This hands-on guide is the follow-up to the one where we explain how wind-powered pumping systems work. So if you want to build a complete setup, it’s best to read the guides in order. That way, this one will make perfect sense to you. 😊 Click this link to access the previous guide.

If you’ve already tried to build a windmill water pump, you probably realized that the most complicated part is the water pump itself 😅 And it was the same for me. When I started a few years ago, I had no idea how to make one. But someone once explained it to me in a simple way. And from that day, everything became much easier.

The tricky part is that, as far as I know, there’s no ready-made pump specifically designed for small windmills. But maybe I missed a manufacturer somewhere. So if you know of one that sells this kind of equipment, tell us in the comments below or over on the forum. We’ll be happy to add it here so the whole community can benefit from it.

In the meantime, you’ll see that it’s actually not that hard to make your own piston pump. Plus, it costs next to nothing. In just one or two hours of tinkering, you’ll have a solid and efficient pump ready to connect to your windmill. But before you start, here’s an important detail: this type of pump works perfectly with both vertical-axis and horizontal-axis windmills. And as a bonus, you can even use it as a hand pump. Pretty clever, right?

Why not use a store-bought water pump?

You might be wondering why not just adapt a commercial pump instead of building one yourself. Good question. Here’s the thing: most store-bought pumps are centrifugal pumps. Basically, they work like a small turbine spinning at high speed to create suction. On paper, that sounds great. But in reality, your windmill will never spin fast enough to make this type of pump work properly. And gear multiplication has its limits. So that option doesn’t hold up.

There are also piston pumps, but they’re much rarer. And the problem is that they require a huge amount of torque to operate, far beyond what a small windmill can provide. However, if your goal is to get a high flow rate or pump from deep underground, adapting a commercial piston pump could be a good option. But in that case, you’d need a large windmill mounted on a solid 50-foot structure with reinforced concrete foundations. So let’s be honest: unless you’re a serious maker with a well-equipped workshop, it’s better to call a company specialized in semi-industrial wind pumping systems for that kind of project.

A few tips before you start building your windmill pump

Here’s the plan: we’re going to build a really sturdy piston pump using just a few parts that you can find in almost any hardware store. And even better, you can probably salvage most of them for free if that’s more your style.

Depending on your project, you’ll just need to adjust a few parameters like pumping depth and flow rate so everything works the way you want. But a friendly tip: don’t waste time on complicated math. Start simple, run some tests, and have fun while you do it 😊

The most logical way to begin is by building your pump first. Then you can test it manually to estimate the torque required. Once you have that information, you can size your windmill blades according to the force needed to drive your pump at full output.

How to make a water pump – illustrated guide

Conclusion

You now have everything you need to build a solid piston pump for your windmill. It’s simple, reliable, and entirely made with your own hands. But maybe you have some tips to share or need a bit of advice to help with your build? In that case, feel free to use the comment section just below.

And if this technical guide was helpful and you’d like to see many more like it, please consider buying us a coffee to support the project. And don’t forget to share this guide on your networks to spread the word!