Our Perth northern suburbs bore service man snapped this pic of a swollen PVC pipe in Duncraig.
Heat from a centrifugal pump that ran without water deformed this PVC pipe.
The centrifugal pump in an old well had clearly been run without water flowing. The pump had consequently overheated causing the heat stress on the adjacent PVC and the resultant swelling. If you have any bore or well problem in Perth then please call us. Our mobile service teams are ready to help you north or south of the river.
We have equipped bore service vans on the road who can help you with any issues you may have with your bore or reticulation we can fix it quickly.
If you are in the northern suburbs and your bore needs repairing call Troy on 9246 0111 or book a bore service online
Whether your reticulation system draws water from a bore or from mains scheme water, if suddenly no water is coming out, the first thing to check is your reticulation controller.
Turn on the reticulation controller and set it to “run”, “manual” or whatever iniates a manual start of station one. Does the digital display look OK? In most types of reticulation/iirigation controllers used in Perth you would expect to see time left to run counting down in the display. Consult your user manual for details. Retic controller manuals are often available online and some are available by clicking here.
Hunter Retic Controller
Make sure your controller is actually receiving 240 volts from mains power and not just running on the 9 volt back-up battery. 9 volts is not enough to open solenoid valves or start a 24 volt pump relay. Mains 240 V in controllers is stepped down to 24 V for operation of solenoid valves and relays. If it is a model that is plugged in to a power point you could try another appliance in that outlet.
Rain Dial Retic Controller
If that all seems normal but there is no water try another station. Still no luck? If your system runs from mains scheme water then it may be that the “master” solenoid valve is not opening. If you can locate your master valve you should be able to manually open it. Some have an on/off lever or try rotating the coil about a quarter of a turn anti-clockwise. If you suddenly get water then congratulations you have found the problem! If your system runs from a bore then check that the 240v or (or 440v if three phase) pump isolation switch is turned on and that no circuit breakers are tripped. You should hear a pump start relay “click” or “clunk” somewhere when you start the system, indicating the retic controller is sending a signal as it should.
If none of the above has helped give us a call on 1300734 300 for further advice or to book one of our Perth mobile service men to fix the problem for you. Or visit our main website here for more info.
With the ending of Perth metro sprinkler bans for 2013 Perth bore owners are testing their water bores for the first time this season……and some aren’t working! We have had calls today all with similar stories. “I’m starting my bore and the circuit breaker is tripping ( or fuse is blowing), what do I do?”. First thing is we send a bore electrician ( one who is experienced in pumps and bores ) with special equipment to test the circuits and windings of the motor. With submersible motors this can be done without winching the pump up. Remember if it is a fused bore pump motor it may be covered under household insurance. Also if the fault can be traced back to one of winters electrical storms it may be related, even damage from lightning induction, and this too may be subject to an insurance claim. This is a very good reason to have the matter attended to first by specialist bore repairers who can correctly diagnose the fault and possible cause. 1300 734 300 will reach us 24/7
Typical plastic bore box which covers a submersible bore.Just uncovered a Nedlands submersible bore
We often get calls from Perth customers who know they have a submersible bore but have no idea where it is. They bought the house long after the submersible bore was drilled and no-one knows where the bore is let alone what they are looking for. This adjacent pic shows a submersible borehead we just uncovered in Nedlands. If the bore was installed in the last 20 years or so there will typically be a green lid just under the lawn like this one. Sometimes they are even flush with the lawn and visible. The lid normally conceals a box that is about 435 x 300 x 305mm as seen to the right. Older than 20 years and sometimes it is a small concrete lid on a concrete box of similar size.
Can’t find your submersible bore?
Call 1300 734 300. Our mobile service teams have special locating equipment and expert knowledge.
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.
Finishing off a new submersible bore in Mt PleasantFinished bore box lid will be beneath the lawn.
Today Virgin Bores (our installation division) drilled a new submersible borehole south of Perth near the river in Mount Pleasant. This new bore replaces a 50 year old well style bore with galvanised piping and an old centrifugal pump that was beyond repair. The new submersible bore needed a larger than normal 2.2 kilowatt pump to water the quarter acre block in two stations. The house was quite close to the Swan River so our local knowledge was valuable in ensuring we did not drill too deep to avoid potential salinity problems.
For more details on drilling a new submersible water bore in Perth and surrounds visit http://www.virginbores.com.au
It was a great feeling to turn the new submersible pump on and see such a great result. Client in Dianella had a very large centrifugal pump down a 7 liner well. The centrifugal pump had failed and it was not practical or economical to replace or recondition the pump. Fortunately a few years ago the bore hole at the bottom of the old well had been redrilled and replaced with a 100 mm PVC casing. This was compatible with a new submersible pump. The 3 phase centrifugal system was converted to a submersible pump 3kw ( 4hp ) three phase. The old two stage starter on the wall was replaced by a new 415 vDOL starter. While we were at it we converted the gentlemans old manual gate valve sprinkler system to a modern automated one. A fully programmable reticulation controller now turns on the new submersible pump at the same time it opens solenoid valves to controll the 3 separate sprinkler stations. He had the old mountain mist metal disc sprinklers that are common with old well systems all over Perth. Those sprinklers use about 17 litres per minute each. We had to take this into account when specifying the new submersible pump for the old well conversion. We had to make sure the new pump had the power to adequately run all his sprinklers as configured without modification. As the picture shows its great when a plan comes together! Call us on 1300 734 300 for help with any Perth bore or reticulation system or visit our main Virgin Bores Perth website here.
Perth Water Bore Troubleshooters are part of Virgin Bores. We are the go-to, can-do people when it comes to garden bore and reticulation in Perth. Because we install and repair reticulation and irrigation as well as install and repair water bores we can fix anything to do with Perth bores or sprinkler systems.
insurance work including pump fusion claims and lighning and storm damage to reticulation and bore systems. Burnt out motors, damage from lightning induction and power surges.
repair of rising main lines, poly and pvc
lowering of boreheads necesitated by landscaping ground level changes
bore water testing
solenoid valve finding / locating
all electrical repairs for pumps and reticulation systems
replacement of reticulation controllers.
leaking reticulation pipes
broken sprinklers
automation of sprinkler systems off bore or mains scheme water
Sometimes we get calls from Perth bore owners thinking the pressure ( or more correctly flow ) is down a lot on their water bore. Often we find it is not a problem with their bore pressure or flow, but actually a problem with their irrigation or reticulation system. If a solenoid valve or valves have stuck open ( stuck on ) then more than one station or section of the sprinkler system will operate. Result…sprinklers don’t get enough water and perform miserably. This video produced by solenoid valve manufacturer Hunter of the USA has some very helpful tips. It equally applies to many other brands of solenoid valves installed in Perth.
Of course, if you would rather we send a reticulation serviceman to fix the stuck open solenoid valve for you, please call our PERTH SERVICE HOTLINE on 1300 734 300 or visit our main website.
If a station or section of your reticulation is not opening then you most likely have a problem with your irrigation system solenoid valve. Hunter Industries of the USA produced this video relating to troubleshooting their solenoid valves. The principles also apply to other solenoid brands common in Perth. Of course if you would rather one of our reticulation technicians attends and fixes the problem for you – PERTH metro wide – we are only a phone call away on 1300 734 300 or visit our main website Our retic service men have solenoid valve locating equipment if you can’t find your valves.
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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