Possible failed pump (Question)

[jman26063]

Good day all!

All though I am 99.99% sure my pump is on its last life, There is one part of my troubleshooting that has me troubled me which is could it be a clog (most likely not)

System: 3/4hp 2 wire 230v with pressure switch and tank

Problem: 2 days ago flush upstairs toilet and hear air as tank fills (strange I think but say oh well) ….. few hours later filling bathtub for kids and water stops. Now lets troubleshoot


- New 40/60 switch (had it in garage)
- Tank is set empty to 37-38 psi
- When major water user (bath, washer, hose) is in use, pump cuts off before switch cuts off and resumes after about 1 min (internal overload is my guess)
- Have 2 filters. One of those fancy GE whole house 10 year deal with automatic backflush and a normal sediment filter
- Sediment filter was dirty but not horrible, noticed the whole house filter has been unplugged for a few weeks (so no auto cleaning)
- When pump turns on Amp meter goes OL for a few seconds and then pump is drawing 18-19 amps (Either dead/dying pump or major blockage resistance)

In short. Is it even a slight chance that this high current draw is due to some sort of clog in pump or line or is this pump just DOA. Pump is approx 23 years old

TIA all

 

[Valveman]

A clog of any kind would cause a decrease in amps, not an increase. "Resumes after 1 minute" is a clue that the overload in the motor has tripped. They usually auto-reset in about a minute.

You are very lucky to have gotten 23 years, as pumps are designed to only survive an average 7 years of "normal" on/off cycling. They no longer make pumps as good as they did in the past. So, to get that long of life with a new pump you will need to reduce or eliminate as many on/off cycles as possible. Adding a Cycle Stop Valve eliminates the cycling and makes pumps last several times longer than they designed them to last.

 

[jman26063]

A clog of any kind would cause a decrease in amps, not an increase. "Resumes after 1 minute" is a clue that the overload in the motor has tripped. They usually auto-reset in about a minute.

You are very lucky to have gotten 23 years, as pumps are designed to only survive an average 7 years of "normal" on/off cycling. They no longer make pumps as good as they did in the past. So, to get that long of life with a new pump you will need to reduce or eliminate as many on/off cycles as possible. Adding a Cycle Stop Valve eliminates the cycling and makes pumps last several times longer than they designed them to last.

Thank you for the reply, I was under the impression that a restriction in line (clog) would cause pump to work harder, therefore increasing current?

 

[Valveman]

Thank you for the reply, I was under the impression that a restriction in line (clog) would cause pump to work harder, therefore increasing current?

Nope! Biggest misconception there is about pumps. A 1HP pulls 9 amps when pumping max flow. When restricted with a valve, working with a clogged screen, or even if the pipe is kinked, the amps drop from 9 to as little as 4, depending on which brand of pump you have.

That is actually a way to tell a good pump guy from a bad one with just one question. Ask if restricting a pump with a valve will make the pump work harder. If the answer is yes, find a new pump guy because that one doesn't have a clue how pumps work.

 

[jman26063]

Nope! Biggest misconception there is about pumps. A 1HP pulls 9 amps when pumping max flow. When restricted with a valve, working with a clogged screen, or even if the pipe is kinked, the amps drop from 9 to as little as 4, depending on which brand of pump you have.

That is actually a way to tell a good pump guy from a bad one with just one question. Ask if restricting a pump with a valve will make the pump work harder. If the answer is yes, find a new pump guy because that one doesn't have a clue how pumps work.

Thank you, Makes me feel more comfortable about pulling pump

 

[Valveman]

You already know more than most pump guys you could call. A lot of people are learning to DIY because they just can't find competent help with anything these days. There are still some good pump guys out there, but I can count them on one hand and you are not likely to find one locally. You are much better off doing it yourself than calling someone randomly.