Clean It Up
UK Window Cleaning Forum => Window Cleaning Forum => Topic started by: ftp on March 08, 2010, 08:11:08 pm
-
How low have you got your pump? I'm always getting an air lock with half a tank of water. My pump is now about two inches off the floor. Maybe it's because I keep the pump switched on all day and the hose pressured up?
-
At the very top of the tank. I think air locks are more due to poor plumbing than where the pump is. I never get an air lock.
Simon.
-
What would you call 'poor plumbing'?
-
Interesting, it has to be because I dont switch it off then. I brake hard and then get a bubble of air.
-
What would you call 'poor plumbing'?
I have my pumps half way up the side of the tank and my son has his virtually at the top of his tank. Neither of us have had airlock problems. 'Poor Plumbing' would refer to air leaks on the suction side of the pump from the tank.
Both our tanks outlet sockets were sealed with PTFE tap before the pipe couplings were connected. The reinforced plastic hose was softened with hot water before being squeezed on with 'O' clips. We have Shurflo pumps on our vans and find the filter connected to the pump inlet needs to be carefully tightened up that little bit extra to ensure an airtight seal - its a taper fit.
There is no other way for the pump to draw air into the system.
Spruce
-
I get air in my system and have to clear it after every move of the van.
Seems that it sloshing about causes it.
-
I get air in my system and have to clear it after every move of the van.
Seems that it sloshing about causes it.
Hi Squeeks,
I don't understand why that would happen. Even if it did slosh around, the pump is not operating when you are moving - all it is doing is keeping the line pressurised if you haven't turned it off so will be drawing a miniscule amount of water.
Both our tanks are uprights - I could see a problem developing with a flat tank when the water level gets low. The original unit we started with was one of Peter Fogwells trailer systems with 3 x 125l tanks coupled together. This gave us no end of troubles at the end of the day with air as the pump would rather suck air from the empty third tank (the one over the near side wheel which was usually up on the kerb), even although the 1st tank still had ample water covering the outlet.
Spruce
-
I get air in my system and have to clear it after every move of the van.
Seems that it sloshing about causes it.
I have the same trouble,I got a 400L lay flat tank,Gets very annoying
-
What would you call 'poor plumbing'?
The air gets in on the negative side of the pump (inlet) you may think it's plumbed in well as no water leaks from this side ie tank outlet, strainer or any splitters. However the joints won't necessarily leak water but they may well draw in air if the fittings are not tight enough.
The advantage of having pumps up high is they can be easily drained of a subzero winters night.
Simon.
-
I get air in my system and have to clear it after every move of the van.
Seems that it sloshing about causes it.
Do you have an outside port?
I ask this as I have recently fitted an outside port to my van and at every customer I clean I will have a splutter when I turn on the water, but this is due to the hose being disconnected from the outside port and air going into the hose reel.
Matt
-
I have the same trouble,I got a 400L lay flat tank,Gets very annoying
How do you clear the air lock? Is it just a case of disconnect hose to inlet DI, suck and syphone off?? Don't you find it hard to keep disconnecting the hose from connector??
Or is there any easier way I don't know of??
-
How low have you got your pump? I'm always getting an air lock with half a tank of water. My pump is now about two inches off the floor. Maybe it's because I keep the pump switched on all day and the hose pressured up?
Didn't you cure it from 9 months ago then?
http://www.cleanitup.co.uk/smf/index.php?topic=76422.0#msg670987
I had same problem as you are getting and never had it since I moved pump low as it will go and added a check valve
-
a quick blast at full throttle of the pump should clear it. I have to do this before every job.
-
I just give it a blast on number 9 setting with other end of hose in tank so no wasted water,I not got dI in van,just tank and pump box
-
Pump is above my tank,..no probs.
-
a quick blast at full throttle of the pump should clear it. I have to do this before every job.
I just give it a blast on number 9 setting with other end of hose in tank so no wasted water,I not got dI in van,just tank and pump box
Glad it's not just me then! ;D
-
I get air in my system and have to clear it after every move of the van.
