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10 - TROUBLESHOOTING
10.1
CAVITATION IN THE PUMPS
The cavitation occurs when a pump has insufficient water supply, air is leaking into the water supply line, or sometimes if the
pump is being supplied with very hot water. The symptoms of cavitation are high frequency vibrations and persistent noise. What
happens inside the pump?
During cavitation, water is turned into a vapour on the inlet stroke of the pump piston, then back to a fluid when the piston com-
presses it. This causes an explosion inside the pump cylinder which can damage the pump’s internal components.
There are several points to keep in mind so you can avoid cavitation in your pump. First of all consider pump that are fed from a
water tank or other sources that don’t produce incoming water pressure;
•
Be sure that the supply hose from the tank to the pump head has a large enough diameter to insure adequate water flow. Keep
the hose as short as possible.
•
Every month check the hose connections to make sure they are tight and don’t allow air to leak into the system.
•
Use a water filter that can allow adequate water flow and clean it after 15 days of use.
When feeding a pump from a domestic water source keep the following points in mind:
•
Test to see if the water source provides enough water to supply the pump. It is recommended a feed of at least 5 l/min (1 gallon
per minute) more than your pump rating.
•
Check that the incoming water pressure is higher than 1,5 and lower than 2,5 bar.
•
Use a hose a with a diameter large enough to provide full flow.
•
Remember that the longer the supply hose is, the less water flow you will get.
•
Use an appropriate water filter for impurities in the water especially if the water comes from tanks. Don’t settle for the water
filters that are fitted by manufactures, as they do not always allow for imperceptible impurities such as sand and grit.
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