What are the causes of submersible bore pump motor failures?
The majority of electrical failures of submersible pump motors in residential garden bore installations is as a result of the burning out of stator windings. Causes include, but are not limited to, high voltage surges/spikes and lightning strikes.
Other causes include-
The running of a pump against a “closed head” ( nowhere for the water to pump , closed valve, blocked outlets etc ) with limited water flowing past the submersible motor to aid in cooling, can cause failure of the thrust system. Dead-heading can also result in the “blowing” of the rising poly main line that delivers the water to the surface.
If a pump is run with not enough back pressure or head this can cause premature damage to upthrust bearings. It is important the pump is run on an accepted part of the “pump curve”. In a nutshell it must be running enough, but not too many, sprinklers.
Sand or abrasive matter in the bore which can cause the shaft seal to wear ultimately causing submersible motor failure.
A failed check valve can cause back spinning of the pump impellors as the water flows back down the main line to equalize with static water level. This spins the pump at low RPM with insufficient lubrication. In deeper submersible bores this can, over time, cause failure.
constant stop/start, stop/start of the motor (machine-gunning) may lead to pump/motor shaft failure
Our bore service guys cover all of the Perth greater metropolitan area and are in fully stocked vans. Call us on 9246 0111 to talk to us about your bore or book a bore service online
If your submersible pump is fused it may be covered by your household insurance. Call us on 9246 0111.
We were happy to receive a handwritten note on Friday from a customer in Kardinya. We replaced his fused submersible pump motor and steered him in the right direction with his fusion insurance claim.
He said, “Thanks for fixing my submersible bore pump so promptly. I didn’t even know fusion might be covered under insurance“. Our electrician tested the motor and wrote it up as fusion.
We uncovered this curious old valve in a job south of the river. The younger retic serviceman on the job had never seen one before.
They are actually a Fimco Hydro Indexing Valve rarely seen in Perth home reticulation systems anymore. This model can handle 4 zones or stations on a reticulation system. These cam-operated valves were used to split up the water delivery from some older well style bores around Perth. No wires or electronics involved.
Old style indexing valve
Each time the bore started the valve opening would move around to divert water to one of four downward facing delivery pipes that can’t be seen clearly in this picture.
We have the knowledge and experience to solve any Perth bore or reticulation problem. You can visit our main website here or call 9246 0111 to book a service visit.
Most bores work seamlessly for many years with no problems start but there are sometimes some with problems. Common Perth bore faults include,
Old wells that have lost prime.
Submersible pumps that won’t start.
Bore circuit breakers that trip or fuses that are blown.
Reticulation controllers that are not working.
Blown bore pump start capacitors.
Electrical faults.
Pump motor fusion (often covered by insurance).
Whatever your bore problem no doubt we have seen it before as we have been in the business for nearly 20 years and are very experienced in bore repair in Perth.
When we are out and about repairing old water bores sometimes we find a bore is beyond economical repair. Often the only sensible thing to do is install a new submersible bore because the homes mains water pressure won’t be strong enough to power reticulation that was configured for the old bore. Of course we are asked who we can recommend to drill a new one. We always confidently recommend our installation division, Virgin Bores. Visit the website here for more new water bore info or a bore quote, 1300 734 300
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.
From time to time we attend a Perth submersible bore where we test everything and find the submersible motor is running but no water is coming out. The first thing we do is disconnect the bore at the borehead and test it again. This ensures that it was not actually a problem with the delivery of water via the reticulation system. Often people leap to the conclusion that there is something wrong with the pump. Often though, it turns out to be a small hole blown in the rising poly main. That is the 40 or 50mm flexible black poly pipe that delivers the water to the surface from the submersible pump. Why would this poly blow? Commonly because, for one reason or another, the pump has been run against a closed head, that is where there is nowhere for the water to flow. Probably because a solenoid valve didn’t open or a tap was left inadvertently off. The motor overheats and heats up the surrounding water. The black poly pipe becomes malleable as it is affected by this heat and under pressure a hole blows in it. Normally this hole is just above the pump.
Winching up a submersible pump Perth
Generally just the poly needs repairing (along of course with the underlying cause of the dead-heading). To do this we set up our portable which and winch the submersible pump to the surface. We cut off a section of the poly, rejoin it to the pump and reinstall everything back down the borehole. Bingo all fixed! Most Perth submersible boreholes are between 15 and 60 metres deep and a winch is required for the deeper holes.
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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