Water Pump Problems

[HeijoshinCool]

My landlord's ancient. So is his water pump. For the past few months, it runs constantly, so he turns it off from his house, with a breaker, leaving me w/o.

I'm about to buy a new pump, but being a teacher, money's tight, so I'll take a shot here first.

I'm guessing the problem is something to do with a pressure switch? If so, where is it in the photo? Easy to source and replace? (I live in the middle of nowhere.) Or, should I just bite the bullet and buy a new one?

Experts? (see photo)

[Soutpeel]

post in the DIY...all thats ever discussed on general is bargirls, sinsot, and the price of beef..

[HeijoshinCool]

post in the DIY...all thats ever discussed on general is bargirls, sinsot, and the price of beef..

Don't bar girls know about pumps?

[INDI12]

Pressure switch looks like its the black and gray plastic with the 2 wires on it. Unplug. Turn off water. Open a faucet let off pressure and take off wires and unscrew it.

[noob7]

Is the pressure still the same? Can be, that it can't 'make it' anymore. That could need major repair, I guess.

Or:

Is enough water in the well? Is the inlet clean?

If the waterlevel isn't high enough, .....!

But isn't a pump around 3000 baht, or so?

Other option: A parallel circuit with 2 switches, so that you and your landlord can switch it on/off, from inside either house for the shower.

[CharlieH]

post in the DIY...all thats ever discussed on general is bargirls, sinsot, and the price of beef..

Don't bar girls know about pumps?

I think you are confusing pumps and pumping, they know about pumping beer and being pumped.

[prodriver]

It is also possible that there is nothing wrong with the pump but maybe you have a water leak somewhere between the pump and the water outlet (tap/shower etc). I experienced this problem at my home but I couldn't locate where the leak was as the pipes from pump to house were underground. I fixed the problem by replacing the pipework between pump and house - this time above ground.

[ignis]

It is also possible that there is nothing wrong with the pump but maybe you have a water leak somewhere between the pump and the water outlet (tap/shower etc). I experienced this problem at my home but I couldn't locate where the leak was as the pipes from pump to house were underground. I fixed the problem by replacing the pipework between pump and house - this time above ground.

Yep did the same, but that was only after buying a new pump, and then finding it did the same, leak somewhere under the house.

[Rooo]

Moving to DYI / housing forum.

[Crossy]

Yup the switch is the round grey thingy to the left.

If the pressure is adequate for your use you can try to adjust it.

With the power off pop the cover and have a peek inside, it should have an adjustment that you can reduce so it actually gets to the cut off pressure.

[noise]

It is also possible that there is nothing wrong with the pump but maybe you have a water leak somewhere between the pump and the water outlet (tap/shower etc). ....

Could be a leaking toilet, even just a small amount will make the pump run continuously. That is the easiest to find and fix as you can hear the toilets running when you stand next to them.

Crossy's suggestion is also a good one. Every couple of years, I seem to need to adjust my screw settings. Well, it really may just be that playing with the mechanism, turning the screws back and forth, is just working off some corrosion in the mechanical/electrical connectors. Anyway, one place to check.

But another problem may be that between you and your landlord you ran water somewhere (e.g., watering the yard, washing the car, filling fish ponds, etc.) for a enough time to empty the tank or just pumped down below "draw" pipe opening and, therefore, started sucking air. Once you get air in the line, the pump runs continuously.

On my pump I have a "relief plug" (for want of the proper name), a short vertical piece next to the pump. I think that Fig 2 of your pump, short vertical blue pipe with grey notched cap, may be the same thing.

That could be a priming port, rather than a relief port, so first try this. With the pump off, unscrew the cap completely. Take the cap off and if you can fill that with water, that may solve the problem. If you can not because the water just runs into the pipes, then try my next suggestion.

With the pump running, (very slowly or the cap blows off) unscrew the cap until air starts blowing out. All you need is a noticeable hiss; you want to keep the threads engaged enough to keep the lid/plug in place. Once water starts coming out, I screw the cap back in. Pump then shuts off when pressure restored.

[lopburi3]

As said it can be pump/storage tank/water leak. If you can turn off the output side (line going to taps) and pump stops running you will know it is not a leak in house lines. But you really should have someone check it - does not cost that much and easier/safer than trying to touch inside closed box where there may be live lines (even when turned off).

[Lantern]

Doe's it have an airvalve on the top (looks like one on a tyre), if so try putting air into it. About 35psi should do it.

It's also entirley possible the diaphram has a hole in it.

[HeijoshinCool]

All good suggestions. Thanks much.

[HeijoshinCool]

post in the DIY...all thats ever discussed on general is bargirls, sinsot, and the price of beef..

Don't bar girls know about pumps?

I think you are confusing pumps and pumping, they know about pumping beer and being pumped.

I was referring to shoes.