An aquarium with an air pump.
Air pumps come in a variety of shapes and sizes and perform a varied set of tasks. Aside from the fact that they all pump air, some may have very little in common. However, they are essential tools used in modern day life. Without air pumps, we probably wouldn’t have the quality of life we know today.
Most air pumps fall into one of two categories: manual and automatic. The ones that are manual usually require pumping with your hand, foot, or arm. Automatic pumps are powered by some other type of power source, usually electricity. The type of air pump needed will generally depend on the intended use.
Bicycle air pump with pressure gauge.
For example, air pumps are used in aquariums and ponds. An aquarium pump and a pond air pump generally have the same goal: to diffuse oxygen into the water to make it more attractive and easier for animal life. However, hand pumps would not be very effective at this. Therefore, in these types of applications an automatic pump is necessary, although it cannot be used 100 percent of the time.
Another use for automatic air pumps is in the area of septic systems. The aerobic process that these systems have uses bacteria to achieve the goal of removing or reducing the amount of solids in the system. To do this more effectively, an air pump can infuse oxygen into the system to make this process much more efficient. This can also help reduce the number of times it needs to be emptied and reduce odor.
Perhaps the most common type of auto air pump is the air compressor. An automatic pump stores air in a container which is then used to perform various tasks. Some are used to supply the power needed for power tools. Others are used simply to transfer air to something else, like a tire. In these cases, the pump is only activated when it is necessary to fill the drum with compressed air. This is usually an automatic process that activates the unit when it detects that the air pressure is dropping.
Hand air pumps are used when you don’t need a lot of air pressure and that air is only needed occasionally. In most cases, hand air pumps are used for sports balls with air bags and bicycle tires. They can also be used for vehicle tires.