Help with Water Pump That Is Not Working Which Is Plumbed to The House

LFord351 on 18/07/2020 - 14:54
Last edited 18/07/2020 - 15:00

Hi all,

Hoping to get your help and advice with this. I have a water pump that is connected to my water tanks and pumps tank water into the house. It is connected to our toilets, laundry, showers and bath. The pump is also connected to mains water so it switches over to mains when there is no water in the tanks. Up until a few days ago it has been working as expected. It now will not pump any water at all. The motor also makes a strange sound. The mains water is flowing as normal. This morning I took the pump apart and cleaned the inside of it. When the motor is not in the housing the impeller spins and the sound is also what is expected. I was not able to remove the impeller as the nut just kept spinning, there must be a trick to taking it off? I also removed the casing behind the controller and cleaned this as well. The water is definitely flowing from the water tanks. I removed the aqua save valve and turned the pump on and the water does flow to the top however there is not much pressure at all. Put everything back together and for the first 30 seconds the pump sounds normal and then starts with the strange sound again and this is the only sound every time I use the pump. When I turn the taps on the pump never triggers to turn on as it used to do.

Another question I also have is that when previously on the tank water when having a shower it would never maintain the temperature for example during a shower it would go hot and cold and this happened often. If for example I was watering the garden and say the toilet was flushed and refilling then the garden hose would lose at least half the pressure. Would a more powerful pump fix these issues?

Pump is a Goulds BGR050

https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/142678/81331/20200717_…

https://files.ozbargain.com.au/upload/142678/81330/20200718_…

What can I do? Please help and thanks in advance.

Cheers

Home & Garden

Comments

  • [Deactivated] on 18/07/2020 - 15:12

    So assuming there is no air stuck in the pump?

    • Ford351 on 18/07/2020 - 15:15

      Don’t think so, but not sure how to be certain?

      • [Deactivated] on 18/07/2020 - 15:36

        Unplug outlet and let it flow until its freely flowing

        • Ford351 on 18/07/2020 - 15:41

          I did try that and the water from the tank does flow through.

  • pinchies on 18/07/2020 - 15:38

    The BGR050 is rated for a maximum of 50L/min. A normal hose is 20-100L/min. Basically, the pump is currently operating at its maximum flowrate, so when additional taps are opened, the flow rate is split. Yes, you could get a more powerful pump (e.g. BGR075) with a higher maximum flowrate — that would reduce (but not eliminate) the change in temperature in the shower.

    Regarding the sound, can you record a video of the normal and strange operational sounds?

    When I turn the taps on the pump never triggers to turn on as it used to do.

    This sounds like the pressure sensor on the pump (the thing on top) is not detecting the drop in pressure when you open a tap, and as result does not turn on the pump. Perhaps the pressure switch is faulty?

    • Ford351 on 18/07/2020 - 16:14

      This is what it sounds like at the moment, it's like it is struggling. I don't have a video on how it used to sound but it definitely does not sound like it does now.

      https://www.dropbox.com/s/67lq0rgw4sb8t3g/20200718_055930000…

      Is the pressure sensor on the black controller unit, or on the aqua save valve device? How can I check and test it?

      Would the BGR100 reduce the shower issue or any advice around this? We have 9 outlets which are connected to this pump.

      Thanks for your help.

  • Stewardo on 18/07/2020 - 21:26
    -1

    Bypass the tank and connect house to mains.
    The energy used in these cheap pumps that are supplied with project homes costs more that the water usage component of the water bill.
    Buy a new pump and use tank for garden when needed.
    It’s odd that rain water is connected to the shower, are you sure that it’s not the mixing valve that’s fluctuating.

    • Ford351 on 18/07/2020 - 22:05
      -1

      I wanted to use rain water as much as possible that’s why it is connected to the shower. I have solar power so that offsets pump costs easily.

  • Third_Gear on 19/07/2020 - 08:02

    I used to have issues with an old pump same as you. Bought a Davey pump and problem solved.

    • Ford351 on 19/07/2020 - 09:29

      Thanks, do you know what model Davey pump you have and is it plumbed into your house for toilets etc? My pump is less than 2 years old.

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