Water booster pumps

[Mur Huwcun]

Hi.

We have a booster pump supplying the house from a private supply. Recently it had been kicking in more frequently suggesting pressure vessel was not operating correctly. Quick check today confirmed this therefore stripped it down for a looksy to see that the bag inside had split. Not having anything to replace it I refitted it back in the vessel and re connect it.

Now, this is the funny bit. Before it was delivering about 2.5 bar pressure. Afterwards it went up nearer 4 bar BUT, now pump wont kick back in intill pressure is down to 1 bar. I know how to adjust the kick in and kick out pressures but I’ve not touched them therefore am a bit baffled why this has happened.

On another note, vessel is a 20ltr one. 50ltrs are not much more money so would it be a better idea to upgrade to a bigger size? Photo of pump just for reference.

 

[Sharpy]

Hi.

We have a booster pump supplying the house from a private supply. Recently it had been kicking in more frequently suggesting pressure vessel was not operating correctly. Quick check today confirmed this therefore stripped it down for a looksy to see that the bag inside had split. Not having anything to replace it I refitted it back in the vessel and re connect it.

Now, this is the funny bit. Before it was delivering about 2.5 bar pressure. Afterwards it went up nearer 4 bar BUT, now pump wont kick back in intill pressure is down to 1 bar. I know how to adjust the kick in and kick out pressures but I’ve not touched them therefore am a bit baffled why this has happened.

On another note, vessel is a 20ltr one. 50ltrs are not much more money so would it be a better idea to upgrade to a bigger size? Photo of pump just for reference.

Could you have an airlock? And I would fit a bigger pressure vessel. Fewer starts has got to help longevity.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Could you have an airlock? And I would fit a bigger pressure vessel. Fewer starts has got to help longevity.

My first though was an airlock in the system acting as a vessel!!! Flushing the toilets upstairs as did running the hot water tap did release some air but it was still the same. Hopefully it will self clear!!!

Really tempted to splash out for a new pump with bigger vessel and repairing this one as a reserve. It can live in the shed for ever and ever then not needed!!!!

 

[quavers]

check ebay for replacement , similar pumps made in Poland for a lot less money than dab.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

check ebay for replacement , similar pumps made in Poland for a lot less money than dab.

Are they any good though? No point buying a cheapie that will break down on Christmas day!!!

 

[dazza b]

But you will have your spare in the shed [emoji6]

 

[Exfarmer]

Don’t buy cheap pumps!
Buy the biggest pressure vessel you can find and top up the pressure as often as you can . Worth considering permanent connection to airline set at required pressure

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Phoned the local pump suppliers today, new 20ltr vessel to match existing was only £28 therefore will fit it for now. A 60ltr one was available but connections etc woukd be different and no off the shelf braided hose was available either!! I’ll fit the vessel and see what happenes then will investigate a bigger vessel, maybe upright one to save space. One theing the supplier mentioned was that the pump flow needs to be matched really to the vessel size.

The 20ltr one combined with the other standalone 15 or 18 ltr in the house should be ok for short burst to save the pump cycling.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

But you will have your spare in the shed [emoji6]

Well I can see that one going down very well just as I’m taking the roasties out of the oven and preparing the gravy on Christmas day I’ll just put my overalls on to pop out to change the pump so that we can flush the loo and fill the kettle!!!!

 

[msheep66]

We have a very similar pressure pump to yours for our water supply to the house. The pump was fitted back in 2006 when the house was built. We changed the tank about 3 or 4 years to go as the original bladder had burst. I do think our pump is now struggling a bit as it sounds noisy when it kicks in and the upstairs toilet is very slow to fill. I have seen some new pumps with stainless steel tanks, which Machine Mart sell and are not much more than ones with steel tanks.

 

[msheep66]

Just remembered we also changed the pressure switch on ours about 2 years ago as the pump wasn't kicking in at all. Might be the switch that is causing you problems.

 

[quavers]

Are they any good though? No point buying a cheapie that will break down on Christmas day!!!

ive , got one and mate has one and bought another for a spare .http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IBO-elect...006611&hash=item2831b274f1:g:2RAAAOxyQj9RUCYZ this is the first one I picked for example , how complicated do you think a jet pump is ? its just a propeller turned by a motor . there is as much chance of a dab pump breaking down at Christmas .

 

[Mur Huwcun]

We have a very similar pressure pump to yours for our water supply to the house. The pump was fitted back in 2006 when the house was built. We changed the tank about 3 or 4 years to go as the original bladder had burst. I do think our pump is now struggling a bit as it sounds noisy when it kicks in and the upstairs toilet is very slow to fill. I have seen some new pumps with stainless steel tanks, which Machine Mart sell and are not much more than ones with steel tanks.

Have you changed your toilet ball valves or fill valves to high flow or taken the restrictor out? I’ve done all three in the house which has made a lot of difference to flow and pump cycling. As we were completely renovating the house and on the private supply I ran 22mm cold pipes everywhere as opposed to 15. Only dropping down to 15 in the bathroom or behind the kitchen sink, we can now flush a toilet without affecting the shower etc. Tank on this pump is date stamped as 2011. If i had caught it sooner the bladder on it’s own can be had for about £12 but the inside of tank has started to rust

 

[msheep66]

ive , got one and mate has one and bought another for a spare .http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/IBO-elect...006611&hash=item2831b274f1:g:2RAAAOxyQj9RUCYZ this is the first one I picked for example , how complicated do you think a jet pump is ? its just a propeller turned by a motor . there is as much chance of a dab pump breaking down at Christmas .

That is cheap I paid £30 for a new switch.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Just remembered we also changed the pressure switch on ours about 2 years ago as the pump wasn't kicking in at all. Might be the switch that is causing you problems.

The switch has a high and low pressure screw setting but I’ve not touched them therefore I’m not convinced that I should start adjusting them yet!!!

 

[msheep66]

Have you changed your toilet ball valves or fill valves to high flow or taken the restrictor out? I’ve done all three in the house which has made a lot of difference to flow and pump cycling. As we were completely renovating the house and on the private supply I ran 22mm cold pipes everywhere as opposed to 15. Only dropping down to 15 in the bathroom or behind the kitchen sink, we can now flush a toilet without affecting the shower etc. Tank on this pump is date stamped as 2011. If i had caught it sooner the bladder on it’s own can be had for about £12 but the inside of tank has started to rust

Yes I have adjusted the flow valve but not touched the ballcock. Our tank was very rusty which is why I replaced it but maybe the stainless ones would be better.

 

[msheep66]

The switch has a high and low pressure screw setting but I’ve not touched them therefore I’m not convinced that I should start adjusting them yet!!!

Was told by my brother who is an electrician that the switches fail if they ever get damp inside them.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Yes I have adjusted the flow valve but not touched the ballcock. Our tank was very rusty which is why I replaced it but maybe the stainless ones would be better.

Theoretically there should be no water in the tank to cause it to rust in the first place!!

 

[msheep66]

Theoretically there should be no water in the tank to cause it to rust in the first place!!

Maybe the bags go a bit porous.

 

[Mur Huwcun]

Was told by my brother who is an electrician that the switches fail if they ever get damp inside them.

I should think so, there only a contactor really, very similar to a compressor switch with a low and high screw. Nothing electrical likes dampness!!!