Baaad Pumps !

Originally written in 2002: Updated since then . . .

OUR TEENAGERS CAN SAY ‘BAD’ AND MAKE IT MEAN A GOOD THING. THEY SAY SOMETHING IS ‘HOT’ WHILE OL’ DUFFERS LIKE ME REMEMBER SAYING SOMETHING IS ‘COOL’. SO THE THREE PUMP STYLES THAT ARE DISCUSSED BELOW ARE EITHER ‘BAAAD’ OR ‘GOOD’, OR ARE EITHER ‘HOT’ OR ‘COOL’.

IF YOU ARE TAKING THE TIME TO READ THIS, YOU ARE PROBABLY SOMEONE WHO IS TRYING TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ABOUT THE VARIOUS OPTIONS THAT YOU HAVE AVAILABLE TO YOU FOR PUMPING WATER. SECONDARILY, YOU PROBABLY WOULDN’T MIND FINDING A CONTACT THAT KEEPS UP WITH THE LATEST, THE NEWEST, AND THE BEST, AND WHO ACTUALLY KNOWS WHAT TO EXPECT FROM THE PUMPS – BECAUSE OF REAL LIFE, ON THE JOB EXPERIENCES.

HISTRONICS! (HISTORY & HYSTERICS)

WE ARE THE LIAISON BETWEEN YOU AND THE MANUFACTURERS ‘PROJECTED WISHES’ - OTHERWISE KNOWN AS ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS.  CURRENTLY, THE ENTIRE PUMP INDUSTRY IS QUIETLY GOING THROUGH MAJOR UP-HEAVALS. CONSTANT PRESSURE PUMPS ARE THE COMING THING. (THESE PUMPS ARE DISCUSSED AT LENGTH LATER IN THIS ARTICLE.) ALMOST AT AN ALARMING RATE, PUMP MANUFACTURES ARE BEING BOUGHT AND SOLD TO BETTER POSITION THEMSELVES SO THAT THEY CAN HAVE THE RESOURCES TO COMPETE.  THE COSTS OF R & D, TOOLING UP, PRODUCTION, INVENTORY, AND MARKETING, WITH ALL OF THE CHANGES, ARE TOO MUCH FOR MANY OF THE SMALLER COMPANIES TO HANDLE. 

THE SUBMERSIBLE MOTOR COMPANY, FRANKLIN ELECTRIC, BUILDS AND SUPPLIES ALMOST ALL OF THE SUBMERSIBLE MOTORS MADE, TO MOST ALL OF THE PUMP MANUFACTURERS. ABOUT THIRTY YEARS AGO, THEY CAME UP WITH A MOTOR DESIGN THAT USES EPOXY TO ENCAPSULATE THE MOTOR WINDINGS IN THEIR SUBMERSIBLE MOTORS, AND INSTEAD OF USING NON-TOXIC OILS, THEY USE WATER TO LUBRICATE AND COOL THEIR MOTORS. IT IS A BRILLIANT DESIGN THAT HAS WORKED VERY WELL AND BASICALLY GIVEN THEM A LOCK ON THE MARKET FOR SEVERAL DECADES.

FRANKLIN ELECTRIC HAS RECENTLY DEVELOPED A MOTOR CONTROLLER THAT OPERATES SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS AT VARIABLE SPEEDS WHILE MAINTAINING A ‘CONSTANT PRESSURE’. THIS CONTROLLER ELIMINATES THE NEED FOR MANY DIFFERENT FIXED-SPEED PUMP LIQUID ENDS WHICH ARE BUILT BY OTHER COMPANIES. THESE PUMP MANUFACTURERS HAVE TO BE CONCERNED AT A MAJOR PERCENTAGE OF THEIR BUSINESS BEING ELIMINATED BY THESE CONTROLLERS. WE UNDERSTAND THAT ALL OF THE MAJOR PUMP COMPANIES ARE IN SOME STAGE OF PRODUCING THEIR OWN CONTROLLERS, AND EVEN MOTORS – THUS CAUSING A HUGE STRUGGLE BETWEEN THE CONGLOMERATES.

