Homemade Siphon Pumps

Cut a piece of tubing or an old water hose that has no leaks or holes to accommodate the distance between the liquid and the empty container. In some instances this may be as short as the distance between a bathtub and a sink; therefore a short piece of tubing will suffice. In other cases, such as removing water from a flooded basement, the use of a garden hose may be required.

Insert one end of the tubing into the container that is holding the liquid.

Place an empty container that is larger enough to catch all the liquid you want to move close by so that you can easily access it when the liquid begins to flow.

Run the tubing in an upward direction in a manner that will leave an even longer section running downward. The longer section with liquid running through it will employ gravity to suck up the liquid through the shorter, upward sloping section, which will continue to move it through the tubing once it begins to flow.

Put the dry end of the tubing into your mouth and inhale slowly and briefly to make sure that the liquid does not enter your mouth. The breath should be long enough to move the water over the curve that is created when you run the tubing upward to create a downward slope. Using a clear piece of tubing will allow you to see where the liquid is and will help you avoid getting it in your mouth. Do not try this with gasoline, kerosene or any other harmful substance as the fumes or ingestion of these materials may be harmful or fatal.

Remove the tubing from your mouth once the liquid is past the curvature and place it in the empty container. Allow gravity to take over and watch as the liquid begins to move from one container to the other. The liquid will continue to flow because of the vacuum you have created until the water levels in each container are the same or until the vacuum is disturbed.