Tag Archives: perth

Members ADIA & IAA, Reticulation controller, Reticulation Perth

Retic Controller Replacement.

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Our mobile service teams cover all Perth suburbs and are stocked with reticulation controllers, so if you need yours replaced we can do it quickly.

We can replace you reticulation controller whether it is hard wired into mains power or it is a plug-pack model plugged in to a power point.  We replace reticulation controllers that are running irrigation systems from mains water or operating water bores.

 

Rain Dial Retic Controller
Rain Dial Retic Controller
Reticulation Controller Perth
Pro 469 Reticulation Controller

 

There is also a retic controller you can operate from your iphone from anywhere in the world?

Retic controller operated remotely
Hydrawise reticulation controller

Call  us with a brief description of your controller and we will quote you a price for a fully installed replacement.  Call us on 9246 0111.    More info is available on our main website here

Bore Repairs & Service, Members ADIA & IAA, submersible pump motor

Submersible Pump Motor Failed?

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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

Air develop water bore Perth, Bore Repairs & Service, Family owned business

Bore Air-Development?

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We often get asked what it means to air develop a bore.  It is an important part of drilling a water bore in Perth suburbs.  Talk to us about it on 9246 0111.

Water bore Air-development.
Water gushes out of a new bore as compressed air is pumped down the borehole.

Ordinarily with a correctly constructed new water bore it is air-developed following drilling but before the installation of the submersible pump. This is particularly important in Perth’s typically sandy soils.

bore development
Water bore air development (credit : Lockyer Water)

Air development is a process where compressed air is pumped down the borehole both flushing out the drilling muds used to drill the bore and developing water flow from the aquifer. The accompanying diagram illustrates the results of development on a bore with a stainless steel screen. The principal is the same and equally important for those water bores constructed with slotted PVC screen. Slotted PVC screen is more common in Perth water bores.

Air-development is also used to clean out old and tired bores that have diminished water flows. It helps clear out years of silt etc and once again develops flow from the aquifer.

If your bore has reduced water flow call us for the solution on 9246 0111. Our mobile service teams operate Perth metro-wide. Also there is more information on air developing a water bore HERE

Bore Repairs & Service, Bores & Pumps, Family owned business

Submersible Bore Pump Shaft Broken

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We had an unusual service call yesterday  (9246 0111) about a submersible bore pump that was producing only about 25% of the water that it normally delivered.

submersible pump shaft
Pump and motor uncoupled showing shaft.

We ruled out all the normal things like a hole in the poly rising main, pump wasn’t running backwards, none of the “normal” causes.???  When we winched the submersible pump to the surface we found the shaft joining the motor to the “wet-end” (pump) seemed OK but on uncoupling the submersible pump we noted inconsistencies. Found the shaft had sheared actually inside the pump leaving the first 4 of 12 impellers still turning. Quite an uncommon fault.

submersible pump
Submersible pump shaft snapped

Further detective work found the unusual auto start device had been turning the pump on/off, on/off incessantly contributing to the failure. Replaced the pump and installed it all back down the borehole with the original motor. Tested and all good now!

We have been in the water boring business for nearly 20 years and know how to repair and service water bores in Perth. We are a family business and will look after you.

Call us anytime on  9246  0111 or Troy on mobile 0408 454 130. Our mobile bore service teams visit all Perth suburbs.

There is more information on water bores in Perth HERE

Bore Repairs & Service, Reticulation systems

Bore and Retic Service – Experience Pays

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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.

Indexing valve old style
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.

Bore broken, Bore repair

Perth Bore Service and Maintenance Cranks Up

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deep submesible pump repair Perth
Pulling up a deep submersible pump for repair.

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.

Water Bores & Reticulation all suburbs Perth
Reticulation & Repairs Perth 9246 0111

Phone us for free telephone advice on 9246 0111   or to book a bore service visit. Read further at our Bore Troubleshooting Guide or visit our main website here.

Bore Repairs & Service, Bores & Pumps

Submersible Bore LOST IN PERTH

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Bore Box
Typical plastic bore box which covers a submersible bore.
Submersible bore Perth
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.

Bore Repairs & Service, Bores & Pumps

My submersible pump running with no water

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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 Submersible pump winch Perth 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.

Call us 24/7 on 1300 734 300 or visit us on our main website here.

Bore Repairs & Service, Bores & Pumps

The bore pump in my old well has lost prime. What should I do?

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Onga bore Perth Priming point on “Onga” pump

Presuming the pump is running but there is no water being delivered then it is most likely a priming issue. First check though that it is

Centrifugal pump Perth Priming point on “Davey” pump

not a surface reticulation problem with a manual gate valve having been turned off or an automatic solenoid valve not opening. Sometimes, if the centrifugal pump style bores have not been run for a few weeks, they lose prime through a slow leak.

Often just priming the pump and making sure it is run every few days will overcome the problem. There is usually priming point on top of the pump. Sometimes a priming point may have been put at the top of the well in the main line.

If it is a serious leak it will need repairing.

Check valve Perth
Brass Check Valve
Bore check valve Perth
Philmac Check Valve

It might be the check valve that needs replacing. It could be leaking gland-packing or even a leaking mechanical seal.

Sometimes it is the “bottom prime” i.e. the water under the check valve in the pipe that goes down to the water table has escaped.

Call us, we will ask a few questions and give you some options. on 9246 0111 or visit our main website here. Our mobile service teams cover all of Perth greater metro area including outer suburbs.

Uncategorized

Not enough pressure for sprinklers?

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“hungry” mountain mist sprinkler
typical pop-up nozzle

Sometimes the flow from the Perth mains scheme water supply has diminished in a suburb or the power / flow /pressure from a bore has deteriorated over time, to such an extent that a reticulation system no longer works adequately. Result is maybe sprinklers only half pop up or fixed sprinklers don’t spray as far as they used to. One remedy is to reconfigure the reticulation system in to smaller stations (zones) with less sprinklers so each station uses less water. Another solution can be to change the sprinkler heads to models that use less water. As an example the old style “mountain mist ” chrome or brass flat disc sprinklers with a 3/8 inch aperture use 17 litres per minute each whilst a typical 360″ pop up sprinkler with a 10 ft nozzle uses half of that. Some new low precipitation sprinklers such MP rotators use as little as 2 litres per minute. Call us anytime in Perth on 1300 734 300 for free advice or to book a reticulation or bore serviceman to remedy your sprinkler or bore problems. You can also visit our main website here.