercial location without a shipping dock. The trucking company will lower your snowmaking pump to the ground from
the back of the truck. Once they get it to the ground, it becomes your responsibility to move it.
The trucking company will contact you a few days prior to delivery to schedule a delivery date and time. Please note any damage on the bill of lading
when signing for the shipment. If you fail to note any damage on the bill of lading, there is nothing you or we can do to be reimbursed for the damaged
shipment. Please inspect all packages that arrive carefully before signing.
lower pressure than pressure washers do. The higher flow rate allows you to make more snow because you are flowing more water to the snowmaker.
The lower water pressure prevents evaporation from occurring. Evaporation is very common when you use a pressure washer above 2200psi with your
snowmaker.
Evaporation occurs when the water pressure inside your snowmaker exceeds the desired water pressure for snowmaking. If the water pressure gets
too high inside of the snowmaker, some of the water droplets flash evaporate into the surrounding air as they exit the snowmaking nozzles. When these
water droplets evaporate they do not fall to the ground as snow. If you have a very powerful pressure washer above 3000psi and cannot regulate down
your pumps pressure, you lose a considerable amount of water to evaporation which cuts back on how much snow you can make.
Your Household Water Flow Rate (VERY IMPORTANT)
This is probably the most important part of buying a snowmaking pump and you should make sure you fully understand this section. The biggest factor
in determining how much snow you can make is how much water your pressure washer or snowmaking pump flows. The more water the pump flows, the
more snow you can make. The biggest mistake you can make in buying a snowmaking pump is purchasing one that flows more water than your house
can supply. When this happens you end up with a very expensive snowmaking pump that you cannot use or return since it was custom made.
The flow rate of water is measured in "gallons of water per minute" or more commonly known and referred to as "GPM". Before purchasing a
snowmaking pump, you need to know your household water flow rate. This is to make sure you can supply enough water for the snowmaking pump you
wish to purchase. Household water flow rates vary from house to house, especially if you are on well water and not city water. If your garden hose
faucet can only flow 5 GPM of water then you cannot purchase a snowmaking pump that flows 7 GPM, it's that simple. This is because the snowmaking
pump is demanding more water than what your water faucet can provide.
Only you will be able to determine what your household water flow rate is. Chances are if you have a very low flow rate of water at your home, you are
already aware of it and know what your water flow rate is. If you are unsure about what your water flow rate is, you can test it very easily on your own.
Simply hook a garden hose up to your water faucet and remove any attachments you have installed on the end of your garden hose. Open the water
spigot all the way and time how many seconds it takes to fill an empty 1 gallon jug to the top with water. Take this number and divide it by 60 to
determine how many gallons per minute your water faucet flows.
Here are some examples:
60 divided by 15 seconds to fill a one gallon jug = 4gpm water faucet flow rate
60 divided by 10 seconds to fill a one gallon jug = 6gpm water faucet flow rate
As long as your water faucet can provide at least the same flow rate as your snowmaking pump you will be fine. If you purchase a snowmaking pump
that flows more water than your faucet can provide, the snowmaking pump will not work and could be permanently damaged. We always recommend
giving yourself a buffer between your water faucet and pump flow rates just to be safe.
Important Note to People with Well Water
Running a very high flow rate pump for prolonged periods of time, such as for overnight snowmaking runs, can cause your well to run itself dry. This
means your well will no longer supply your house with water and you may need to drill a new well which can be very expensive. We urge extreme
caution to those who have well water and if you are concerned at all about running your well dry that you stick to a lower flow rate pump or pressure
washer that does not exceed 3gpm.
Gas vs. Electric Drive Snowmaking Pumps
Gas snowmaking pumps are the most popular since they are the least expensive and require no special outlets or wiring like electric snowmaking
pumps. The downside to a gas pump is the fact that it is very noisy, which isn't ideal if you live close to your neighbors and plan to make snow late at
night. Electric pumps are the quietest, but will require a 230 volt outlet to be installed and have the proper plug for your outlet installed onto your
pumps power cord. Gas snowmaking pumps are ideal for making snow in locations where there are no nearby power outlets but they will require
re-fueling every few hours. These are all factors to consider before purchasing a snowmaking pump.
Power Requirements for Electric Drive Pumps
If you plan on purchasing an electric snowmaking pump you will need to have a 230 volt outlet installed to power the snowmaking pump, unless you
purchase our 3 GPM Snowmaking Pump which runs on 115 volts. This should be done by a LICENSED ELECTRICIAN only for your safety and to
ensure the outlet complies with your local building codes. For your safety, all electric snowmaking pumps are not shipped with a plug on the end of the
power cord. This is to ensure an electrician properly installs the outlet and the proper plug for the outlet they installed.
Depending on where you live and where you want your outlet installed it should cost an average of $150 to $300 for an electrician to install your outlet
and power cord. Before buying an electric pump, your best bet is to contact an electrician in your area for an estimate of the total cost. If you do not
want to have an electrician install an outlet or power cord, we suggest our gas snowmaking pumps instead.
Shipping Your Snowmaking Pump to a Residence
Due to the weight and size of our snowmaking pumps they are shipped truck freight. Lift gate service is included in the freight price in case you are
shipping to a residence or a commercial location without a shipping dock. The trucking company will lower your snowmaking pump to the ground from
the back of the truck. Once they get it to the ground, it becomes your responsibility to move it.
The trucking company will contact you a few days prior to delivery to schedule a delivery date and time. Please note any damage on the bill of lading
when signing for the shipment. If you fail to note any damage on the bill of lading, there is nothing you or we can do to be reimbursed for the damaged
shipment. Please inspect all packages that arrive carefully before signing.
| SnowStorm Snowmaking PO Box 633 Orefield, PA 18069 Phone: 610-481-9696 Email: contact@snowstormsnowmaking.com WE ARE THE HOME SNOWMAKING EXPERTS! Entire Contents Copyright 2005-2012 SnowStorm Snowmaking, LLC |
| 2011-2012 Home Snowmaking Season |
| Selecting a Home Snowmaking Pump |
We Are the Home Snowmaking Experts! Affordable & Easy to Use Home Snow Makers Phone: 610-481-9696 |