PrescottGirl
Life in the mountains is a life well lived.
Thank God for this forum. I've been without water now for nearly 9 days...Help! I moved into this home last March. The home doesn't have a well but instead relies upon water truck deliveries to a 2,500 above ground storage tank. Thanks to this forum, I have learned that I have a sub-par/junkie Flotec FP4012-10 jet pump that sits atop a Flotec FP7120 pre-charged pressure tank, both are rather new. The pump and pressure tank are located in an insulated storage shed. The 2,500 tank is located about 7-8' from the shed and sits slightly higher than the shed on a small hill.
Last week, after a very cold 8 degree night I noticed a small crack in the PVC pipe on the discharge side of the pump. I drained the system and cut out the cracked pipe and completed the repair. I also installed a brass priming tee in the discharge outlet as there was none! Since that time (9 days) I have tried countless times to get the pump re-primed. I've tried every troubleshooting tip I could find on this forum and I'm still without water.
Finally, I came across a post that mentioned cavitation and I think that is what I am dealing with. A check valve was installed on the suction line about 2" from the pump inlet. Symptoms I've experienced:
* When the pump is running, the outside of the pump (not the motor) feels warm- not what I would expect when I am priming with ice cold water.
* When the pump is running I hear glugging and slight boiling sound in the pump case.
* When I remove the top screw from the priming tee when the pump is running a large hiss of air is released followed by a gush of WARM water.
* When the pump is running, there are continuous bubbles around the hand tightened top screw on the priming tee. The brass tee itself also feels slightly warm.
*When the pump is turned off following another failed priming attempt, I hear more hissing and glugging sounds.
* Since moving in last March, the only water "problem" I've experienced are pressure surges which are very noticeable during a shower.
I've attached the best photos of the pump and piping with the check valve that I could get in a dark shed with just a flash light.
Am I on the right track that the check valve is causing the issue? How in the world did they initially get this pump primed with no priming tee in the discharge and the check valve 2" from the pump inlet? If the check valve needs to come out, where do you recommend I cut the suction pipe- before or after the 90 degree elbow (I understand the less fittings the better)?
Thank you all in advance for your guidance. I can't wait to shower in my own home rather than the gym.
Last week, after a very cold 8 degree night I noticed a small crack in the PVC pipe on the discharge side of the pump. I drained the system and cut out the cracked pipe and completed the repair. I also installed a brass priming tee in the discharge outlet as there was none! Since that time (9 days) I have tried countless times to get the pump re-primed. I've tried every troubleshooting tip I could find on this forum and I'm still without water.
Finally, I came across a post that mentioned cavitation and I think that is what I am dealing with. A check valve was installed on the suction line about 2" from the pump inlet. Symptoms I've experienced:
* When the pump is running, the outside of the pump (not the motor) feels warm- not what I would expect when I am priming with ice cold water.
* When the pump is running I hear glugging and slight boiling sound in the pump case.
* When I remove the top screw from the priming tee when the pump is running a large hiss of air is released followed by a gush of WARM water.
* When the pump is running, there are continuous bubbles around the hand tightened top screw on the priming tee. The brass tee itself also feels slightly warm.
*When the pump is turned off following another failed priming attempt, I hear more hissing and glugging sounds.
* Since moving in last March, the only water "problem" I've experienced are pressure surges which are very noticeable during a shower.
I've attached the best photos of the pump and piping with the check valve that I could get in a dark shed with just a flash light.
Am I on the right track that the check valve is causing the issue? How in the world did they initially get this pump primed with no priming tee in the discharge and the check valve 2" from the pump inlet? If the check valve needs to come out, where do you recommend I cut the suction pipe- before or after the 90 degree elbow (I understand the less fittings the better)?
Thank you all in advance for your guidance. I can't wait to shower in my own home rather than the gym.