Black & Decker Drill Pump Kit with Intake and Discharge Hose

A few weekends ago I needed to empty a stubborn puddle in a shallow crawlspace and later siphon a rain barrel down below a safe level. Instead of dragging out a bulky utility pump, I reached for a compact solution: the Black & Decker drill pump. It’s a palm-sized, thermoplastic pump body with garden-hose fittings that you spin with a drill. Simple idea, surprisingly capable—so long as you respect its limits.

Setup and first impressions

Out of the box you get the pump, a short 30-inch suction tube, a 36-inch discharge hose with a garden-hose-style fitting, and a little adapter tube. The included pieces are useful for priming and quick tests, but plan on pairing the pump with your own standard 3/4-inch garden hoses for real work. The pump itself is featherlight (0.4 lb) and compact enough to toss in a tool bag. The housing is a tough thermoplastic that shrugs off knocks and doesn’t mind getting wet.

Both the intake and discharge ports use garden hose threads, which is the right choice—easy to source, easy to seal. I added a couple wraps of plumber’s tape to the metal hose ends and used hose gaskets to avoid air leaks, which matter a lot with a small impeller.

As for the drill side, any 1/4-inch or larger chuck will clamp to the pump shaft, and the unit is rated up to 2800 RPM. I used a midrange 18V cordless drill (0–2000 RPM) and a corded drill for longer runs. The pump has a clear arrow for rotation direction; spin it backward and you won’t move much water.

Priming and getting started

Self-priming is rated up to 8 feet, but “self-priming” still benefits from a little prep:

• Keep the pump as close to the water source as possible.
• Pre-fill the pump body and suction line with water.
• Ensure airtight connections on the suction side.

With the intake line submerged and the pump wetted, my unit picked up prime in a few seconds. Without pre-wetting, it took longer and occasionally wouldn’t prime at all if the suction run had a high spot trapping air. A simple foot valve or even a coarse mesh sock over the intake helps retain water and block debris.

Performance: what I measured

The published max flow is 225 GPH (about 3.75 GPM). With the cordless drill at full speed and essentially zero head (discharge hose laid flat), I saw between 3.1 and 3.4 GPM measured into a five-gallon bucket with a stopwatch. That’s right in line with the spec.

As head pressure increases, flow drops—predictably. Here’s what I observed using a clear, clean water source:

• 4–6 feet of lift to the discharge: ~2.4–2.8 GPM
• 10–12 feet of lift: ~1.2–1.6 GPM
• 15+ feet: a slow but steady stream, under 1 GPM

I didn’t try to push anywhere near the 45-foot maximum head. Practically speaking, the “max lift” figure is a shutoff head; by the time you approach it, usable flow is nearly zero. For draining a hot tub, kiddie pool, puddle, or rain barrel, though, the output is perfectly serviceable. To frame it: at 3 GPM, moving 100 gallons takes a little over half an hour.

Noise and vibration are minimal; the sound you notice is your drill. Heat buildup is more about the drill than the pump. Running at high RPM continuously will warm a cordless drill quickly. With a 4.0Ah battery, I got roughly 15–25 minutes of mixed operation at high speed. For longer jobs, a corded drill is the better match.

Usability details that matter

• Speed control: You don’t need to peg the trigger. Often, 60–80% of max speed gives good flow without stressing the drill.
• Orientation: Keep the pump horizontal or with the discharge slightly above the intake to discourage air pockets.
• Dry running: Avoid it. A few seconds is fine while catching prime, but extended dry running accelerates wear.
• Debris: This pump is for clean water. Grit, leaves, and sludge will scuff the impeller and stall performance. I use a small strainer or fabric sock over the intake.

One convenience I appreciated is the garden-hose compatibility. Being able to snap on a longer discharge and thread a short pickup hose to a strainer made the setup flexible. The included 30–36 inch tubing is best thought of as priming aids; for any real reach you’ll want full-length hoses.

Where the drill pump shines

• Occasional, light transfer jobs: Draining a hot tub below the jets, emptying a kiddie pool, clearing a puddle from a low spot, lowering a rain barrel ahead of a storm.
• Work in tight spaces: Its small footprint and the ability to keep the motor (your drill) out of standing water is handy in crawlspaces and shallow sumps.
• Portability: It lives in a toolbox and weighs almost nothing. If you already carry a drill, you effectively carry a pump too.
• Quick setup: Garden hose threads, no wiring, no separate power cord—just chuck the shaft and go.

In these cases, the convenience is hard to beat. I had a crawlspace puddle reduced to damp concrete in minutes, then moved on to a rain barrel without changing tools—just hoses.

Where it struggles

• High head or long runs: As head rises, flow falls. If you routinely need to push water up more than a story or across a yard, a dedicated utility pump will be faster.
• Dirty water: This isn’t a trash pump. Sand, silt, and leaves will chew up performance.
• Continuous-duty tasks: Drills aren’t designed to run at high RPM for hours. For long-duration pumping, use a purpose-built pump.
• Included hose length: You’ll almost certainly supply your own longer hoses. Factor that into your plan.

Build and maintenance

The thermoplastic body has held up well to bumps and drops in the truck. After use, I flush the pump with clean water for a minute, spin it briefly to clear, then store it dry. If you’ve pumped chlorinated or soapy water, a quick rinse helps protect the internals. There’s no complex maintenance; it’s essentially a self-contained impeller chamber with a drive shaft. Treat it kindly and avoid abrasive grit, and it should last.

A note on compatibility: Any standard drill with a 1/4-inch or larger chuck will work. Higher RPM yields more flow, within the 2800 RPM ceiling. Torque matters less than speed for this application, but don’t neglect battery capacity; transfer jobs consume runtime quickly.

Practical tips from use

• Prime smart: Fill the suction line and pump body before starting. Keep the suction run as short and straight as you can.
• Seal the suction side: Air leaks kill prime. Use fresh gaskets, plumber’s tape, and tighten fittings snugly, not gorilla-tight.
• Strain the intake: A cheap mesh strainer or even a nylon stocking over the pickup prevents clogging and impeller wear.
• Manage lift: If you can, place the discharge below or level with the pump to reduce head. Gravity helps.
• Mind the drill: Alternate between short high-speed bursts and steady moderate speed to keep temperatures in check on cordless tools.

The bottom line

The Black & Decker drill pump is a smart, packable solution for small water-moving chores. In my hands, it matched its 225 GPH claim at low head, primed reliably with a bit of care, and was flexible thanks to garden-hose threads. It’s not a substitute for a dedicated utility pump if you have to move lots of water over long distances, or if your water is dirty. But for homeowners and DIYers who already own a drill and want an easy way to drain a tub, clear a low spot, or empty a barrel a few times a year, it hits the mark.

Recommendation: I recommend this drill pump for light, occasional water transfer where portability and simplicity matter more than raw throughput. It’s compact, easy to set up, and delivers the advertised performance in realistic scenarios. If your tasks are frequent, involve significant head, or deal with debris, step up to a purpose-built utility or trash pump; otherwise, this little add-on earns its spot in the toolbox.