How to Decide Between A Rotorflush Submersible Filterpump or a Rotorflush Self-cleaning Filter

Siu Seljandi

Published 31st Mar 2026

If you are having difficulty maintaining a hassle-free flow of water through your pump because of weed, debris, leaves, or any other contaminant clogging the system, yes, you've come to the right place. Rotorflush Filters Ltd design, manufacture and supply the answer to your problems - self-cleaning suction intake filters and strainers for water pumps.

The Rotorflush self-cleaning filter was invented to stop pumps and spray bars and nozzles from clogging up and blocking if the water being pumped is less than crystal clear.

Self-cleaning Filters

The first Rotorflush self-cleaning suction intake filters and strainers were designed for use on the suction pipe of surface mounted pumps. The first screens were fairly coarse - 3 and 6 mm aperture screens. The design principle worked, the screens and filters are scale-able, and depending on flow rate can be fitted with filter mesh from 50 microns apertures upwards.

These screens have continued to evolve in size and construction but the self-cleaning mechanism at the heart of every Rotorflush is essentially the same design. See this informative article explaining what Rotorflush self-cleaning filters are, and how they work.

Filterpumps™

A surface mounted pump is not always the most suitable for some pumping applications. Rising to the challenge of using a self-cleaning intake with submersible centrifugal pumps, Rotorflush Filters invented the Filterpump™, a submersible pump with an integral self-cleaning suction intake.

These are the only electric submersible centrifugal pumps with effective integral screening. See this informative article explaining what Rotorflush Filterpumps™ are, and how they work.

Deciding whether to instal a Rotorflush self-cleaning suction intake on a surface mounted pump or whether to use a Rotorflush submersible filter pump with a built-in self-cleaning intake depends on many factors. Our wide range of products means it is possible to choose the best self-cleaning intake product to suit most projects or applications.

In our experience no two pumping and screening applications are ever the same; there is too much variability in location, purpose, water quality, volume, pressure, depth. Understanding these factors can help in deciding which Rotorflush product is most suitable.

These are some of the considerations that will inform the best approach to meeting a particular application requirement.

What to consider	Characteristic	Filterpump or Self-cleaning Filter	Comment
Already have a pump?	Surface mounted pump	Self-cleaning Filter only
Already have a pump?	Submersible pump	No products available
Flow Rate	Up to 390 m3 / hr	Both	Flow rate determines the size of filterpump or filter required
Flow Rate	More than 390 m3 / hr	Self-cleaning Filters only
Water / media quality	Viscosity must be the same or very close to that of raw water	Both	Self-cleaning intakes work in liquid with some solids, not in solids with some liquid. Media mores more viscous than water is not suitable for Rotorflush products.
	Oily or greasy water	No products available
	Sludge	No products available
Contaminants	Suspended solids, weed, debris.	Both
Contaminants	Raw sewage	No products available
Operating Environment	Open water - Canal, River, lake pond etc.	Both
	Sump, Tank, IBC, other container.	Both	Particulate and debris screened out by filters can accumulate in a tank or sump if there is no flow to disperse it. Tanks may need regular cleaning.
	Seawater, Brackish Water	Both	Some filterpumps are corrosion resistant, all filters and strainers can be manufactured using marine grade 316 stainless steel.
Depth	Water Depth The intakes of filters and filterpumps must be fully submerged tom operate efficiently and avoid dry running or drawing air. The minimum depth must be 100 mm greater than the height of the intake – this will vary by flow rate and consequent size of filter.
Installation	Permanent	Both	Rotorflush offer guiderails and installation advice for permanent installations.
Installation	Temporary	Both	Self-cleaning filters and filterpumps are suitable for screening when over-pumping or temporary pumping and screening for water management jobs.
Temperature	Up to 40 C	Both
	40 C to 70 C	Self-cleaning Filters only
	70 C and above	Self-cleaning Filters only with bespoke jets.	Materials can be varied to suit customer higher temperature requirements
Lift	7 m. or less	Self-cleaning Filters	Pump height above water level for a dry mounted pump needs to be approx.7 m or less
Lift	7 m or more	Filterpumps	A submersible pump will deliver more lift
Output pressure	0 – 20 bar	Filterpumps only	N/ A to Self-cleaning files and strainers on the suction side of dry mounted pumps
Power supply	Three phase electrical supply	Medium and large filterpumps only	Flow rates greater than 14 m3 / hr
	Single phase electrical suppy	Small Filterpumps only	Flow rates up to 14 m3 / hr
	None	Self-cleaning Filters and strainers	No power supply required if the strainer or filter backwash is powered from pumped output of dry mounted pumps
Intake mesh	50, 60, 115 and 300 micron nylon mesh	Both	Filters and strainers up to 200 mm diameter and small filter pumps only
	316 grade Stainless steel mesh	Both	50, 100, 315 micron, and 1 mm, 2mm and 3 mm stainless steel mesh
	Note – choose mesh size approx. one third of the size of the smallest aperture in the system you are protecting e.g 1 mm (1000 micron) irrigation feeds need 300-micron filtration
Regulations	Eel and Fish Protection	Both	Filterpumps and Self-cleaning filters can be sized to ensure that your flow rate eel and fish protection regulations

Summary

Self-cleaning filters and strainers – Pros.	Filterpumps – Pros.
Suction intake screens and filters that self-clean as water is pumped. Flow rates from 0 to 2000 m3 / hr Filtration from 3 mm apertures down to 50 microns Suitable for temporary and permanent installations Complies with Eel and Fish protection regulations No additional power supply needed Protects pumps, pipes and other equipment from blockages	Simultaneous pumping and screening of dirty water. Flow rates from 0 to 390 m3 / hr Filtration from 3 mm apertures down to 50 microns Suitable for temporary and permanent installations Complies with Eel and Fish protection regulations No additional power supply needed Protects pumps, pipes and other equipment.
Self-cleaning filters and strainers – Cons.	Filterpumps – Cons.
Not suitable for sludge, raw sewage or greasy and oily liquids.	Not suitable for sludge, raw sewage or greasy and oily liquids. Needs power supply (single or three-phase)

Details of All Our Products Can Be Found Here...

FIND OUT MORE

Rotorflush Filters Ltd staff have years of experience of liquid / solids separation in agriculture, industry, water and waste water treatment applications, and are available to advise and answer any questions you may have.

Furthermore, we are more than happy to give technical advice about screen sizes, eel regulations and flow rates, as well as practical information about filters for specific uses.

Call us on +44 (0)1297 560229 or email sales@rotorflush.com to discuss your needs.

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How to Decide Between A Rotorflush Submersible Filterpump or a Rotorflush Self-cleaning Filter

Self-cleaning Filters

Filterpumps™

What to consider

Characteristic

Filterpump or

Self-cleaning Filter

Comment

Summary

Self-cleaning filters and strainers – Pros.

Filterpumps – Pros.

Self-cleaning filters and strainers – Cons.

Filterpumps – Cons.

FIND OUT MORE

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How Rotorflush Self-Cleaning Filterpumps™ Work