Rainbow Pump Company                   541-726-1394

The following information comes from the May 2014 Water Well Journal.

If you work around water, you can absolutely know weather can affect the life of a pump. We want to help you save the life of your pump.

The bigges sources of wear and tear on a pump are sand and water. Many wells late in the irrigation season when water levels have pumped down lower, make some air.  The air will wear out the impellers and bowl assembly of a pump.

The key to preventing pump wear and tear is to squeeze the pump down and make it not pump air.

Another key is to have a pump professional size your pump properly from the moment of installation and that you have communicated how you are going to use your pump. A good idea is to have a gate valve installed that can be adjusted as the water pressure changes from season to season.

            CHECK VALVES

The use of check valves is also an important key to saving the life of your pump.  Check valves can prevent backspin, water hammer and upthrust. Backspin occurs when water backflows down the pump to rotate in a reverse direction. Water hammer occurs when a vacuum, created by a leaking downhole check valve, causes a void where water moving at high velocity fills the void and strikes the closed check valve and the stationary water inthe pipe above it, causing a hydraulic shock. Upthrust occurs when starting the unit under zero head pressure, causing an uplifting on the impeller-shaft assembly in the pump.

CYCLING ON AND OFF

A Cycle Stop Valve was created to eliminate the cycling and makes pumps and motors last longer and it can also eliminate failed check valves, pressure switches, contactors, tank bladders, capacitors and other components.

Eliminating pump cycling can also keeps pumps from coming unscrewed from the drop pipe, breaking shafts, reduce sediment or sand from wells, eliminate chaffing on the drop wire and other things. It stops water hammer, which breaks lines, fittings and wastes precious fresh water supplies.

Over the years, it has been proven that eliminating pump cycling solves the majority of pump system problems, and makes pumps and motors last much longer than they were designed to last.

DRY WELL PROTECTION

"The average number of starts on your pump per day over a period of months or years influences the life of a submersible pumping system," states the Franklin Electric AIM Manual.

Excessive cycling affects the life of control components such as pressure switches, starters, relays and capaicors.  Rapid cycling can also cause motor spline damage, bearing damage and motor overheating.

Several products are available to deal with different types of pump issues.  A Pumptec-Plus is a pump/motor protection device designed to work on any 230V single-phase induction motor ranging in size from 1/2 to 5 hp. It uses a micro-computer to continuously monitor motor power and line voltage to provide protection against dry well, water logged tank and high and low voltage and mud or sand clogging.

PUMP SAVERS

The pump savers are designed to protect pumps from dry well, dead head, rapid cycle, jammed impeller, and over/under voltage conditions.  They are popular in drought-stricken regions of the US.

There are options to prolong the life of your pump with accessories that fit your individual well's condition and needs.  You not only save the life of your pumping system but you save money in preventing service call.

Let Rainbow Pump assist you in setting up a pumping system that fits your needs.