FAQs

Even a self-priming pump requires priming the first time. A self-priming pump is built with a large pump housing and an inlet above the eye of the impeller. This design allows water to stay in the head after the pump is stopped which will give the pump the water it requires to prime. The misconception is that the pump will always prime and it does not need a check valve. This is only true in perfect conditions which are seldom ever present. Prime your pump and use a check valve.

The general rule of thumb is 2-4 PSI less than your cut on pressure set on your Pressure Switch. Example 1: Pressure Switch Setting: 20/40 Tank Pressure: 16-18 PSI, Example 2: Pressure Switch Setting: 30/50 Tank Pressure: 26-28 PSI, Example 3: Pressure Switch Setting: 40/60 Tank Pressure: 36-38 PSI, **Note: To get an accurate reading of the pressure in your tank, the tank must be empty (no water).

It is recommended that your pump run 45-60 seconds when it cycles. In order for this to occur your pressure tank drawdown should be similar to your pumps Gallon Per Minute (GPM) output. The larger the tank the less your pump will be required to cycle during the course of a day therefore extending the life of your pump/motor.

Cause: Debris from the well may have clogged your pump's jet package not allowing the pump to build sufficient pressure for the pressure switch to reach its set shut off pressure and allow the pump/motor to turn off. Solution: Jet package needs to be unclogged. There are different methods depending on your particular pumps design. Please contact us for further assistance if needed. Cause: Hose from pump body to pressure switch is blocked / clogged / frozen or has come off one end. Solution: Relieve pressure from system. Remove hose from pump body and pressure switch and see if you can blow through it. If clogged, remove whatever is clogging it. Reinstall hose.

This is likely caused by cavitation. Cavitation is the formation of vapour cavities in a liquid  i.e. small liquid-free zones ("bubbles" or "voids")  that are the consequence of forces acting upon the liquid. It usually occurs when a liquid is subjected to rapid changes of pressure that cause the formation of cavities where the pressure is relatively low. When subjected to higher pressure, the voids implode and can generate an intense shockwave. Symptoms of cavitation include excessive noise and vibration and loss of capacity, pressure and efficiency. Cavitation can cause damage to the pump. Solutions include changing the operational parameters or even replacing your pump with a pump better suited to the application.

YES. Every time the motor starts, the windings see a high inrush current of up to about 10 times the nameplate amps (locked rotor code M). The motor dissipates the inrush of energy as heat. If you start the motor too many times, a buildup of heat can cause damage to the motor.

The pump is likely not being fed properly or there could also be a Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) issue related to the temperature or type of fluid. Unless the pump you have is a self-priming pump, it will not prime unless the pump is full of water and there is no air trapped inside locking the pump. Also, there may be a suction leak that is causing a break in vacuum. You may have an issue with the suction pipe (pipe that runs from well to pump) or your pump's mechanical seal may have failed causing a break in vacuum.

Yes, but not as it should. If the motor and pump are running backwards, the pump can often still move water, and the water will flow the normal direction through the pump. A centrifugal pump accelerates water off of the tips of the impeller vanes. When an impeller is running backward, the centrifugal forces will still accelerate the wateralthough far less efficiently. A backward running pump will deliver less water, at a lower pressure and will typically consume less electricity. If the impeller is threaded to the shaft, it may unscrew when running backwards.

No. The performance of the pump is based on the diameter and vane width of the impeller, the rotational speed of the motor as well as the horsepower.