The following diagnostic guide applies when your centrifugal pump motor is running but water problems exist.
For any bore pump problems call us on 9246 0111 seven days a week for telephone advice or to book a service Perth metro-wide. You can also visit our main website here.
(If pump is not starting at all then an electrical problem exists not covered in this guide. Call to book a visit from one of our water bore / pump specialist electricians who have all the necessary tools for diagnosis or repair of pump electrical problems. More info covered here .)
Pump runs but no water?
Priming – suction pipe not completely filled with water.
The check valve has failed
Discharge head too much – depth to water beyond pump range.
Suction lift too high. Suction pipe may be too small or long, causing excessive friction loss.
The Impeller is blocked.
Suction pipe/screen/strainer completely blocked.
Pump motor running in reverse (check direction).
Air pocket in suction line.
Air leaks in suction line and/or shaft seal, gland packing.
Discharge line closed off, solenoid valve not opening or gate valve closed.
Poor flow?
Priming – casing and suction pipe not completely filled with liquid.
Discharge head higher than anticipated. Check friction loss in piping.
Suction lift too high. Suction pipe may be too small or long and causing excessive friction loss.
Impeller partially plugged.
Suction pipe/screen /strainer partially blocked.
Pump motor running in reverse (check direction).
Air pocket in suction line.
Air leaks in suction line and/or shaft seal, gland packing.
Foot valve too small.
Suction pipe not into the water enough after draw-down.
Mechanical faults such as the Impeller damaged, gland-packing of shaft seal damaged or wear rings worn.
Water pumps OK then stops?
Leak in suction line.
Leakage of air into pump casing.
Air pocket in suction line.
Suction lift too high.
Insufficient groundwater.
Not Enough Pressure?
Speed to low.
Air in water.
Wrong impeller diameter.
Mechanical fault – Wear rings worn. Impeller damaged. Shaft seal or gland-packing damaged.
Wrong direction of rotation.
Water pumps OK then stops but pump still running
Leak in suction line.
Leakage of air into pump casing.
Air pocket in suction line.
Suction lift too high.
Pump is noisy.
Hydraulic noise – cavitation, too much suction head.
Mechanical Faults including – pump and drive unit out of alignment ,rotating elements binding, shaft bent, bearings worn.
Pump leaks .
Gland Packing worn/loose. Shaft seal damaged.
Packing incorrectly inserted or not properly run in.
Today we are visiting a client in Bull Creek about automating his old well.
At the moment he turns on the old well manually from the DOL starter near the metre box. He then turns on two manual gate valves near the old well to send water to the front and back of his Bull Creek home.
We will send our specialist bore election to fully automate the system. He will install a new reticulation controller to interface with the bore. He will also run cables to the gate valves and we will replace with automatic 24 volt solenoid valves turned on and off by the reticulation controller.
We are expert at the automation of water bores. For more information check out our website HERE or call Troy on 9246 011
We have vast experience in drilling and servicing water bores in the Two Rocks area and surrounds over the last two decades.
We have drilled dozens of bores stretching from Yanchep and Two Rocks across to Seatrees Estate and Breakwater Estate. Bores in the area range from some shallow ones right near the coast at Yanchep and Two Rocks typically around 18 metres and up to 60 metres further inland near Seatrees Estate and Breakwater Estate.
In the smaller residential blocks in Two Rocks we normally install 1.1kw submersible pumps perfect for normal home gardens. In the 5 acre blocks over at Seatrees and Breakwater we would normally instal a 1.5 or 2.2 kw pump to give closer to 150 litres per minute.
All new drilling and installations are handled by our new Bore team at Virgin Bores.
For bore service and repair call Troy on 0408 454 130 or if you live in the Two Rocks area and you would like to discuss a submersible water bore look HERE
Over 15 years we have drilled and repaired many water bores in Two Rocks
check the fuse or circuitbreaker that should be in your meter box and labelled “bore” or “pump”
Single phase bore circuit breaker
Single phase pump start box
if it is 3 phase reset the 415-440v D.O.L ( Direct Online Starter)
if it is single phase there is most likely a separate 240v start box with a reset/over-ride switch. You should check that
does the 240 V start box have a burnt smell?
3 phase DOL bore starter
if it is operated from a reticulation controller check that that has 240v power going to it. Just because the reticulation controller has a display does not mean it has 240v power. Remove the 9v back up battery and confirm there is still a display.
can you hear the 24 v relay clicking in or the contacter make a clunk sound when you start the retic contoller? Starting the reic controller sends a 24v signal to a relay or contactor which turns on the “mains” power to the bore pump.
if all the above seems OK and it is a submersible pump, perhaps the motor is starting and you can’t hear it but another related water delivery problem exists. Does your electricity meter speed up when you start the pump?
if it is a centrifugal pump in a well have you checked the isolation switch?
have you recently had electrical work done to any of the wiring on your house?
Call us on Perth 1300 734 300 if none of the above helped. We may be able to help further on the phone or we will send our mobile bore service teams to any Perth suburb. Further info is on our main website.
check the fuse or circuit breaker that should be in your meter box and labelled “bore” or “pump”
if it is 3 phase reset the 415-440v D.O.L ( Direct Online Starter)
if it is single phase there is most likely a separate 240v start box with a reset/over-ride switch, check that.
if it is operated from a reticulation controller check that that has 240v power going to it. Just because the reticulation controller has a display does not mean it has 240v power. Remove the 9v back up battery and confirm there is still a display.
can you hear the 24 v relay clicking in or the contactor making a clunking sound when you start the retic controller? Starting the reticulation controller sends a 24v signal to a relay or contactor which turns on the “mains” power to the bore pump.
if all the above seems OK and it is a submersible pump, perhaps the motor is starting and you can’t hear it and another related water delivery problem exists. Does your electricity meter speed up when you start the pump? You can check this if it is the old spinning disc style.
if it is a centrifugal pump in a well have you checked the isolation switch normally located in the top well liner?
have you had electrical work recently done at your house?
Call us on 9246 0111 if none of the above helped. We may be able to help further on the phone or we will send our mobile bore service teams to any Perth suburb or read more on our main website
Our mobile service teams do prompt repairs to ALL TYPES of Water Bores & Reticulation Sprinkler Systems Perth metro-wide. Free phone advice. Our experience saves you time and money. Bore repair HOTLINE 1300 734 300 North of River: Troy 0408454130 South of River: Brett 0411511611
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