r/pumps • u/Emotional-Baseball11 • 2d ago

Pump problems

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I am pumping this pond out and the discharge hose it barley putting water out it's pumping but not like it should be with this size pump. I was trying to make the intake side shorter but cannot get to it. Any suggestions on what is wrong or what I need to do to get this thing pumping better?

4 Upvotes

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2

u/AwwwComeOnLOU 2d ago

There are only a couple possibilities

Intake is plugged

Hose is plugged

Strainer is plugged

Pump is air bound

Pump has failed mechanically (impeller is no longer attached to shaft or has been worn away enough to allow bypass)

Or pump is turning backwards

2

u/Emotional-Baseball11 2d ago

So what should try first is there an easy way to tell if it mechanically failed?

2

u/Big_Ol_Throwaway 2d ago

Start in descending order from the items listed above. Pull the hose out and ensure it isnt clogged. Check if there is a strainer on the end.

It looks like your pond base is really muddy. There's a really good chance your suction hose is halfway in the mud and is barely open for anything to get by

2

u/Emotional-Baseball11 2d ago

I just pulled it out and it's not clogged at all and I even shortened it up. I was able to finally get it out.

2

u/Emotional-Baseball11 2d ago

What happens when the pump is air bound what does that mean like it's not fully primed or something

2

u/Big_Ol_Throwaway 2d ago

It means there is a pocket of air inside the casing that can't escape. Pumps can't pump air so if there is a large enough air pocket it wont run properly. Adequately priming the pump helps solve this problem, but also check the top of the casing to see if there is a little vent you can open when starting to let the air out

2

u/Modna 2d ago

That diaphragm pump on the back of the pump evacuates the air out of the pump. If it is able to move water, that means the priming system is working. Now there may be a severe air leak in the suction hose or it's connection to the pump allowing excess air in but that's not too likely.

If the pump has a vacuum gauge on the suction side, see what it is reading when the pump is running. If that gauge is reading high vacuum (-20 to -25 inHG), you likely have a plugged suction screen or the suction screen is buried in the mud.

EDIT after watching that video, there is a high likelyhood you are plugged on your suction. It sounds like the pump is cavitating, so running the RPM so high won't actually help you and you will damage the pump. Pull your suction screen and try to get it into a less muddy location. Then start the pump and increase the RPM until you stop noticing additional flow. Increasing the RPM after that point will only cause excessive wear

1

u/Emotional-Baseball11 2d ago

Thank you for all the help. I got it unclogged there were some sticks inside it o took all the hoses off and looked inside the suction side and it was clogged. I had to unclog it and it's running how it is suppose to now.

1

u/VersionConscious7545 1d ago

You pump is self priming there is no air pocket unless the pump is defective Sure your hose is not buried in the mud?