How do you repair a pump?
Strip and clean it, inspect the impeller, shaft, wear rings, bearings and seals, replace or machine what is worn, then rebuild, align and test against the rated duty. The inspection stage is where the real diagnosis happens.
How long do industrial pumps last?
A decade or more is common in maintained service. Seal and bearing changes at the right interval, and correct suction conditions, matter far more than the age of the unit.
What is the most common problem with a water pump?
Seal failure and bearing wear, usually feeding each other. Worn bearings let the shaft move, the seal then leaks, and the leak accelerates the bearing failure. Cavitation and impeller wear follow close behind.
What is cavitation in a pump?
Vapour bubbles forming in the low pressure region at the pump inlet and collapsing violently as pressure rises. It sounds like gravel going through the casing and it erodes the impeller quickly.
How do I know if my pump is cavitating?
The noise is distinctive, like pumping gravel, along with vibration, fluctuating discharge pressure and falling flow. Pitting on the impeller when it is stripped confirms it.
How do you stop a pump from cavitating?
Improve the suction conditions. Raise the liquid level, shorten or straighten the suction pipe, remove restrictions, clear a blocked strainer, or reduce the speed. Repairing the impeller without fixing the cause just buys time.
Will cavitation damage a pump?
Yes, and quickly. The collapsing bubbles pit and erode the impeller and casing, and the vibration that comes with it shortens bearing and seal life at the same time.
What is the most common cause of mechanical seal failure?
Dry running, then contamination in the fluid, misalignment and vibration. It is worth finding which, because a new seal fitted into the same conditions fails the same way.
Why is my pump leaking at the shaft?
A worn mechanical seal or packing, frequently accelerated by bearing wear letting the shaft move. Replacing the seal without checking the bearings and shaft usually means it leaks again.
How much does an industrial pump repair cost?
It depends on size and fault. A mechanical seal is a modest job, an impeller and shaft replacement is more. We inspect and quote first so there are no surprises.
Can replacement pump parts be machined?
Yes. With machining facilities on site we can manufacture shafts, wear rings and other components where the original is obsolete or on a long lead time.
Can the pump motor be repaired at the same time?
Yes, and we would recommend it. Pumps and their drive motors fail together more often than people expect, so the motor is tested while the unit is with us.
