Cleaning A Household Water Pump With Pressure Tank

[jcw]

Regarding Hitachi Water Pump that is the on/off with a pressure tank.

Specs here

I changed water sources temporarily while doing some work to the main tank. I took it from a pond, this runs the showers and toilets and hand basins.

A disgusting brown algae type of crap has now entered the system and appears to be growing in the pipes / pump. The water source is now changed back to clean water but the crap still keep coming.

I need to clean out the lines and the pump. I don't know, but it is possible that the pressure tanks is full of crap breeding now? I am only speculating.

Looking at he pic of the pump above, the inlet is up the top facing you and the outlet is on the right side down low, both 1 inch holes. There is also another hole on the left about the size of half an inch that has a stopper nut in it.

How do I clean this beast out?

Can I just open up that other hole and run it?

Can I back flush it some how?

I was thinking of running a strong mixture of chlorinated water though it, but I don't know what that will do to the pumps metal parts, rubber pressure tank diaframe and the plastic pipes and metal taps etc.

Any tips would be awesome thanks.

[Naam]

How do I clean this beast out?

that shouldn't be problem by rinsing (adding water in the "hopper cap" and opening the "drainage cap"). look in the manual what is what. page 8 shows "hopper cap", page 10 shows "drainage cap".

-for rinsing use liquid chlorine 30% (pool shop 20 liters ~350 Baht) diluted with water ratio 1:3,

-after rinsing close drainage cap, fill to the brim with undiluted chlorine,

-open all taps in your home a teenie weenie little bit,

-switch on pump and let it run till no more strong chlorine smell at the taps, that should be enough to sanitise your system.

-to be on the safe side add liquid chlorine to your existing tank water. how big is the tank from which the pump sucks?

[Naam]

I was thinking of running a strong mixture of chlorinated water though it, but I don't know what that will do to the pumps metal parts, rubber pressure tank diaframe and the plastic pipes and metal taps etc.

don't worry! a one time strong CL treatment won't harm your pump.

[Crossy]

I think Naam has covered most of the points, I would ensure that the pump and it's pressure tank are completely emptied of water before commencing the chlorine treatment, just to ensure there's no little backwaters where the stuff can hide.

[jcw]

Here is a link to what Naam is referring to.

http://www.hitachi-th.com/hitachi_new/Download/WP_WT-P_WM-P_GX2.pdf

Thanks for the help full post

[Pacificperson]

Sorry to jump in late, but I have been on the road. Naam and Crossy have covered it well. The only thing that I can add is the algae type stuff is most likely a slime mould and is quite common in unclorinated water lines. If your storage tank is not clorinated, I would start there with the clorination and run it throughout the system.

[Theboy]

Great information – going on from this, would it be a good idea to add a few drops of liquid Chlorine to the storage tank (say weekly) to keep any possible nasty’s away ?

[Crossy]

Great information – going on from this, would it be a good idea to add a few drops of liquid Chlorine to the storage tank (say weekly) to keep any possible nasty’s away ?

It can't hurt, but much mains water is heavily chlorinated anyway. We actually rotate our two tanks to let the water stand and bleed out some of the chlorine that the water company put in. I will say this is mainly for the comfort of Wifey's fish and nothing to do with my dislike of the shower smelling like the swimming pool.