Watts water heater recirculator pump timer is sticking

[havasu]

After 9 years, my Watts water heater pump has begun sticking, and the timer is failing to advance. When I rotate the dial, I can hear the impellor on the pump working, and all seems fine, but it has begun to stick on one of the timer tabs. Before spending another $250 and replacing it, has anyone had any luck blowing out the dust, then spraying a lubricant on the dial, to make it rotate better?

 

[Twowaxhack]

Turn the pump to constant on and buy an off board timer.

 

[havasu]

I actually used a can of air, blew out the dust, sprayed the dial with PB blaster silicone, and it is running like a top! Half my problem is the dust cover for the dial dropped behind the HWT, and I can't reach it. The cover reinstalled would have solved my issue.

 

[havasu]

Turn the pump to constant on and buy an off board timer.

That is an excellent idea. Kinda like the on/off timers for Christmas lights?

 

[Twowaxhack]

I have customers that leave it on run all the time and have it plugged into a smart plug that they set scheduled with their iPhones. Any on off timer will work that suits your schedule.

That is an excellent idea. Kinda like the on/off timers for Christmas lights?

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

I actually used a can of air, blew out the dust, sprayed the dial with PB blaster silicone, and it is running like a top! Half my problem is the dust cover for the dial dropped behind the HWT, and I can't reach it. The cover reinstalled would have solved my issue.

Can you use some tool or grabber to fetch that dust cover? Sounds necessary and a worthy effort.

 

[Mitchell-DIY-Guy]

I have customers that leave it on run all the time and have it plugged into a smart plug that they set scheduled with their iPhones. Any on off timer will work that suits your schedule.

…and the smart plugs cheap and plentiful this time of year!

 

[havasu]

This will be on my project list. First on the list is reinstalling a new Samsung flat screen TV with my Black Friday Special Samsung 5.1 soundbar and bass speaker. So far, just temporarily connecting it to my old Samsung TV, the sound is amazing... finally! The new TV gets delivered on Friday.

All these damn projects make me wonder how I took care of everything while I was working. Seems there is not enough hours in the day to complete these projects, even being retired!