Griner Drilling ServiceGriner Drilling Service

Pump Repair and Pump Repair and MaintenanceMaintenance

• The terms ‘repair’ and ‘maintenance’ The terms ‘repair’ and ‘maintenance’ are referring to two completely different are referring to two completely different actions, but yet they are closely related.actions, but yet they are closely related.

• A pump ‘repair’ is when the pump is A pump ‘repair’ is when the pump is pulled out of the well because of poor pulled out of the well because of poor performance.performance.

• ‘‘Maintenance’ is what you do to limit Maintenance’ is what you do to limit the number and/or frequency of pump the number and/or frequency of pump repairs you must perform.repairs you must perform.

• Proper maintenance on your water well Proper maintenance on your water well is important, just like with your car, is important, just like with your car, house, etc.house, etc.

What should you expect What should you expect from an annual water well from an annual water well inspection?inspection?• Current capacity of the pump.Current capacity of the pump.

• Current water level inside the well, if Current water level inside the well, if at all possible.at all possible.

• Check for sand production.Check for sand production.

• Check the amp load on the motor.Check the amp load on the motor.

• On vertical hollow shaft motors, drain On vertical hollow shaft motors, drain and replace the oil, or re-grease the and replace the oil, or re-grease the bearings.bearings.– Many VHS manufacturers recommend Many VHS manufacturers recommend

changing the oil after every 1000 hours of changing the oil after every 1000 hours of operation.operation.

– 8 hrs. of operation per day is nearly 3000 8 hrs. of operation per day is nearly 3000 hours of operation over a one year period.hours of operation over a one year period.

• Remove the vent screens on motors Remove the vent screens on motors and clean the dirt and trash out of and clean the dirt and trash out of them.them.

• On oil lubricated pumps, check the On oil lubricated pumps, check the oiler and disassemble and clean. Oil oiler and disassemble and clean. Oil ‘gunk’ will build up and stop up the ‘gunk’ will build up and stop up the needle valves over time.needle valves over time.

• On water lubricated pumps, check On water lubricated pumps, check and add packing if necessary. Check and add packing if necessary. Check the shaft for wear that may cause a the shaft for wear that may cause a problem in the near future.problem in the near future.

• Check the fly screens on the well Check the fly screens on the well vents.vents.

• Caulk around openings, such as where Caulk around openings, such as where the airline comes through the head.the airline comes through the head.

• Examine the grout that forms the seal Examine the grout that forms the seal around the discharge head. Repair it if around the discharge head. Repair it if it is in poor condition.it is in poor condition.– Cracked or missing grout can allow Cracked or missing grout can allow

contaminants to be sucked into the well contaminants to be sucked into the well when the water level drops upon pump when the water level drops upon pump start-up.start-up.

• If the pressure gauge is broken, put on If the pressure gauge is broken, put on a new one.a new one.– The operator can tell a lot about a pump The operator can tell a lot about a pump

just by looking at the pressure gauge.just by looking at the pressure gauge.

• Receive a written report which Receive a written report which details the results of the annual flow details the results of the annual flow test.test.

• Make sure to evaluate the pump Make sure to evaluate the pump properly. Use the results from properly. Use the results from several years worth of tests to several years worth of tests to determine trends. This is where the determine trends. This is where the real value of annual flow tests are real value of annual flow tests are found.found.

• Some trends we developed from Some trends we developed from actual flow tests:actual flow tests:

Static Water Levels

225

250

275

300

325

350

375

400

Year

Sta

tic L

evel

Well #1Well #2Well #3

Well #1 332310287279268

Well #2 272250245244231

Well #3 325332332310304

20062003200220011999

What information can we What information can we gather?gather?

• Current capacity?Current capacity?

• Current water levels?Current water levels?

• Status of the pump?Status of the pump?

• A short-term and/or long-term A short-term and/or long-term budgeting plan to give to your mayor, budgeting plan to give to your mayor, public works director, or manager?public works director, or manager?

Capacity

Year

550

525

500

475

450

425

400

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Based on the known trend, you can forecast the next two years.

Will this capacity be a problem?

• Accurate tests can provide good Accurate tests can provide good information on the current condition information on the current condition of the pump.of the pump.

