4 "technician" people tried. Yet water keeps failing.

• Open the tap, pump won't start, water drizzles.

• Other times, there's randomly no water for an hour. Then back to normal.

They've replaced the pump. They've fixed this and that random bit.

I'm thinking they are guessing and don't know what they're doing. Owner is cooperative, but also isn't water-tech-savvy, and neither am I.

I need someone who does know what they're doing.

Recommendation, please, this is getting dire. I have house guests and we just woke up again and nobody can shower.

We are in Pattaya.

You would be better off in Pattaya Forum which comes under Eastern Forum.

3 minutes ago, Andrew Dwyer said:

You would be better off in Pattaya Forum which comes under Eastern Forum.

Ah, I looked for it and couldn't find it. Assumed they removed it or something.

Perhaps a mod can help to move it

Moved to the Pattaya forum.

29 minutes ago, Na Fan said:

4 "technician" people tried. Yet water keeps failing.

• Open the tap, pump won't start, water drizzles.

• Other times, there's randomly no water for an hour. Then back to normal.

They've replaced the pump. They've fixed this and that random bit.

I'm thinking they are guessing and don't know what they're doing. Owner is cooperative, but also isn't water-tech-savvy, and neither am I.

I need someone who does know what they're doing.

Recommendation, please, this is getting dire. I have house guests and we just woke up again and nobody can shower.

We are in Pattaya.

Assuming the pump is connected to a water tank, has anyone checked that there is actually any water in it?

If the tank goes empty periodically , and then refills over some time, it could explain the problems being experienced.

3 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Assuming the pump is connected to a water tank, has anyone checked that there is actually any water in it?

If the tank goes empty periodically , and then refills over some time, it could explain the problems being experienced.

Problem is the tank is underground and it's a huge pain to access it to just look inside. Are there sensors with apps that can be installed so I can monitor it on my phone?

... and it just randomly started working again.

It's always like this, and then the technician shows up hours later, and goes like 'everything is fine!'

😵‍💫

2 minutes ago, Na Fan said:

Problem is the tank is underground and it's a huge pain to access it to just look inside. Are there sensors with apps that can be installed so I can monitor it on my phone?

There certainly sensors available but I'm guessing you would need someone to do the installation for you. There quite a few different types, each dependent on what you actually need and budget. The simplest is a float on a stick that pokes out of the top of the tank. As the water level rises in the tank, the float lifts up as does the stick to give a rudimentary level indication.

Or a little more sophisticated would be asmall ultrasonic level transmitter with Bluetooth connectivity.

@emptypockets do you know someone who is good at this sort of thing - to give everything a good once-over and set up little helpers such as a sensor in the tank?

1 minute ago, Na Fan said:

@emptypockets do you know someone who is good at this sort of thing - to give everything a good once-over and set up little helpers such as a sensor in the tank?

Not in Pattaya personally, but a pump shop should know someone.

1 minute ago, emptypockets said:

Not in Pattaya personally, but a pump shop should know someone.

Yeah the problem is we've been through four of the local "experts". And yeah, ....

My only suggestion would be Google level transmitter supplier and see what comes up. Rayong is an industrial hub and uses a myriad of measurement instruments. There will be a company close to you who can supply and install.

53 minutes ago, Na Fan said:

please, this is getting dire. I have house guests and we just woke up again and nobody can shower.

Oh dear, sounds a bit stinky.

Anyway, back on topic

I was using a guy on Pattaya Tai but he's moved.

Any hardware store selling water pumps should be able to help.

https://www.flowmaster.co.th/index.php/level-measurement.html

Give these guys a call, and if they can't help they will know some who can.

You will need to know the height/ depth of the tank.

5 minutes ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

Oh dear, sounds a bit stinky.

Anyway, back on topic, there's a hardware shop corner

Yes, a sealed plastic bottle and a piece of dowel would work, but it looks like the OP might not be a very practical person.

1 hour ago, Na Fan said:

4 "technician" people tried. Yet water keeps failing.

• Open the tap, pump won't start, water drizzles.

• Other times, there's randomly no water for an hour. Then back to normal.

They've replaced the pump. They've fixed this and that random bit.

I'm thinking they are guessing and don't know what they're doing. Owner is cooperative, but also isn't water-tech-savvy, and neither am I.

I need someone who does know what they're doing.

Recommendation, please, this is getting dire. I have house guests and we just woke up again and nobody can shower.

We are in Pattaya.

Just had a thought, since you are pumping from an underground tank, has anyone checked the condition of the foot/ non return valve on the bottom of the pipe inside the tank?

If it leaks it will give you problems.

2 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Just had a thought, since you are pumping from an underground tank, has anyone checked the condition of the foot/ non return valve on the bottom of the pipe inside the tank?

If it leaks it will give you problems.

Yeah they replaced that already a while ago. Problem persisted.

