How long does a borehole pump last?

[Friesianfan]

Im having a bit of trouble at the moment. The watertroughs at the highest point of the farm have stopped filling! My first thought was that the pump is blocked up, then the borehole was running dry. So I pulled the pump out and that’s all clean and I can see water in the pipe.
Next I thought I must have a leak, but can’t find one! Could my pump be failing after eight years?

 

[Exfarmer]

How long is a piece of string?
Sometimes a couple of years somtimes 20
Oddly my irrigation pump which had done a few hours work when I bought the farm failed in the first year. Then it lasted 22. My successor had to have it out the next year. Hopefully his successotr now does not suffer the same curse.

 

[Suffolk Serf]

Im having a bit of trouble at the moment. The watertroughs at the highest point of the farm have stopped filling! My first thought was that the pump is blocked up, then the borehole was running dry. So I pulled the pump out and that’s all clean and I can see water in the pipe.
Next I thought I must have a leak, but can’t find one! Could my pump be failing after eight years?

Yes it could.
I've had quite a few trials and tribulations with mine (for providing livestock drinking water) over the last few weeks, including pump failure and underground leaks.
If you turn off the water as near to the pump as possible and the pressure gauge rises, suspect a leak. If it doesn't rise, suspect the pump.
We've now got the bore pump only filling a large tank and another pump after the tank, sending it off to the troughs which will give the pump a much easier life.

 

[Friesianfan]

Yes it could.
I've had quite a few trials and tribulations with mine (for providing livestock drinking water) over the last few weeks, including pump failure and underground leaks.
If you turn off the water as near to the pump as possible and the pressure gauge rises, suspect a leak. If it doesn't rise, suspect the pump.
We've now got the bore pump only filling a large tank and another pump after the tank, sending it off to the troughs which will give the pump a much easier life.

Thanks that’s very helpful. I’ll try that tomorrow

 

[beltbreaker]

Normally get 4-5 years out of our pump. 35m head in high iron water, actually have one sitting in reserve as it can take 2 weeks to arrive.

 

[chickens and wheat]

7 years, approx 25,000 cubeM, still going strong. Riser pipes failed last year,
that caused low pressure then a few blockages further down the line. Rusty flakes in the water.
Replaced with plastic

 

[Cowcalf]

mine pumps over a mile and raises it 700 feet and it is over 22 years old, used twice a day as a back up supply in case spring goes dry

 

[Poorbuthappy]

What type of pump is it? Does it have a cartridge? Mine needs cleaning every few years (send to supplier for acid bath) so I have a spare to use whilst one's being cleaned.

 

[awkward]

could be filter at inlet is dirty or bladder in pressure tank is down on pressure if u have one. we carry spare pump only half hour to replace and send other out for 're build only done twice in about 30 years

 

[joe soapy]

our borehole was put in 60 years ago, been out once in that time, had a couple of new glands at the top and for safety its had a new top rod , had to decoke the engine a few times and grind the valves twice when it was on tvo, back on petrol now