On the next downstroke, more liquid is forced up the tube. And so it goes on, building up a column of liquid. At some point, the pumper turns the delivery end of the plastic tube towards the new container and the liquid will then simply siphon on its own gravity.

Retailing at £10 the SuperPump is one of those devices that every home needs, says Mr Nash the editor, who used one to drain the header tank on his central heating system. The tank was tucked right up in the ridge of the roof and all but unreachable with any decent sized container to remove the liquid. But the promised 10-minute job turned into a real 10-minute job with the SuperPump.

The device comes with its own merchandiser - shown here.

Jane Paul at Super Pump UK T/F: 023 8056 1470 W: superpump.com