Davey Pumps Australia

Davey has been making water gear in Australia since 1934, and the brand is now part of the Waterco group. For most people shopping this page, that history matters for one practical reason: parts. A pressure switch, a capacitor or a Torrium2 controller for a Davey unit can be sourced in this country. That is not true of every pump sold here, and it is the difference between a two-day fix and replacing the whole unit.

We carry the Davey range from our Greenfields warehouse in WA and ship Australia-wide. Below is a plain guide to which range does what, so you are not guessing between an XJ and an HM.

Which Davey Range Fits Your Job

• House running off a rainwater tank → XJ or XP pressure systems. Jet-assisted, single stage, most come with a Torrium2 controller fitted.
• High pressure, multiple outlets, or bore water → HM horizontal multistage, with an all-stainless wet end.
• Boosting weak mains pressure → HS or HM systems, or a Torrium2 retrofit on a pump you already own.
• Pond, water feature or continuous circulation → Dynapond submersibles.
• Pit, sump, laundry discharge or drainage → Davey drainage units, and our wider sump pump range.
• Bore → the surface side of most bore setups, plus our submersible bore pumps for the downhole end.

Torrium2: What It Actually Does

A T on the end of a Davey model number means a Torrium2 controller is fitted. It replaces the old pressure switch and does a genuinely different job, so it is worth understanding before you choose.

A conventional pressure switch works between two fixed points. Pressure falls to the cut-in, pump starts; pressure climbs to the cut-out, pump stops. That is why the shower changes temperature when someone starts the washing machine.

Torrium2 reads pressure and flow. It starts the pump on a pressure drop and stops it when flow falls below roughly 1 litre per minute, which means it keeps running through continuing demand instead of switching on and off against it. It cuts in at 80% of the previous shut-off pressure, so pressure comes back quickly rather than sagging first.

Three other behaviours are worth knowing about:

• Dry run protection. If the pump loses prime, the controller stops it rather than letting the seal cook. On a tank that empties in February, this is the feature that saves the pump.
• Auto-retry. After a loss of prime it will attempt to restart on its own, so a tank that refills overnight does not mean a service call.
• Leak detection. It can tell a dripping tap from real demand, and drops its cut-in pressure for very low flows so a leaking cistern does not have the pump starting all night.

You do not have to buy a whole new system to get it. The TT45 and TT70 standalone controllers suit the HP, HM, HS, XP and XJ series, so an older pump on a dying pressure switch can be upgraded. One practical note: pumps with a 1" male outlet, including the XP350, XP450, XJ50, XJ70 and XJ90, need an adaptor socket to mate up. Ask us and we will include it rather than leaving you a part short on install day. Browse the pump controller range.

XJ or HM? The Decision Most People Get Wrong

These two ranges cover overlapping ground, and the cheaper one is often the right answer.

XJ series is a jet-assisted single-stage centrifugal pump. Good flow, moderate pressure, lower price. For a standard home drawing off a tank with a normal number of outlets, an XJ does the job and there is no reward for spending more.

HM series is horizontal multistage with stainless steel pump and hydraulic components throughout. It reaches up to about 69 m of head and 250 litres per minute at the top of the range, tolerates warmer water, and is certified to AS/NZS 4020 — the Australian standard for materials in contact with drinking water. The HM is the right call in three situations: mains-equivalent pressure at several outlets at once, household supply and reticulation running off one system, or bore water.

If you are on scheme water with a normal single-storey house, the HM is usually more pump than you need. If you are on a bore, it is not.

Bore Water and Why the Wet End Matters

Bore water across much of WA carries iron and fine sand. Iron stains fittings and fixtures. Sand is abrasive, and it goes to work on impellers and mechanical seals. A cast iron wet end handles clean rainwater fine and wears noticeably faster on bore water.

That is the whole argument for the stainless HM series on a bore, and it is worth the extra outlay when the alternative is replacing a pump every few years. Sediment filtration ahead of the pump extends life further and costs very little by comparison.

Sizing a bore pump also depends on your standing water level and drawdown, not the depth of the hole. Those are different numbers, and getting them mixed up is the most expensive mistake in this whole category. If you do not have them, ring us before ordering.

