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UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: st teath windows on October 03, 2016, 08:32:03 pm

Title: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: st teath windows on October 03, 2016, 08:32:03 pm
Hi , bought a new pump last week, the pressure seems to have dropped for some reason. it was ok then next minute it dropped. I dont use a  controller. Any ideas? thanks dale
Title: Re: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: Shrek on October 03, 2016, 08:46:50 pm
Air lock? got one today and took forever to clear
Title: Re: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: st teath windows on October 03, 2016, 08:51:17 pm
Thanks , will have a look tomorrow
Title: Re: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: Shrek on October 03, 2016, 09:29:31 pm
I was washing the windows and noticed the water dribbling out , but was fine 5 minutes prior- checked the pump and it was pumping really fast but nothing coming out . Had a look in the tank and my hose which sucks the water up was bloody floating at the top out of the water  :-X
Title: Re: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: CleanClear on October 03, 2016, 09:37:50 pm
I was washing the windows and noticed the water dribbling out , but was fine 5 minutes prior- checked the pump and it was pumping really fast but nothing coming out . Had a look in the tank and my hose which sucks the water up was bloody floating at the top out of the water  :-X

Shrek, you just highlighted something.....these Surflow pumps (i'm assuming here) we're using...air locks are not a problem for them. In nearly all cases if you are getting an airlock with your pump its through a secondary cause. Minor like yours hose drifting on top of the water, or sometimes a severe kink in a hose. But just very generally them pumps do not "air lock" just on their own.
Title: Re: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: duncan h on October 04, 2016, 07:40:54 pm
If I let my tank get less that 6-8 inch of water, its gets slow. After refill it takes ages to kick in full again. they are a pain for air locks
Title: Re: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: Shrek on October 04, 2016, 07:43:25 pm
I was washing the windows and noticed the water dribbling out , but was fine 5 minutes prior- checked the pump and it was pumping really fast but nothing coming out . Had a look in the tank and my hose which sucks the water up was bloody floating at the top out of the water  :-X

Shrek, you just highlighted something.....these Surflow pumps (i'm assuming here) we're using...air locks are not a problem for them. In nearly all cases if you are getting an airlock with your pump its through a secondary cause. Minor like yours hose drifting on top of the water, or sometimes a severe kink in a hose. But just very generally them pumps do not "air lock" just on their own.

Very true pal , just wish there was a quicker way of clearing them
Title: Re: Pump lost pressure!
Post by: M & C Window Cleaning on October 05, 2016, 02:34:02 am
If you're using half inch hose on the tank side of your pumps chaps, try switching it to minibore 8mm ID hose and see how you get on. It makes a huge difference on the trolleys. I don't see why it wouldn't work for van setups as well, as they're set up the same as trolleys, just bigger.
The problem often occurs because there is considerable volume to fill in that section of hose when it ends up full of air, and the pump can't suck water up it fast enough to prevent a bubble of air remainig in the top of the hose where it exits the tank. By reducing the internal bore of that section of hose to a level the pump can cope wth, it will prime quickly leaving no air in the hose and provided you have an airtight connection at the pump, the pump will also prime quickly. Whilst priming your system I would also suggest disconnecting your reel if you don't already, so the pump doesn't have to cope with back pressure at the same time.