5 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

Yes, a sealed plastic bottle and a piece of dowel would work, but it looks like the OP might not be a very practical person.

well, yeah, the tank is hidden underneath a giant trampoline, covered by a dozen bricks and sealed with a sticky plastic cover. It's a mess and I'm in no condition to go and spend half an hour digging it out each time there is a problem.

I need something remote and quick.

That's an easy fix here
just buy a new above ground tank and pump
then just run a nice new colourful blue pipe straight through to the living room to the kitchen tap
sorted.

Seriously they will be guessing
and they will need instruction of what to do
so if you do not know how to fix, they likely wont either.
but the common way to fix such here is just run a new pipe somewhere
If pipe will be seen get them to use white pvc

17 minutes ago, patman30 said:

That's an easy fix here
just buy a new above ground tank and pump
then just run a nice new colourful blue pipe straight through to the living room to the kitchen tap
sorted.

Seriously they will be guessing
and they will need instruction of what to do
so if you do not know how to fix, they likely wont either.
but the common way to fix such here is just run a new pipe somewhere
If pipe will be seen get them to use white pvc

Bit more from above post....A new above ground tank (DOS or similar 1000/2000 litres) with a Mitsu or Hitachi pump with installation, would be +- 15.000 baht. The mains water inlet and tank outlet should be easy to find, so installation no more than a few hours. Although a new electric outlet for the pump might be required. You could have it in by this evening.

i know this doesn't solve your immediate problem, but as others have said, the setup you have now is not viable.

1 hour ago, emptypockets said:

My only suggestion would be Google level transmitter supplier and see what comes up. Rayong is an industrial hub and uses a myriad of measurement instruments. There will be a company close to you who can supply and install.

That's just a lidar sensor you can find any lidar sensor does the same

1 hour ago, Na Fan said:

Yeah they replaced that already a while ago. Problem persisted.

What you don't appear to have said is when there is no water, is the pump running or not.

If not running, there may be a fault on the electrical supply, possibly something causing a voltage drop.

If running then a problem with feed to the pump. If intermittant that would rule out the foot valve as once air is in the pump it would need to be primed again. More likely something in the bottom of the tank that is mobile, gets sucked onto the valve and then moves away again.

53 minutes ago, emptypockets said:

There certainly sensors available but I'm guessing you would need someone to do the installation for you. There quite a few different types, each dependent on what you actually need and budget. The simplest is a float on a stick that pokes out of the top of the tank. As the water level rises in the tank, the float lifts up as does the stick to give a rudimentary level indication.

Or a little more sophisticated would be asmall ultrasonic level transmitter with Bluetooth connectivity.

I like that float on a stick idea and sense a little diy project in my near future !

2 hours ago, emptypockets said:

Assuming the pump is connected to a water tank, has anyone checked that there is actually any water in it?

If the tank goes empty periodically , and then refills over some time, it could explain the problems being experienced.

Especially in Pattaya.

48 minutes ago, sandyf said:

What you don't appear to have said is when there is no water, is the pump running or not.

If not running, there may be a fault on the electrical supply, possibly something causing a voltage drop.

If running then a problem with feed to the pump. If intermittant that would rule out the foot valve as once air is in the pump it would need to be primed again. More likely something in the bottom of the tank that is mobile, gets sucked onto the valve and then moves away again.

I've seen both happen.

This morning, at times, after opening the tap and leaving it open, the pump outside was silent.

Later, the pump was making noise, but there was still no water coming out of the tap, aside from a teeny tiny little stream. No real pressure.

Checked several different taps, all had the same issue.

Some other days, there was zero water out of the tap, no small stream, not a drop.

What makes this so weird is the huge variety of symptoms.

It could also be airlock. Do you have the correct type of pump, with the priming bottle on top?

12 minutes ago, cjinchiangrai said:

It could also be airlock. Do you have the correct type of pump, with the priming bottle on top?

They literally just bought it - I would seriously hope they bought the right type of pump....

But how can I tell?

3 hours ago, Na Fan said:

Problem is the tank is underground and it's a huge pain to access it to just look inside. Are there sensors with apps that can be installed so I can monitor it on my phone?

That is the first error. I have 3 underground tanks, and they all are easily accessible, since they have a lid that can be lifted.

21 minutes ago, Na Fan said:

They literally just bought it - I would seriously hope they bought the right type of pump....

But how can I tell?

It will have a priming bottle on top

https://ecatalog-media.homepro.co.th/homepro/ART_IMAGE/12/700/1270022/447x447/30082024_1270022$Imagec3.jpg

41 minutes ago, CallumWK said:

That is the first error. I have 3 underground tanks, and they all are easily accessible, since they have a lid that can be lifted.

tell me about it. I'm a layman, and I spotted dozens of things that are unpractical or just terribly done.