Opting to use a submersible water pump has its advantages with one being the pump's ability to operate under water. The feature eliminates the need to prime the pump, which more people tend to forget despite the issue being a major cause of water pump failure. That said, submersible pumps often operate in rugged environments; therefore, adequate and regular inspections are necessary to ensure that the equipment lasts throughout its service life. The inspections help to detect and identify failure related issues, thereby allowing for prompt preventive action. Most importantly, there are key inspection points that you must include in your routine maintenance checklist. Read on to find out more about submersible pumps.
Alarm System
The fact that submersible water pumps operate while submerged in water means that regular physical inspections are restricted to a few times a month. However, since failures can occur at any time, it is necessary to have an effective monitoring system. An effective monitoring system should trigger an alarm if a defect is detected, such as a seal chamber failure. In this case, a seal failure control unit will monitor the level of moisture build-up and sound an alarm if the threshold is breached. The early warning allows you to inspect the amount of water that is present in the mechanical seal chamber. Therefore, the readings help to determine whether the seals should be repaired or not.
Pressure and Flow
Ideally, an efficient submersible pump should operate at a prerecorded flow and pressure output. The parameters can only be ascertained by placing a pressure gauge as close to the discharge point as possible to read the pump's pressure levels at all times. As long as the submersible pump is not interfered with, the pressure should remain the same. That is why it is crucial to inspect the pressure gauge regularly for any discrepancies, which can indicate clogging or control valve issues. Similarly, fluid flowing into the sump pit should be monitored because slurry fluid gravity can affect a submersible pump's performance.
Lift System
One mistake that most operators make when pulling out submersible pumps for visual inspections or repairs is to use the pump's power cord to pull the equipment from the well. While this might work the first few times without any issues, the weight of the pump will take a toll on the cable and consequently lead to damage to the power cord. Therefore, it is advisable to install a lift system to assist you in pulling the pump out of the well when necessary. Regular inspection of the lift system is vital, especially if you need to use it during emergencies.
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