Seems that it sloshing about causes it.
Do you have an outside port?
I ask this as I have recently fitted an outside port to my van and at every customer I clean I will have a splutter when I turn on the water, but this is due to the hose being disconnected from the outside port and air going into the hose reel.
Matt
I don't even know what an "outside port" is, so I doubt I've got one...
-
I get air in my system and have to clear it after every move of the van.
Seems that it sloshing about causes it.
Do you have an outside port?
I ask this as I have recently fitted an outside port to my van and at every customer I clean I will have a splutter when I turn on the water, but this is due to the hose being disconnected from the outside port and air going into the hose reel.
Matt
I don't even know what an "outside port" is, so I doubt I've got one...
its a port that is on the outside of the van ;D ;D ;D
-
Like Southampton?
-
Like Southampton?
aye, your getting the idea now :D
on a serious note, its like a hoselock connection on the outside of the van
-
Like Southampton?
aye, your getting the idea now :D
on a serious note, its like a hoselock connection on the outside of the van
Ah right! No, I haven't got one of them. I've got a nice inside one. :)
-
never had a problem with air locks. :P :P :P :P
-
never had a problem with air locks. :P :P :P :P
I didn't until last year. Don't get too smug. ;D
-
We have external ports and our pump is about two inches from the floor. We do sometimes get a splutter for a few seconds but it soon clears so I wouldn't worry about it ;)
-
a quick blast at full throttle of the pump should clear it. I have to do this before every job.
2 weeks ago I changed vans & my pump is now lower than it was. The bottom of the pump is level with the top of the tank (400ltr flat).
Anyway, I now don't have to prime/blast the pump before every job now like before. Just press "on" & off we go!! It's never worked so good. :D
-
I've given up trying now. :-[
I've always had this problem with all the variations i've tried. Got rid of the hoselock connections, moved the pump to the floor etc. The other possible explanation could be the one hoselock fitting I have on the tank outlet. But I have no problems with a full tank. I can see the air bubble in the strainer.
Maybe that check valve is the answer.
................. or drive backwards everywhere. ;D
-
I've given up trying now. :-[
I've always had this problem with all the variations i've tried. Got rid of the hoselock connections, moved the pump to the floor etc. The other possible explanation could be the one hoselock fitting I have on the tank outlet. But I have no problems with a full tank. I can see the air bubble in the strainer.
Maybe that check valve is the answer.
................. or drive backwards everywhere. ;D
I think the issue is not the level of your pump, it must be something else. All my connectors are hoselok.
What shape is the strainer?
-
I never ever ever get air locks. I've got my pump very close to the tank outlet (about 8" of hose between them) and at the same level as the outlet. Another good tip is to avoid using hoselock or any type of quick release connectors between the tank outlet & pump.
-
I've given up trying now. :-[
I've always had this problem with all the variations i've tried. Got rid of the hoselock connections, moved the pump to the floor etc. The other possible explanation could be the one hoselock fitting I have on the tank outlet. But I have no problems with a full tank. I can see the air bubble in the strainer.
Maybe that check valve is the answer.
................. or drive backwards everywhere. ;D
I think the issue is not the level of your pump, it must be something else. All my connectors are hoselok.
What shape is the strainer?
Got it when I had a Sureflow strainer and have it with the flojet one too.
-
my tank has a barbed elbow which I use a jubilee clip to secure 1/2" hose to. I use a pump box so this goes to the hoselok inlet on the box. they are not hoselok fittings inside the box but then the outlet port is then another hoselok. Then everything else is hoselok- twin DI's to reel. Every male threaded fitting within all that is PTFE'd also.
Like I said, since lowering the box it's performed much better but another thing different is that the box is now fitted rigid where before it was hung & so could move a few inches freely.
Mind, all that trouble I had with algea blocking my strainer, Milton fluid sorted it good & proper! ;)
-
Fit a tap to your water tank outlet,sorted mine out just turn off after every job and you will not get an airlock again.
thanks joe