Cause of pump loosing prime
If your property contains a well & pump you will eventually face various maintenance issues. A very common problem is a pump that continuously losses prime. To "hold a prime" a well & pump must have a check valve or foot valve that keeps the suction pipe or drop pipe full of water at all times.
On shallow wells or even submersible pumps with deeper wells, a check valve will be used to keep the pump primed. A check valve and foot valve only allows water to flow one way (into the pump). When the pump shuts off this valve should close off completely and not allow any water leakage. However, over the course of time this mechanical part wears out and quits doing its' job.
The valve has to open & shut every time the pump is turned on and off. You can now see why these parts eventually wear out. When the seal is no longer good, the water may drain completely out of the pump, suction pipe, or drop pipe. With no water and no air-tight vacuum seal the pump will struggle to try to regain a prime. On a shallow well with a horizontal centrifugal pump or submersible pump, the pump can possible regain its' own prime, but it could take a little bit of time. During this time, unnecessary strain is put on the pump and could cause the pump motor to burn up.
On a jet pump with a drop pipe, when the foot valve goes bad it will not at all regain its' own prime. It will not regain its' own prime because of the way a jet pump works.
Changing a check valve is usually not too difficult. A check valve is up top and out of the ground. Doing your own foot valve may prove to be a lot harder because it is normally attached to the drop pipe and anywhere from 30 feet to 80 feet down in the well. If your pump is continuously losing prime, then it may be time for you to replace your check valve or foot valve.
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
On shallow wells or even submersible pumps with deeper wells, a check valve will be used to keep the pump primed. A check valve and foot valve only allows water to flow one way (into the pump). When the pump shuts off this valve should close off completely and not allow any water leakage. However, over the course of time this mechanical part wears out and quits doing its' job.
The valve has to open & shut every time the pump is turned on and off. You can now see why these parts eventually wear out. When the seal is no longer good, the water may drain completely out of the pump, suction pipe, or drop pipe. With no water and no air-tight vacuum seal the pump will struggle to try to regain a prime. On a shallow well with a horizontal centrifugal pump or submersible pump, the pump can possible regain its' own prime, but it could take a little bit of time. During this time, unnecessary strain is put on the pump and could cause the pump motor to burn up.
On a jet pump with a drop pipe, when the foot valve goes bad it will not at all regain its' own prime. It will not regain its' own prime because of the way a jet pump works.
Changing a check valve is usually not too difficult. A check valve is up top and out of the ground. Doing your own foot valve may prove to be a lot harder because it is normally attached to the drop pipe and anywhere from 30 feet to 80 feet down in the well. If your pump is continuously losing prime, then it may be time for you to replace your check valve or foot valve.
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
posted by Irrigationman at
9:46 AM
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