• These tests provide good routine These tests provide good routine maintenance to help improve your maintenance to help improve your pump life.pump life.

• Good records can be used to predict Good records can be used to predict the way a pump will be operating in the way a pump will be operating in the next few years. This may help the next few years. This may help avoid emergencies and reduce the avoid emergencies and reduce the cost of the pump repairs.cost of the pump repairs.

• Once a pump repair is needed, there Once a pump repair is needed, there are things that you should expect out are things that you should expect out of your contractor.of your contractor.

• Don’t be fooled. Get a THOROUGH Don’t be fooled. Get a THOROUGH inspection of every part of the pump.inspection of every part of the pump.

• Any part of the pump can cause a Any part of the pump can cause a failure or limit the life expectancy of failure or limit the life expectancy of your pump – from the motor to the your pump – from the motor to the suction pipe. This means EVERY suction pipe. This means EVERY part.part.

So, what should you expect?So, what should you expect?• First of all, there should never be any parts First of all, there should never be any parts

left on the job site while the ‘inspection’ is left on the job site while the ‘inspection’ is taking place. If there is, then you probably taking place. If there is, then you probably are not getting a thorough inspection?are not getting a thorough inspection?

• Start with the column pipe. This should Start with the column pipe. This should always be pressure washed and inspected always be pressure washed and inspected closely. Poor jamb surfaces, threads, or closely. Poor jamb surfaces, threads, or pitting can lead to premature pump failure.pitting can lead to premature pump failure.

• A pit, or washed out spot, on a jamb surface A pit, or washed out spot, on a jamb surface will lead to erosion of the threads and will lead to erosion of the threads and eventually a hole in the column pipe. This eventually a hole in the column pipe. This can lead to several different types of can lead to several different types of problems.problems.

• All bearings should be closely inspected. All bearings should be closely inspected. This does not mean a visual inspection. Use This does not mean a visual inspection. Use tools to measure the tolerances and provide tools to measure the tolerances and provide a written report.a written report.

• All shafts should be checked for straightness. All shafts should be checked for straightness. If they are out of tolerance, then they should If they are out of tolerance, then they should be straightened. The industry standard be straightened. The industry standard is .005”, but try to get them closer.is .005”, but try to get them closer.

• The pump bowl combines each of these important items:The pump bowl combines each of these important items:• The bowl shaft should be straightened, preferably to within .003”.The bowl shaft should be straightened, preferably to within .003”.• There are jamb surfaces that must create a tight seal. These areas There are jamb surfaces that must create a tight seal. These areas

should be cleaned and inspected.should be cleaned and inspected.• There are bearings and wear rings that need to be measured. If they are There are bearings and wear rings that need to be measured. If they are

out of tolerance, then they should be replaced. These are checked like out of tolerance, then they should be replaced. These are checked like the others described earlier.the others described earlier.

• The impellers need to be balanced.The impellers need to be balanced.

• The electric motor should be inspected. Bad bearings can create a vibration. The electric motor should be inspected. Bad bearings can create a vibration. Don’t spend the time and money on the pump, then ignore the motor. This Don’t spend the time and money on the pump, then ignore the motor. This vibration can transmit down the shaft and into the pump.vibration can transmit down the shaft and into the pump.

• Gear drives are no different. Make sure they run smoothly.Gear drives are no different. Make sure they run smoothly.

• Make sure everything is clean prior to installation. This is especially true with the Make sure everything is clean prior to installation. This is especially true with the oil tubing.oil tubing.

• The oil tubing should be cleaned with wire brushes to remove all rust, oil gunk, The oil tubing should be cleaned with wire brushes to remove all rust, oil gunk, etc.etc.

• Whether you have an oil lubricated, water lubricated or a Whether you have an oil lubricated, water lubricated or a submersible pump routine maintenance is very important.submersible pump routine maintenance is very important.

• The pumps may be different, but there is still a proper way to The pumps may be different, but there is still a proper way to repair them and important steps that can not be eliminated.repair them and important steps that can not be eliminated.

• A THOROUGH inspection is the only way to insure a proper A THOROUGH inspection is the only way to insure a proper repair job.repair job.