DIY circular pump repair

In detail: do-it-yourself repair of a circular pump from a real master for the site my.housecope.com.

Circulation pumps of various types are often used today in country houses and summer cottages, which makes it possible to make the operation of autonomous heating systems more efficient and at the same time save on energy resources. Meanwhile, if such a hydraulic machine fails, the entire heating system ceases to function, which puts its user with a choice: use the services of qualified specialists or repair the heating circulation pump with his own hands.

Dismantling the circulation pump

The reasons for the breakdown of circulation pumps, the types of which differ from each other in certain design features, are associated both with non-compliance with the rules for operating such equipment, and with the quality of the coolant, drops in the power supply network, as well as with a number of other factors. Before deciding on an independent repair of the circulation pump, you should understand well the design and principle of operation of such a device, which will allow you to establish the exact cause of its failure and eliminate it.

Without knowing the design of the circulation pump, you will not only be able to repair such a hydraulic machine, if necessary, but also engage in regular maintenance. The design of circulation pumps is:

  • a body made of stainless steel or non-ferrous alloys;
  • an electric motor, the shaft of which is connected to the rotor;
  • directly the rotor itself, on which the wheel with blades is installed - the impeller (its blades, which are constantly in contact with the pumped medium, can be made of metal or polymer materials).
Video (click to play).

Circulation pump design

The circulation pump operates, regardless of its design, according to the following principle.

  • After the electric current is supplied, the shaft of the drive motor begins to rotate the rotor on which the impeller is installed.
  • The heat-transfer fluid entering the inner part of the pump through the suction branch pipe is thrown by the impeller and centrifugal force to the walls of the working chamber.
  • The liquid, which is subject to centrifugal force, is pushed into the discharge pipe.

As mentioned above, depending on the design features, the circulation pump for heating can be of different types. So, devices with a rotor are distinguished:

In private houses, the most commonly used circulation pumps are "wet" type

For circulation pumps of the first type, which are used mainly for equipping domestic heating systems, the rotor is constantly in a liquid medium. This not only contributes to the lubrication of the moving parts, but also to their efficient cooling. The main advantages of this type of equipment include:

  • low noise level during operation, since the water in which all the moving elements of such a device are located perfectly absorbs vibrations;
  • ease of installation (such pumps simply cut into the pipeline), maintenance and repair.

Meanwhile, pumps with a "wet" rotor, if we talk about their shortcomings, are not very efficient, can be installed only in a horizontal position and are very critical of the lack of liquid in the heating system.

Dry rotor pumps are installed in separate boiler rooms and are used in systems that heat large areas

The drive motor of pumps with a "dry" rotor is placed in a separate unit.Rotation from the motor shaft is transmitted to the impeller by means of a special coupling. Unlike devices with a "wet" rotor, pumps of this type are characterized by a higher efficiency (up to 80%), but also by a more complex design, which somewhat complicates the procedures for their maintenance and repair. Circulation pumps with a "dry" rotor are cut into the pipeline and their body is fixed to the wall, for which a special console is used.

In order not to face situations in which the circulation pump installed in the heating system will require repair, it is necessary to strictly follow the rules for operating such equipment, which are as follows.

  1. If there is no water in the pipeline, it is impossible to start the circulation pump.
  2. The value of the generated water pressure must be within the characteristics specified in the technical passport of the circulation pump. If the device produces a reduced or, conversely, an increased water pressure, this can lead to its rapid wear and, accordingly, failure.
  3. During the period in which the heating system is not used, the pump must be turned on for circulation at least once a month for a quarter of an hour, which will prevent oxidation and blockage of its moving parts.
  4. It is very important to ensure that the water temperature in the heating system does not exceed 65 °. In water heated to a higher temperature, a precipitate begins to actively form, which, interacting with the moving parts of the hydraulic machine, contributes to their active wear and, accordingly, the failure of the entire device.

It is necessary to inspect the circulation pump and check the correctness of its operation on a monthly basis. Such measures make it possible to identify malfunctions in the operation of equipment at the initial stage and promptly take appropriate measures.

Periodic inspection of the circulation pump will significantly reduce the likelihood of its failure during the heating season.

Checking the circulation pump for correct operation includes such actions as:

  1. switching on the hydraulic machine to the operating mode and checking the level of noise and vibration generated by it;
  2. checking the pressure (pressure level) of the coolant created in the discharge pipe (as mentioned above, the fluid pressure must be within the values ​​given in the technical data sheet);
  3. control of the degree of heating of the engine, which should not be too high;
  4. checking for the presence of grease on the threaded connecting elements of the pump and applying it if it is absent;
  5. checking the presence and correctness of the grounding of the body of the hydraulic machine;
  6. checking for leaks both on the pump body and in the places where it is connected to the pipeline (if leaks are present in such places, it is necessary to tighten the threaded connections and check the integrity of the installed gaskets);
  7. Inspection of the terminal box and check if the wire is fixed in it (in addition, it is necessary to check whether moisture gets into the terminal box, which is unacceptable).

