solutions

SUBMERSIBLE PUMP TROUBLESHOOTING TIPS

IF MOTOR CAUSES ANY PROBLEM WERE ITS SOLUTION IS GIVEN BELOW

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No power supply	Check power supply.
Very low voltage	Check the input supply wire capacity (size) whether it is adequate for the given load and also check for any loose Connections. Consult Power supplier for low voltage supply.
Fuse blown up	Check for voltage at motor terminal replace fuse. If new fuse also blows out, recheck all electrical wiring
Capacitor failure	Replace capacitor
Motor protector is open due to over heating	Check free rotation of the rotor by rotating the shaft. Check supply voltage. Check pump input current.
Impeller stuck	Check and correct it. Cover the foot valve or stainer with a close meshed strainer to avoid foreigh particles entering into the pump.
Broken circuit in incoming leads	Check all circuits and remedy fault.

If Pump operates but delivers little or no water ?

Possible Cause	Check	Corrective Action
Pump may be air locked	Stop and start the pump several times, waiting about one minute between cycles. If the pump then resumes normal delivery, air lock was the trouble.	If this test fails to correct the trouble, proceed with the steps that follow.
Low voltage	Check voltage at control box with pump running. Check incoming wire size and power supply wire size against chart in your manual.	Install larger wire from meter to control box. Install larger wire from control box to pump. If necessary, have power company raise power supply voltage.
Water level in well too low	Amount of water in well (recovery rate) may be too low for pump capacity. Restrict the flow of pump output, then wait for well to recover and start pump.	If partial restriction corrects trouble, leave valve or cock at restricted setting. Otherwise, lower pump in well if depth is sufficient. Do not lower if sand clogging might occur.
Discharge line check valve installed backward	Examine check valve on discharge line to make sure that the arrow indicating direction of flow points in the right direction.	Reverse the valve, if necessary.
Leak in drop pipe	Raise the pipe and examine for leaks.	Replace the damaged section of drop pipe.
Pump check valve jammed by drop pipe	When pump is pulled after completing step 5, examine connection of drop pipe to pump outlet. If threaded section of drop pipe has been screwed in too far, it may be jamming the pump’s check valve in the closed position.	Unscrew the drop pipe and cut off a portion of threads.
Pump intake screen blocked	The intake screen on the pump may be blocked by sand or mud. Examine.	Clean the screen and when reinstalling the pump, make sure that it is located several feet above the well bottom-preferably 10 feet or more.
Pump parts worn	The presence of abrasives in the water may result in excessive wear on the impeller, casing and other close-clearance parts. Before pulling the pump, reduce setting on pressure to see if the pump shuts off. If it does, worn parts are probably at fault.	Pull the pump and replace worn components..
Motor shaft uncoupled	Coupling between motor and pump shaft may have worn out or worked loose. Inspect for this after pulling the pump and looking for worn components, as in step 8.	Tighten all connections and setscrews. Replace parts if worn out.

If Pump jam ?

Kept idle for long time

Rotate the pump shaft with a screwdriver inserting it in the slotted portion of the shaft, which is provided at cooling fan side of the motor. If this is not enough to solve the problem, unscrew the bold and rinse/clean the pump thoroughly until the pump shaft rotates freely by hand.
Pump should be run for few minutes atleast once in three days.

If Pump rotates but it does not deliver water ?

Priming is not sufficient	Fill water completely and ensure priming plug is tightened well.
Too many bends & elbows in suction & delivery pipe line	Reduce bends & elbows as much as possible.
Suction Lift too high	Install the pump closer to the water level. Suction lift to be within recommended depth.
Foot valve or inbuilt check value in regenerative monoset self priming pump is not fuctioning.	Repair or replace it.
Wrong direction of rotation	Correct the direction of rotation to coincide with direction indicated by the arrow mark on the pump.
Total head higher than the specified one	Reduce the total head or change to a suitable range pump.
Air being sucked in through the suction pipe line	Check the pipe for leakage and correct it.
Leakage in air cock	Tighten the air cock. If necessary replace it.
Smaller size pipes used	Change the pipes to the recommended sizes
Mechanical seal leaking	Change the mechanical seal
Foot valve or impeller or pipe blocked	Clean the pipe, impeller and foot valve

If Pump requires excessive power or heats and ceases ?

Low voltage

Check the supply wire capacity (size) and also check for any loose connections. Contact the power supplier to rectify low voltage.

If Pump won't shut off ?

Possible Cause	Check	Corrective Action
Water level in well too low	The wells ability to deliver water to the pump may be too low for the pump capacity. Restrict the flow of pump output, wait for the well to recover, and then start pump.	If partial restriction corrects trouble, leave the valve or cock at restricted setting. Otherwise, lower pump into well if depth is sufficient. Do not lower if sand clogging might occur.
Leak in drop line	Raise the pipe and examine for leaks.	Replace the damaged section of the drop pipe.
Pump parts worn	The presence of abrasives in the water may result in excessive wear on the impeller, casing and other close-clearance parts. Before pulling the pump, reduce setting on pressure to see if the pump shuts off. If it does, worn parts are probably at fault.	Pull the pump and replace worn components.

If Submersible pump starts up too much ?

