Why Won't This Pump Work?
There are a number of reasons why your irrigation pump "won't work". First of all let's establish what someone means by saying "not working". Does the motor run, but no water comes out? Or does the pump motor not come on at all?
If the pump motor runs, but no water is coming out then most likely it lost prime. You may just need to fill up the pump housing or volute with water and turn on and wait a few minutes to regain prime. But, the check valve or foot valve is probably bad and needs to be replaced because it is the main part that holds the prime. If you have a horizontal, centrifugal pump you will have a check valve up top by the inlet of the pump. If you have a vertical jet pump, then you will have a foot valve on a separate pipe that is inside the well anywhere from 40 to 80 feet deep on average.
If the pump does not come on at all, it cold be a couple of other things. The most obvious is that the pump motor went out and needs to be replaced. If the pump is less than 8 years old, I would recommend a pump motor replacement (after all other items have been troubleshooted and ruled out) but if the pump is older, then you may as well replace the whole pump considering the costs, trouble, and return on investment.
However, the pump itself could be fine. Always start troubleshooting at your power source. Check the circuit breaker and see if it is tripped. If it is, this is an indication of a short in either the wiring or the pump motor. If the breaker is not tripped, check for proper voltage at the breaker (typically 220 to 240 volts). If the breaker is fine, then check for proper voltage at the pump's wiring terminals. If you are getting nothing or insufficient voltage, then you definitely have a short in the wire leading from the breaker to the pump. The best thing to do is replace the whole wire, but you may also try to find the problem and fix it, but this could end up costing you more money and time than just replacing the whole thing.
Pumps may be re-built, but they are never the same. Even with a new motor, impeller(s), and gaskets they will never perform like they were when they were new. I would say that this is especially true for vertical jet pumps. The water ports or veins get clogged up over time. You have to dissect the pump to expose the internal ports and then you'll see there are spaces that are about impossible to clean out completely. The clogged passage ways reduce available flow and thus pressure.
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
If the pump motor runs, but no water is coming out then most likely it lost prime. You may just need to fill up the pump housing or volute with water and turn on and wait a few minutes to regain prime. But, the check valve or foot valve is probably bad and needs to be replaced because it is the main part that holds the prime. If you have a horizontal, centrifugal pump you will have a check valve up top by the inlet of the pump. If you have a vertical jet pump, then you will have a foot valve on a separate pipe that is inside the well anywhere from 40 to 80 feet deep on average.
If the pump does not come on at all, it cold be a couple of other things. The most obvious is that the pump motor went out and needs to be replaced. If the pump is less than 8 years old, I would recommend a pump motor replacement (after all other items have been troubleshooted and ruled out) but if the pump is older, then you may as well replace the whole pump considering the costs, trouble, and return on investment.
However, the pump itself could be fine. Always start troubleshooting at your power source. Check the circuit breaker and see if it is tripped. If it is, this is an indication of a short in either the wiring or the pump motor. If the breaker is not tripped, check for proper voltage at the breaker (typically 220 to 240 volts). If the breaker is fine, then check for proper voltage at the pump's wiring terminals. If you are getting nothing or insufficient voltage, then you definitely have a short in the wire leading from the breaker to the pump. The best thing to do is replace the whole wire, but you may also try to find the problem and fix it, but this could end up costing you more money and time than just replacing the whole thing.
Pumps may be re-built, but they are never the same. Even with a new motor, impeller(s), and gaskets they will never perform like they were when they were new. I would say that this is especially true for vertical jet pumps. The water ports or veins get clogged up over time. You have to dissect the pump to expose the internal ports and then you'll see there are spaces that are about impossible to clean out completely. The clogged passage ways reduce available flow and thus pressure.
Scott
http://www.autolawnsprinklers.com
posted by Irrigationman at
7:23 AM
