What to do when your water pump stops working?
Pumps take on a big job moving water at a convenient pressure. They also have to bear with weather conditions especially since most pumps are installed outside and sometimes with no housing.
Therefore, pumps will eventually encounter problems or stop functioning all together.
In this article we are going to try help you figure out what the issue with your pump is, we'll start buy giving you a number to call for when you can't DIY your solution. Sometimes the pump just kicks the bucket and it's time for a replacement. Call 012 335 8289 or shop around here: online shop
What problem are we running into with your water pump???
No Liquid Delivery
This is probably the most obvious sign of an issue, and likewise it is one of the longest issues to diagnose.
- Motor Not Operational
- Solids within the pump
- Inlet / Discharge valve closed
- Lack of liquid
- Strainer blocked
- pressure rating / Head too high
- Vapor lock
The motor consists of copper windings, if they've been burnt out it's probably better to replace the pump. You can also check phases and replace if required.
Peripheral pumps are not made to pump water with solids therefore, check your pump inlet and outlet. Also check pump internals for signs of solids... Which may be difficult and may require a technician to open it.
Similar to the above scenario but not the same. Pumps come with covers on their openings, perhaps there is a valve attached to close and open the line, check all these possibilities for a quick fix if you're lucky.
Make sure there is water supply to your pump, check your water source and make sure the pipe is submersed completely otherwise it will lead to more problems.
If you're pumping water with solids, plant matter, or otherwise not clean, you probably are using a strainer and filter to catch all those debris. Those strainers catching solids will eventually fill to the point where water will not pass through efficiently. Luckily this is easily fixed by simply clearing out the strainer.
Pumps come build for specific uses, for specific power ratings; our technicians always ask what the pump will be used for so they can choose a water pump that will be able to deliver. If you have a pump that isn't working, you may want to call a technician and check if your pump can handle the water system it's suppose to provide. If it can't, you'll need a stronger pump or perhaps just a different type.
Ensure the water pump is not drawing a lot of air, or that small amounts of fluid are not gassing within the pump. This is called cavitation and peripheral pumps can handle some quite well, although there is a limit.
Reduced Flow / Pressure Output
- Incorrect Speed
- Faulty Motor
- Obstruction in the pump or water system.
- End of service life
Some pumps like the CRI I-prez has specialized technology aimed at supplying a small building with reliable water pressure. They scale in size from small to big enough for a multibathroom home. This technology is called VSD which stands for Verticle speed drive (we have an article that goes more in depth here). On the C.R.I iprez pumps, for example: you can set the pressure you would like and the pump will adjust it's speed to meet that command. This problem is easy to fix on VSD pumps. However, if you have a normal peripheral pump that does not have the right rpms, you'll need to have it looked at by a technician.
The motor is the engine of the pump and therefore any issue with the motor will affect the pump negatively. If you've run out of ideas as to what is causing this problem - the worst case is that the motor is damaged and you'll need a technician to look at it. If the motor is to blame chances are an entirely new pump will be more cost effective than repairing the biggest component of the pump.
If there is anything - not liquid - in the pipes, pump, filters, strainers etc. The flow in the water system will suffer. A quick check of the main intake and outlet areas could save you a lot of trouble.
Even the best pumps have a lifespan, so when the day comes your pump may have simply reached its time. The solution to this case is getting a replacement. Should you think about repairing a pump that has served you well you would be making a mistake, all the components have been worn, it has lost energy efficiency and even with a complete cleanup - it wont last you nearly as long as a new pump - nor will it provide the same pressure and energy consumption.
Another problem that is see quite often is:
Excessive Power Consumption
The issue with this problem is that it is too close to other issues. Basically any of the above situations can also cause "Excessive power consumption". There are only a few extra cases that could cause this issue
- Incorrect liquid being pumped.
- Collapsed Hose
Specific pumps are designed to pump specific liquids with certain characteristics or a small range thereof. You may have to check the pump design against fluid characteristics and system requirements.
If you're using soft pipes to channel water they may be squashed or bend which will use extra energy from the pump to overcome those forces. The solution: ensure you use rigid hoses in your system.
Where's the problem in your water supply system?
In conclusion: your peripheral pump may not be the reason your water supply is being disrupted. All the components in the system providing your home with water could be a possible reason, but we hope the list of checks we've given you help you find a solution.