Problem	Check	Correct
Defective pressure switch on submersible pump or pressure switch not adjusted properly	Examine pressure setting switch for defects. Readjust pressure switch when necessary.	Replace pressure switch on submersible pump or reduce pressure setting.
Pressure tank leaks above water level	Apply a soapy mixture to the whole tank surface of the submersible pump. Bubbles indicate that air is escaping.	Replace submersible pump tank.
Plumbing system leak in submersible pump	Service line should be examined for leaks.	Repair leaks in service line.
Leak in discharge line check valve	Remove and inspect.	Replace discharge line if necessary.
Plugged air volume control on submersible pump	Remove and examine air volume control	Replace air volume control on submersible pump
Plugged snifter valve on submersible pump	Remove and inspect snifter valve.	Replace snifter valve on submersible pump.

If Motor will not start, but fuses does not blow ?

Possible Cause	Check	Corrective Action
Incorrect voltage	Check overloads and circuit breaker to see of they are operable.	Reset overloads or circuit breaker.
No Power	Check power supply to control box (or overload protection box) by placing a voltmeter across the incoming power lines. Voltage should approximate nominal line voltage.	If no power is reaching box, contact power company for service.
Defective control box	Examine wiring in the control box to make sure all contacts are tight. With a voltmeter, check voltage at line and motor terminals. If no voltage is shown at terminals, wiring is defective from pressure switch or in control box.	Correct faulty wiring or tighten loose contacts.
If Pump still not running contact Customer Service	Check the resistance of the motor winding by using an ohmmeter on the proper terminals in the control box (see manufacturer’s wiring diagram). The resistance should match the ohms specified in the manufacturer’s data sheet. If too low, drop wire sized wrong or bad windings .	If neither cable or winding is defective-shorted, grounded or open-the pump must be pulled and serviced.

If Pump vibrates and noisy ?

Mechanical seal improperly fitted or damaged. Check valve / foot valve malfunctioning.	Check seal, correct and replace if required
Bearing worn out / incorrectly fitted	Replace bearing and use recommended quality grease
Vibration of pipes with support	Securely hold pipe lines
Impeller blocked	Clean impeller
Shaft bend	Rectify or replace it
Check valve / foot valve malfunctioning	Rectity or replace

If Submersible pump suddenly stop running ?

Problem	Check	Correct
Pressure switch on the submersible pump is defective	Pressure switch points may have adhered to each other causing the switch to remain in a closed position.	Clean the points on the pressure switch. If this does not work, the switch on the submersible pump needs to be replaced.
Drop line has a leak	Raise the pipe on the submersible pump and check for leaks.	The damaged section of the drop pipe should be replaced.
Level of water in well is too low	Restrain the output flow of the submersible pump, then wait for the well to recover. Re-start the pump.	Keep the valve at the restricted setting if this has remedied the problem. If not, the submersible pump must be lowered further down in the well.
Submersible pump parts are damaged	The impeller, casing, and other parts of the submersible pump may be worn due to abrasives in the water. Lower the pressure switch setting. If the pump shuts off, damaged parts are the probable cause..	Replace worn parts on the submersible pump.

The Submersible pump works but delivers little or no water ?

Problem	Check	Correct
Submersible pump may be air-locked	Start and stop pump repeatedly. If submersible pump begins working, air lock was the problem.	If the trouble isn’t corrected by performing this test, move on to the next possible problem.
Water level too low in submersible pump	Well production could be too low. Limit flow of pump output, then wait for well to recover and re-start.	If partial limitation of flow corrects the problem leave the valve at the restricted setting.
Discharge line check valve installed backwards on submersible pump	Make sure arrow that indicates direction of flow on check valve is pointed in the right direction.	If check valve is not pointed in the right direction, then reverse the valve.
Drop pipe leaks	Lift up pipe and inspect for leaks	Replace the damaged part of drop pipe
Blocked pump intake screen	Examine intake screen on the submersible pump and check for mud or sand blockage.	Clean screen and make sure submersible pump is reinstalled many feet above the well bottom.
Drop pipe jamming submersible pump check valve	Raise pump to inspect drop pipe connection to pump outlet. Threaded area of drop pipe may be screwed in too far, jamming the check valve in a closed position.	Loosen the drop pipe and cut off a portion of the threads. Then screw it back on the pipe, freeing the submersible pump check valve.
Worn pump parts	Reduce setting on pressure switch to see if the submersible pump shuts off. If it does, check for worn parts	Pull submersible pump and replace the worn components.
Loose motor shaft	Pull up submersible pump to inspect the motor shaft.	Re-tighten all of the connections.

If Submersible pump won't start ?

Problem	Check	Correct
Power is not supplied to the submersible pump	Place a voltmeter across power lines coming into the submersible pump to check the power supply for the overload protection box.	The power company should be consulted if there is no power to the box.
There is no overload protection	Examine the circuit breaker and the fuses to the submersible pump to ensure that they are operating correctly.	Replace blown fuses and reset the breaker if it has been tripped.
Pressure switch on submersible pump is damaged	With the submersible pump pressure switch in a closed position, check the voltage across the switch. If the voltage drop is at the same level as the line voltage, the switch is obviously not making contact.	The contact points should be cleaned and/or the pressure switch replaced for the submersible pump.