The main reason for the rapid wear of friction bearings in pumps is considered to be the increased contamination of the coolant.

It is possible to single out several of the most typical malfunctions for circulation pumps, which are quite realistic to eliminate with your own hands. Such malfunctions can be identified by their characteristic signs, without even disassembling the pump and without using complex diagnostic equipment.

A situation where the pump is noisy but the impeller is stationary is often caused by oxidation of the drive motor shaft. This can happen due to the fact that the hydraulic machine has not been used for a long time. To repair the heating pump with your own hands with such a malfunction, you must perform the following steps:

  • disconnect the power supply;
  • drain all water from the pump and the adjacent pipeline;
  • by unscrewing the corresponding screws, dismantle the drive motor together with the rotor;
  • resting on the working notch of the rotor with a hand or a screwdriver, turn it by force, moving it off the dead center.

Disassembled circulation pump

The pump will make noise, but it will not work even if a foreign object gets into its inner part, which blocks the rotation of the impeller. To repair the circulation pump in such a situation, do the following:

  • turn off the power supply;
  • drain water from the pump and the adjacent pipeline;
  • disassemble the pump according to the above scheme;
  • remove a foreign object;
  • a strainer is installed on the inlet pipe.

This is how the body of the circulation pump looks from the inside.

If the switched on circulation pump does not make noise, but also does not work, there may be problems with the power supply. To identify the cause and eliminate such a malfunction, disassembling the circulation pump may not be required: using a tester, they check the level and presence of voltage at the device terminals. In many cases, to eliminate such a malfunction, it is enough to correctly connect the pump to the power supply.

If there is a fuse in the design of the circulating pump, then it could burn out during a voltage drop in the mains, which can also be the reason why the heating pump does not work and does not make noise when it is turned on. To restore pump operation, simply replace the blown fuse.

Armed with a tester and a schematic diagram, you can find more serious breakdowns in the electrical part of the pump, for example, burned out windings

In the event that a layer of lime deposits has formed on the inner surface of the stator, the running pump will periodically stop. To solve this problem, it is necessary to disassemble the pump and clean all its internal parts from lime deposits.

The reason for the loud noise of the equipment when pumping liquid can be the presence of a large amount of air in the pipeline. To eliminate such a problem, it is enough to bleed air from the pipes. In order not to face this in the future, you can install a special unit in the upper part of the heating system circuit, which will automatically release air from the pipeline.

If the housing of the hydraulic machine vibrates strongly when pumping the coolant, this may indicate that the bearing, which ensures the rotation of the impeller, is severely worn out. Repair of a circulation pump for heating in this case consists in replacing a worn bearing.

End graphite bearing of the "Grundfos" pump

Among the reasons for the discrepancy between the fluid pressure and the standard values ​​at the outlet of the centrifugal pump are the following.

  • The impeller is rotating in the wrong direction.
  • The phase conductors in the terminal box are incorrectly connected (with three-phase connection).
  • The viscosity of the heating medium used is too high.
  • The filter installed on the suction line is clogged.

The specified issue is corrected according to the cause that caused the issue.

The causes of such a malfunction may be incorrect connection of the phase wires in the terminal box, bad or oxidized contacts in the safety assembly of the device.

To repair the electronic component of the pump, you will need basic knowledge of electrical engineering.

This is another nuisance that occurs quite often during the operation of such equipment. Why is the circulation pump heating up? The reasons may be different, but such a situation always indicates that your equipment is operating under increased load.

Thus, many situations in which the circulation pump does not work or does not work correctly can be dealt with on your own, without resorting to the services of qualified specialists and without purchasing expensive spare parts and components for repair.

Before the start of the heating season, in order not to subsequently face the failure of the circulation pump and its repair, it is necessary to properly prepare the device for a long period of intensive work.

  1. It is necessary to check the correctness of the pump insertion into the pipeline, referring to the arrow on the housing and the impeller rotation indicator. When installing a new pipeline for installing a circulating hydraulic machine, it is better to choose a section directly in front of the boiler, where the risk of air congestion is minimized.
  2. Grease must be present on gaskets and pump nozzles to prevent drying out.
  3. Check the condition of the suction strainer and, if clogged, thoroughly clean it.
  4. It is also required to evaluate the correct connection of the pump to the power supply, for which a tester is used.
  5. Check the tightness and reliability of the hydraulic machine connections.
  6. It is necessary to perform a test run, the results of which will show whether your equipment is ready for the heating season.