Ponds, Sumps and Drainage

The Dynapond submersibles — 7000, 8000 and 15000 — are built for continuous duty, which is the specification that separates a pond pump from a transfer pump used as one. A pump not rated for 24/7 running will not survive a filtration loop for long. The adjustable inlet strainer lets you trim flow without plumbing in a separate valve.

For pits and drainage, vortex-style impellers are what let a pump pass leaf litter and debris without jamming. Compare the Davey units against other brands in our sump pumps collection, and for swimming pools see the pool pump range.

Parts, Controllers and Spares

Most of what shortens a pump's life is a cheap component doing its job badly.

• Pressure tanks — wrong size or lost air charge is the number one cause of short cycling.
• Pressure switches and controls — including the Davey 404129SP through 404132SP range across different pressure bands.
• Motor capacitors — a pump that hums but will not start is usually this, not the motor.
• Float switches — level control for tanks, pits and pump-out duties.
• Pressure transducers — for electronically controlled systems.

If Davey is not the right fit for your job, we would rather say so. We also stock Grundfos and Onga, and there are duties where one of those is the better buy.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the T mean in XJ70T or HM60-08T?

It means a Torrium2 controller is fitted from the factory. Models without the T use a conventional pressure switch and normally need a pressure tank to stop them cycling themselves to death.

My Torrium2 pump pauses briefly while running. Is it faulty?

No, and this catches a lot of people out. After about half an hour of continuous running, Torrium2 briefly stops the pump. It is checking whether water is still genuinely being drawn. Normal behaviour, documented by Davey, and not a fault.

Can I fit a Torrium2 to a pump I already own?

Usually yes. The TT45 and TT70 standalone units suit the HP, HM, HS, XP and XJ series. Pumps with a 1" male outlet — XP350, XP450, XJ50, XJ70, XJ90 — need an adaptor socket as well. Tell us your model and we will confirm what you need before you order. See the controller range.

XJ or HM for a rainwater tank?

For a typical home on tank water, the XJ range is enough. Step up to HM if the tank sits a long way from the house, you are running reticulation off the same system, you need strong pressure at several outlets simultaneously, or you are on bore water. Distance and height from tank to outlet matter more than most people expect.

Can a Davey pump handle bore water?

Yes, with the right model. Choose a stainless wet end such as the HM series rather than cast iron, because iron and fine sand are what wear a pump out. Add sediment filtration ahead of the pump. Give us your standing water level and drawdown and we will size it against those rather than guessing from bore depth.

Do I still need a pressure tank with Torrium2?

The hard requirement goes away, because Torrium2 does not cycle on fixed pressure points the way a switch does. A small tank is still often worth fitting to smooth demand. If your pump uses a conventional pressure switch, a correctly sized and correctly pre-charged tank is not optional.

My pump hums but will not start. What is it?

Nine times out of ten that is a failed start capacitor, not a dead motor. It is a cheap part and a quick swap. Check our motor capacitor range for the replacement, and have the pump's nameplate handy so you match the microfarad rating and voltage.

What warranty applies?

Davey warranty terms vary by product line and are set by Davey, not by us. Keep your invoice, and where electrical connection is involved use a licensed electrician incorrect installation is the most common reason a claim gets knocked back. For the current terms on a specific model, check Davey's warranty information or ask us and we will point you to it.

Do you ship to regional Australia?

Yes, Australia-wide, with free shipping on orders over $100. Larger pumps travel by freight rather than post. If you are remote or working to a deadline, message us before ordering and we will confirm a realistic delivery window instead of guessing.

Not Sure Which One? Ask First

Most pump failures we deal with trace back to selection or installation rather than a faulty pump. An undersized unit short-cycling. A suction line drawing air. A pressure tank with the wrong pre-charge. All of it is cheaper to prevent than to fix.

Tell us where the water is coming from, how far and how high it has to go, and how many outlets you want running at once. That is enough to pick the model. Call (08) 6384 5884 or send us the details. We are at 7 Hampton St, Greenfields WA 6210.