My Little Adventure with a Battery Water Pump

Okay, so let me tell you about this little gadget I got recently – a battery operated water pump. Wasn't sure what to expect, but I had this specific problem nagging me.

See, I've got this rain barrel tucked away at the far end of my yard. Great for saving water, right? But getting that water out and over to some thirsty plants nearby, without electricity back there, was becoming a real chore. I was lugging heavy watering cans back and forth, back and forth. My back was starting to complain, seriously.

I looked around a bit. Thought about a hand pump, but that still sounded like work. Then I stumbled upon these little battery-powered pumps. Seemed almost too simple. No wires, just drop it in and flip a switch? Decided to grab a basic one online, nothing fancy, just to see if it'd actually work for my situation.

It arrived a few days later. Pulled it out of the box. Pretty simple thing: the pump body, a flexible hose, and the battery pack. First thing, I made sure the battery was fully charged. Plugged that in and waited. Then, I screwed the hose onto the pump outlet. Easy enough.

Putting it to the test...

Took it out to the rain barrel. Dropped the pump end right into the water, making sure it was submerged like the instructions said. Held the hose end over my watering can. Took a breath and flipped the switch on the battery pack.

• Heard a little whirring sound.
• A second later, water started flowing out the hose!
• It wasn't like a fire hose or anything, don't get me wrong. The pressure was modest.
• But it filled up my watering can way faster than dipping it in, and without me having to heave the can out.

I tried pointing the hose directly at some plants about ten feet away. Yeah, it reached, kinda like a gentle shower. Good enough for giving them a drink without blasting them away. I spent about 15 minutes moving water around, filling cans, watering a few spots directly. The pump just kept humming along.

What I Found Out

So, after using it a few times now, here's the real deal from my experience:

The good stuff: It's super convenient for those off-grid spots. Lightweight. Easy to handle. Definitely saved my back from hauling water cans. The battery on mine lasts long enough for the small jobs I need it for – maybe 30-40 minutes total run time before needing a recharge, which is plenty for me.

The not-so-good stuff: The power is okay, but not amazing. Don't expect garden hose pressure. Also, the intake screen on the bottom can get clogged with leaves or gunk if your water source isn't clean (like my rain barrel sometimes). Had to pull it out and clear it once or twice. You also gotta make sure the pump stays underwater or it just sucks air.

Overall? For my specific need – getting water out of that awkward rain barrel easily – it’s been great. It does exactly what I needed it to do, nothing more, nothing less. Solved my problem without breaking the bank or my back. If you need something for heavy-duty, high-pressure work, this ain't it. But for simple water transfer jobs away from power? Yeah, it’s pretty handy to have around.