[paul alan]

Been having trouble with my pump recently, it’s a 100psi 5.2lpm shurflo about 18 months old.

I have 2 of these the same age and mine seems to be lagging in flow.

I set up me van last month and connected everything with max flow in mind.

I have checked the strainer and it’s clear, all valves fully open.

My pump also is taking around 15 seconds after turning off the flow to switch off.

When first turning the flow on it belts out, then over the next 5 seconds it slows right down.

The noise from the pump is also variable almost like an airlock??? But usually air locks don’t seem to last long, more of a short term thing??

Any ideas what to check??

The other pump seems ok but does suffer the same problems sometimes, not as bad though.

[trippyboy]

Its normal for a build up of pressure in your hose, that pressure will realise itself for a second when you open up the tap.
Do you have a controller? If so calibrate it, sounds like there is not enough pressure to operate your pressure switch.

[Don Kee]

Unplug your hose reel from the pump and put it in the floor (to help the water syphon) and then turn your pump on full whack for a min or two and see if that helps. (Gets rid of an airlock)
We use clear braided hose so you can actually seen the air when we have an airlock.

Otherwise its as Trippy says, re calibrate your controller.

[Shrek]

Try disconnecting the hose which is connected to your hose reel whilst it’s pumping water out , I had an airlock or pressure there , I disconnected/ connected again and it was fine

[paul alan]

I do have a controller but its a cheap ebay jobbie, can you can calibrate these?? if so how??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/water-fed-pump-control-window-Cleaning-Pump-Shurflo-flojet-Wfp-Window-Cleaning/273048484299?hash=item3f92f539cb:g:UuUAAOSw1vlUrXnf

I wont be able to disconnect from before the reel as i didn't contemplate that when setting up the system. Here's what I did

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp0aBbLewig&t=13s

[andyM]

I do have a controller but its a cheap ebay jobbie, can you can calibrate these?? if so how??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/water-fed-pump-control-window-Cleaning-Pump-Shurflo-flojet-Wfp-Window-Cleaning/273048484299?hash=item3f92f539cb:g:UuUAAOSw1vlUrXnf

I wont be able to disconnect from before the reel as i didn't contemplate that when setting up the system. Here's what I did

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp0aBbLewig&t=13s

You probably can't calibrate that controller.
Try adjusting the pressure switch cut off on top of the pump with a 2mm allen key.

[paul alan]

I do have a controller but its a cheap ebay jobbie, can you can calibrate these?? if so how??

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/water-fed-pump-control-window-Cleaning-Pump-Shurflo-flojet-Wfp-Window-Cleaning/273048484299?hash=item3f92f539cb:g:UuUAAOSw1vlUrXnf

I wont be able to disconnect from before the reel as i didn't contemplate that when setting up the system. Here's what I did

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kp0aBbLewig&t=13s

You probably can't calibrate that controller.
Try adjusting the pressure switch cut off on top of the pump with a 2mm allen key.

what will that do?

Is it wise to mess round with that as I have read somewhere you shouldn't try to recalibrate the pumps?

Cheers

[andyM]

It's the manual way to adjust your pressure cut off.
If you're pump is running on for 15 seconds after switching off then you need to adjust it so it shuts off within 2-3 seconds.

[M & C Window Cleaning]

Your problem sounds to me like you either have or are drawing air into the affected pump. This is probably why your pump is also taking 15secs to turn off because it is compressing air in the hose. Water doesn’t compress so when there is only water in the hose it shuts off quite quick.

If it’s just got a bubble in it you do need to disconnect your pump from your reel and run it flat out for a few seconds till it runs clear of bubbles and then reconnect it. Or alternatively fit a bleed tap in the hose between your pump and reel so you can open it to allow trapped air out when priming your pumps.

