How to Maximize Water Pump Life

Water pump life extension or how to maximize the life of a well pump:

This article provides a list of steps to take to maximize the life of a well or water pump and its motor.

Well pump definitions, types, & water pump life: this article series describes the different types of water pumps or well pumps, and we list the factors affecting the life expectancy of water pumps and we include a list of steps to take to maximize the life of a well or water pump and its motor.

Water Pump Life Maximization

How Can We Maximize the Life Expectancy of a Well Water Pump?

Article Series Contents

• WATER PUMP LIFE MAXIMIZATION
• WATER PUMP CAVITATION
• WATER PUMP DUTY CYCLE

Page top schematic of a shallow well jet pump installation is provided courtesy of Carson Dunlop Associates, a Toronto home inspection, education & report writing tool company [ carsondunlop.com ].

[Click to enlarge any image]

• Check valves: install check valves where they will protect the water pump from loss of prime and having to work as hard to restore prime. Consult the pump manufacturere's recommendations for the type and placement of check valves to protect the system. Typically we need a check valve on deep wells at a rate of one for every 250 feet of lift. Even on a shallow well we need a foot valve or check valve.
  
  For example, while most submersible pumps contain their own integrated check valve, installing a second check valve at the top of the well or further in the well piping reduces the load on the water pump's internal valve, protects against loss of prime in the well piping, and extends the life of the water pump itself.
• Low water cutoff: Install a low water cutoff to protect the pump motor from overheating should water level drop in the well.
  See PUMP LOW WATER CUTOFF
  
  Use a well drawdown low water cutoff device or well tailpipe: Install
  a WELL PIPING TAIL PIECE (or well low water cutoff) or a well drawdown pump protection tailpiece in the well itself if the pump is likely to encounter seasonal low water table conditions that drop the well safe yield point, install a drawdown cutoff device or low-water cutoff device (also called drawdown protection device) in the well to protect the pump.
  
  Install a Smart Tank or other water pressure regulation device that regulates water flow in the building to reduce the water pump cycling rate
• Pump Amperage Draw & Pump operating temperature: P  if the pump motor feels very hot to the touch compare its operating temperature to the rated operating temperature on the pump motor data plate. (You may need to borrow an infra red scanner and make a black dot on the motor surface to get an accurate temperature reading.)
  
  If the water pump motor is running hot or is otherwise acting oddly check the actual motor current draw (amperage) when the motor is running under load. If the amps draw is significantly above the rated run amperage stated on the data tag there is most likely a mechanical or wiring problem with the equipment and further investigation is needed.
• Pump Capacity or Horsepower: Select a pump motor horsepower or size which is appropriate for the anticipated usage
  or WATER PUMP DUTY CYCLE for the well and pump installation.
  
  In general a larger motor will outlast a smaller pump motor. Match the pump output rate to the safe well yield. See WELL YIELD DEFINITION.
  This avoids
  WATER PUMP CAVITATION that can damage the pump.
• Pump Circuit Voltage: check available voltages on the pump motor circuit. We speculate that some electric motors will fail sooner if they are required to frequently operate at voltages lower than their design voltage range. Typically pump manufacturers state that the voltage must be within 10% of the specified or nominal pump operating voltage. [1]
• Pump installation:
  
  
  • Submersible pump debris protection for submersible pumps, mount the pump far enough from the well bottom to avoid picking up dirt or debris;
  • Pump mounting: the pump and related piping need to be protected from twisting movements caused by pump motor start-up and also for above-ground pumps, from vibration.
  • Pump wiring: electrical grounding must be provided as specified by the manufacturer for shock protection and where required, GFCI protection as well. Include electrical surge protection and lightning protection for the pump motor, well, wiring, and controls.
• Pump Maintenance: Perform necessary pump maintenance: some water pumps require inspection and replacement of internal parts such as bearings or impellers as often as after just four or five years of use. While it may be possible to ignore this maintenance for a while, the effect may be to so wear the pump or pump motor parts that complete pump or pump motor replacement are necessary.
• Pump Lubrication: a few above-ground pump motors and other electric motors require periodic lubrication. Check your pump's installation manual specifications for motor lubrication; if the motor requires a lubricant, use the type recommended by the manufacturer. Select an oil specifically rated for use on electric motors. Don't use other oils (such as spray WD 40™ or you may damage the electric motor windings.
  
  Watch out: do not try to lubricate an electric motor that is not specifically designed to be lubricated.
• Pump Noises: listen to the water pump when it is operating.
  
  While the noise level varies quite a bit among well pumps by type and quality of manufacturing, if you hear a significant increase in the motor noise or screeching, grinding, whining, the motor or the mechanical parts it is driving may be in trouble and further investigation is in order. Other sources of pump noise include air leaks into the well and water piping system
  and WATER PUMP CAVITATION.
• Pump Voltage: wire the pump for 240V: If your pump motor and control are labeled indicating that it is permitted to run the pump at either 120V or 240V, and if you are installing the pump new, there are some advantages to wiring the pump to operate on 240V rather than 120V. The motor will start more easily and you might improve the pump motor life.
  
  Most well pumps, except the very smallest models, can be wired to run at either voltage level. The higher voltage will make it easier for the pump to start. The efficiency of the water pump and its operating cost will be about the same regardless of the voltage used.
  
  See EFFICIENCY of 120V vs 240V EQUIPMENT for an answer to the question of whether or not changing a well pump from 120V to 240V will save in operating cost. (Basically, no.) Also
  see DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS for definitions of Amps, Volts, Watts, Ohms, etc.
• Sediment filter: Install a sediment filter ahead of the water pump in above ground water pump installations. Most well equipment installers place a filter after the water pump, or even after the water pressure tank rather than ahead of these components.
  
  If the well water has a high sediment level placing a sediment filter upstream or before the water passes through the water pump will extend the pump life significantly.
• Short cycling: rapid on-off cycling of the pump motor is hard on both the pump motor itself and the pressure control switch as well. Maintain the water pressure tank: a water pressure tank which has lost its air charge and is short cycling is very hard on and shortens the life of a water pump.
  
  See SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMPS
• Water chemistry: aggressive or corrosive water may impact pump impeller and other parts life. A water treatment system may be needed. In addition to other pump motor properties such as voltage and horsepower discussed in this list, add a motor that includes internal thermal protection to protect the pump from overheating due to mineral deposits accumulating from the water supply
• Water flow rate: some pumps such as submersibles depend on an adequate water flow rate through the pump for adequate cooling. If the well flow rate is inadequate or if water flow controls slow the flow rate below the manufacturer's specifications, the pump will suffer and may have a reduced life.
• Water temperature: most well water is cool enough for this not to be an issue. But for pumps handling hot water such as from a thermal spring or natural geyser, the water temperature may exceed the pumps rating, cause it to operate too hot, and shorten its life.
• Water Pump Control & Switch life:
  See WELL PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT and its companion articles which include a discussion of the life expectancy and common modes of failure of water pump and tank pressure controls.
• Water pump protection switch: install a pump control that protects the pump from running dry or cavitating.
  
  See WATER PUMP PROTECTION SWITCH
• Water piping leaks: leaks anywhere in the well or water piping system not only waste water they cause extra operation of the pump, adding to its workload and perhaps shortening its life. Leaks in the well or water piping may allow water out or air into the system.
  
  See WELL PIPING LEAK DIAGNOSIS
  and
  see AIR DISCHARGE at FAUCETS, FIXTURES.

...

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