When things are running smoothly it can be easy to overlook routine pump maintenance. However, if you want to ensure that your pump—whether it be a basement pump, or sewage treatment plant pump—remains reliable and doesn’t fail, it’s important that you invest in preventative maintenance and regular servicing to ensure your pump functions as intended, especially during periods of inclement weather where a failed pump could have disastrous consequences for your home or business.
Pump maintenance is typically split into two classifications:
Corrective pump maintenance—this is when your pump has failed and requires a repair or replacement to get things back in full-working order.
Preventative maintenance—this is routine periodic maintenance to help prevent problems from happening in the first place. To avoid downtime, and ensure your pump functions when it’s most needed, we’d recommend you stick to a regular maintenance program.
Here at Flo-Well Drainage and Plumbing we have a wealth of experience in maintaining several different pump systems including sewage treatment stations, water booster pumps, water pumping stations and London basement pumps.
What Checks are Carried Out During a Routine Basement Pump Service?
A typical pump maintenance program would generally involve a periodic check of the pump’s performance. By spotting an issue before it becomes a problem is one of the best ways to help prevent pump breakdowns.
When we conduct a pump maintenance programme, we are typically looking out for the following…
Unusual noise – If you’ve noticed a change in the sound your pump makes while it is operating, this is often one of the first signs of a problem. A properly functioning pump should make a consistent hum. If you’re starting to hear clunking or grinding noises, this could indicate worn bearings.
Leaks – Pumps should not be leaking. A leaking pump will result in a loss of performance and typically indicates that the seals are becoming worn and require replacement.
Vibration – While it is expected that there will be some vibration from your pump, if you’ve started to notice the vibration becoming more extreme, this should be investigated as soon as possible. Extreme vibrations from the pump can indicate impeller imbalance, or damage of the pump and motor.
Overheating – If you’ve noticed that your pump is running hotter than usual, this is not something that should be ignored. An overly hot pump could indicate problems with the bearings or motor, or the pump is running at a duty that it cannot maintain.
Corrosion – Corrosion can result in pump failure and should be investigated and repaired as a matter of priority.
Clogging – If the pump is not capable of handling the size of the solids that have attempted to pass through, this can lead to clogging or the impellers or valves. If you’ve noticed a significant drop in the performance of your pump but have not experienced any of the other issues mentioned above, this could indicate that your basement pump has become clogged and will require cleaning.
How Often Should I Get My Pump Serviced?
While there is no hard or fast rule and will typically be dictated by the amount of use your pump gets. We would recommend at a bare minimum to have your pump serviced and inspected once a year. Not only does regular pump maintenance reduce the likelihood of pump failures, replacing word parts is much cheaper than having to replace an entire pump.
Can I Check My Pump Myself?
Whilst we would recommend hiring a professional pump specialist to complete any servicing and maintenance of your pump, there are a few things you can do yourself to help ensure your pump operates as intended.
If you have a submersible pump, you can look for signs of damage and pay attention to any alarms or unusual noises coming from your pump. Calling a pump specialist at the first sign of a problem will often allow your system to be repaired before a catastrophic pump failure occurs.
If you pump is visible, you will want to be looking out for signs of leaks (this could be observing water actively leaking from the pump, damp patches, mould, or stale water smells).
How Often Should I Replace My Water Pump?
Most of the wear that occurs on your water pump is on the internal parts, therefore it is best to rely on the experience of your pump specialist to provide guidance and recommendations of pump replacement during your routing maintenance program.