If air is getting in the supply side of the pump you need to locate the leak and fix it or the problem won’t go away. The pump will be trying to pump a mixture of air and water which will result in a continually weak flow until you fix it

I personally wouldn’t fiddle with the screw in the pressure switch as they seldom cause problems once set and you may create further problems

[paul alan]

Your problem sounds to me like you either have or are drawing air into the affected pump. This is probably why your pump is also taking 15secs to turn off because it is compressing air in the hose. Water doesn’t compress so when there is only water in the hose it shuts off quite quick.

If it’s just got a bubble in it you do need to disconnect your pump from your reel and run it flat out for a few seconds till it runs clear of bubbles and then reconnect it. Or alternatively fit a bleed tap in the hose between your pump and reel so you can open it to allow trapped air out when priming your pumps.

If air is getting in the supply side of the pump you need to locate the leak and fix it or the problem won’t go away. The pump will be trying to pump a mixture of air and water which will result in a continually weak flow until you fix it

I personally wouldn’t fiddle with the screw in the pressure switch as they seldom cause problems once set and you may create further problems

This diagnosis seems to fit the symptoms.

Problem is there are around 10 connections before the pumps, sounds silly I know but I done it all in copper and had to go from 1/2" to 15mm on a couple of places.

Would the hole that lets the air in not let some water out? Making it easy to identify the problem.
Everything is water tight I know that much.

Ive had plenty of air locks before and they are stopping the flow alltogether , then bled out and gone.

[M & C Window Cleaning]

Must admit Paul, I’ve just looked at your installation video and it all looks very neat.
I was thinking that your supply hose may have been dropped in the top of the tank so an air leak in it would have been less obvious. However, you appear to have plumbed it in at the base of the tank. So yes, I would have thought that any leak that let air in would also let water out when not in use.

In use water is unlikely to come out of any leak if air is going in on the supply side of your setup.

I noticed you have a shut off valve on your supply hose.
Do you shut this off every night? This may stop water coming out of any small leak.

[paul alan]

I don't no, its only there for isolation if needed. like today when I checked the strainer.

I have a plumbing nvql2 so all those connections are solid.

Thinking back (10 years) I do remember something about pump placement on system's and air being drawn in but not necessarily letting water out. Which is why bleed valves and ARV's are fitted, maybe given the situation it might be a good idea to fit some, easier than locating a pin hole.

cheers

[M & C Window Cleaning]

I had a feeling either you or someone close to you had plumbing qualifications. Hehe.

[dai]

I have to up the varistream pressure settings in cold weather when the water gets thicker,  later in the morning if it gets warmer I adjust the settings again.
I have used the Varistream controllers these last 15 years, the bit about them being self-compensating for different heights never worked on the ones I have had.

[paul alan]

I have to up the varistream pressure settings in cold weather when the water gets thicker,  later in the morning if it gets warmer I adjust the settings again.
I have used the Varistream controllers these last 15 years, the bit about them being self-compensating for different heights never worked on the ones I have had.

If the temp is forecast 0 or below I whack the 3kw immersion on and use warm water so viscosity isn't an issue, it was an airlock and I blew it out.

 All sorted now thankfully!

[Spruce]

I have to up the varistream pressure settings in cold weather when the water gets thicker,  later in the morning if it gets warmer I adjust the settings again.
I have used the Varistream controllers these last 15 years, the bit about them being self-compensating for different heights never worked on the ones I have had.

If the temp is forecast 0 or below I whack the 3kw immersion on and use warm water so viscosity isn't an issue, it was an airlock and I blew it out.

 All sorted now thankfully!

But ........... it could be the reason why your pump continues to run for 15 secs after you switch off the tap. Many use microbore as it appears to cope with warm water better. Warm water make the hose soft and more flexible. Being more flexible its inclined to swell easier. When it swells under pressure, the inside bore becomes a little bigger with each pulse of the pump. So this swelling tends to act as a 'reservoir'.

If you get a quick rush of water when you open the tap after the pressure has built up, then this could well be what's happening.

[paul alan]

That'll be why I had to cut 50mm off the wife's pole hose where it connects to reel hose then, it was starting to swell and leak.