Water pumps play an important role in everyday life for many individuals and businesses. Whether you’re responsible for managing an industrial pump station or own a water pump for agricultural use on your farm, it is essential that you upkeep regular water pump maintenance and servicing.
Routine maintenance is key to reducing the likelihood of your pumps malfunctioning, which can save you a lot of time, money and hassle in the long run. Not only that, but malfunctioning pumps can even pose a safety hazard, especially if there is a leakage and electrical fault, which can cause a fire if the issue is not addressed promptly.
Read our comprehensive guide to learn how you can ensure that your pumps are working efficiently and what to do if they show signs of damage.
Tips for Maintaining Your Water Pump
To reduce the need for water pump repairs, there are some things you can do yourself to maintain your water pump alongside having regular services. We’ve listed some of our top tips below to help you.
Determine Maintenance Frequency
Though it is recommended to check your water pumps regularly, it is best to schedule a plan for when you will do so, rather than on an as-and-when basis. This is because certain checks you perform may require you to shut down the pump system for safety before you carry out more close-up inspections.
By scheduling your maintenance frequency, you are able to plan ahead for the times that your pumps will be shut down with minimal impact as a result of this. You can consult the original manufacturer’s guidelines to gauge how often this will need to be if you are unsure.
Of course, as well as more in depth inspections, you should always be observing your pumps to keep an eye out for anything obvious that indicates a potential fault.
Regular Checks and Observations
Make sure that you get to know your pump system, so that you’ll know how it works properly, allowing you to identify when anything is out of the ordinary. Be sure to keep an eye out specifically for any leaks, abnormal sounds or vibrations and unusual odours, making note of these.
Create a checklist of different mechanical and electrical/motor inspections that you’ll need to carry out. For mechanical inspections, you’ll want to:
- Check that all the mounting points are secure
- Inspect the mechanical seal and packing
- Inspect the pump flanges for any leaks
- Inspect the couplings
- Inspect and clean all the filters
As for electrical and motor inspections, you’ll need to:
- Check that all terminations are tight
- Inspect the motor vents and windings for dust or dirt build-up and clean these (according to the manufacturer’s guidelines)
- Inspect the starter contactor for electrical arcing, overheating, contact sticking etc.
- Use a megohmmeter on the windings to check for insulation failure
Keep Pump Lubricated
Lubrication is one of the most important factors for the successful operation of a pump. Keeping your pump and motor lubricated minimises the friction that generally causes a lot of wear and tear. Check the manufacturer’s guidelines to see how often and how much you should be lubricating them.
Be careful not to over-lubricate, either, since overgreasing can actually lead to more damage. If you do this by accident, then remove the vent cap on your bearing (if it has one) and run the pump for half an hour before placing the cap back on, as this will allow the excess grease to work its way out of the bearing.
Replace Faulty Parts
Though certain parts will need to be fixed or replaced by a professional if they are broken, you should always keep an eye on any hoses, seals or O-rings, which will need to be replaced immediately if they show signs of wear or damage. Alternatively, a temporary rubber assembly lubricant can be used if these cannot be replaced straight away, which will ensure a tight fit and prevent leaks or slips in your pump mechanism.
Signs You Have a Damaged Water Pump
If you’re unsure whether or not you have a damaged pump, then we’ve listed below some common signs to look out for for you. If you notice any of these, then you should consider getting your pump booked in for maintenance or repair.
Abnormal Sounds
Water pumps naturally make noise, of course, and you should be familiar with how this sounds. However, if you hear anything abnormal, then this can indicate that something is wrong. Listen out to see if you can hear anything that sounds like rattling, squealing, clicking or grinding.
Anything that sounds out of the ordinary should be checked-up on, since strange noises are usually one of the first signs that your pump is going to break. Such noises could be a result of various faults, for example air being lost from your tank, pressure changes forming air pockets, loose or worn out components or misaligned parts.
Low Water Pressure
If you’re experiencing low water pressure in your building, then it’s a fair assumption that this is an issue that is being caused by your water pump. It could be that there are air pockets, clogged pipes or even damaged impellers - all of which can lead to reduced water flow or water hammering.
Whatever the cause, this will need to be fixed, not only to ensure that your water pump is working efficiently, but to prevent any faults from worsening and causing more damage later down the line.
Leakage
Your pump shouldn’t be leaking water or any other substance. If it is, then this indicates that components within your pumps are either misaligned or damaged. If you notice that your pump is overly vibrating and/or overheating at the same time, then you most certainly will need to get this looked at and rectified.
Factory Performance
Alongside spotting the obvious signs of damage, it’s helpful to look out for the less obvious signs. Of course, since these are less obvious, they can be harder to identify. A simple trick is to simply understand exactly how your pump should and does work, so that you’ll be able to tell when it isn’t quite working the same.
Learn what you should expect from your pump, know what the factory specifications are so you can see whether your pump meets these and is performing to the expected standard. If your pump seems to be deviating from these expectations or isn’t fully performing as it should be, then you may want to get it looked at.
The Risks of Not Having a Regular Pump Service
Periodic inspections of water pumps are important as there are many components that need to be checked regularly to ensure the quality of parts and efficient function.
In these inspections, any parts that have become damaged or worn will be highlighted, then arranged to be fixed. If you don’t have regular servicing on your water pumps, then these are less likely to be identified until the damage becomes obvious, at which point it will likely be worse - meaning it will be harder and more costly to fix as a result.
Furthermore, this servicing typically includes electrical checks, which are vital for ensuring the safety and condition of your pumps.
To avoid your pump failing prematurely, losing yourself money, having subpar quality water or experiencing an electrical fault and safety hazard, make sure that you arrange for regular pump maintenance and servicing.
Water Pump Installations and Repairs
If you’re based in or around Manchester and you’re in need of water pump installations, servicing or repairs, then you need H2O Flowtech. We are pumping and water treatment specialists, supplying high quality water and sewage pumps from reputable manufacturers.
With over 70 years of combined experience, you can rest assured that we are reliable when it comes to getting the job done efficiently and to a high standard. Whether you have issues with a new model or older equipment that needs bringing up to modern standards, you can count on our comprehensive services.
You can also count on us for sewage treatment and equipment, telemetry, wet well cleansing and jetting and more.
To arrange your water pump maintenance plan, get in touch with us today. We also offer a 24/7 emergency callout service if you’re in need of urgent repairs.
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