RECENTLY, WE HAVE BEEN CAUGHT IN PART OF THIS STRUGGLE. WE HAVE INSTALLED SOME CUSTOM BUILT, LARGER VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVES (VFD’S), WHICH ARE WHAT THE NEW CONTROLLERS ARE ACTUALLY CALLED. ALTHOUGH THE COMPANY THAT BUILT THEM IS UL CERTIFIED, THE ACTUAL INTERNAL VARIABLE FREQUENCY DRIVE HAVE NOT BEEN UL LISTED FOR INCOMING SINGE-PHASE POWER TO A THREE-PHASE POWER OUTPUT. MANY OF THESE VFD’S ARE INSTALLED IN THE AREA AND WORK PERFECTLY. THE PROBLEM IS THE SPECIFIC CERTIFICATION IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ONLY ELECTRICAL INSPECTION DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES THAT HAS JUST DECIDED TO REQUIRE THAT CERTIFICATION LABEL AND SUPPORTING UL DOCUMENTATION. AT THIS POINT, AFTER WEEKS OF SEARCHING, WE HAVE NOT FOUND EVEN ONE VARIBLE FREQUENCY DRIVE MANUFACTURER THAT HAS HAD THEIR EQUIPMENT PASS THE UL LISTING FOR THEIR VFD’S.

SO, HELPING YOU UNDERSTAND SOME OF THE BACKGROUND OF WHAT IS COMING FROM THE PUMP INDUSTRY, SHOULD HELP YOU REALIZE THE VALUE OF ALIGNING YOURSELF WITH AN ON-THE-GROUND COMPANY LIKE OURS, THAT MAKES SURE THAT YOU AREN’T GOING TO BE WRONG END OF THE STICK WITH EITHER OUT-DATED, NON-SERVICEABLE EQUIPMENT, OR NEW STUFF THAT JUST DOESN’T LIVE UP TO THE RAZZLE-DAZZLE THAT INDUSTRY SALESMAN LIKE TO PROJECT.

BAAAD CP PUMPS:

WE HAVE INSTALLED A NUMBER OF THE FRANKLIN ELECTRIC CP (CONSTANT PRESSURE) PUMPING SYSTEMS. THE BEAUTY OF THIS SYSTEM IS THAT, WITHIN THE DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS, WE HAVE GOT JUST ABOUT EVERYTHING WE WANT:

1.    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC MAKES BOTH THE CONTROLLER AND THE MOTOR. THS PUTS AN END TO THE POTENTIAL BLAME GAME WITH DIFFERENT MANUFACTURERS OF PANELS AND MOTORS.

2.    FRANKLIN ELECTRIC HAS AN 800 NUMBER THAT HAS, CONSISTENTLY OVER THE YEARS, HAD VERY QUALIFIED TECH SUPPORT IMMEDIATELY AVAILABLE.

3.    THE CONTROLLER OPERATES THE MOTOR AT THE SLOWEST SPEED THAT WILL STILL KEEP THE PRESSURE AT THE SET POINT, WHILE DELIVERING THE NEEDED AMOUNT OF WATER. THIS MAKES THE PUMP START AND STOP SMOOTHLY, ADDING LIFE TO THE MOTOR AND PUMP. IT DOESN’T NECESSARILY HAVE TO RAMP UP TO FULL SPEED IN THE SECOND OR SO THAT FIXED SPEED PUMPS EVERY TIME THEY START.

4.    THE PRESSURE TANK IS SUBSTANTIALLY SMALLER, WHICH HAS ITS OWN VALUE IN EXPENSIVE HOMES, BY MINIMIZING THE ‘FOOTPRINT’ IN THE MECHANICAL ROOM.

5.    THE LONG TERM ELECTRICAL USAGE IS LESS. THE REASON FOR THIS IS THAT THE CONTROLLER TAKES YOUR SINGLE-PHASE POWER AND CONVERTS IT TO THREE-PHASE POWER FOR YOUR PUMP. AND YES, THESE PANELS HAVE THE CORRECT UL LISTING ON THEM.

6.    AND THE BEST PART: WE CAN USE THE STA-RITE SIGNATURE 2000 PUMP LIQUID ENDS WITH THESE VARIBLE SPEED MOTORS. MORE INFO FURTHER IN THIS ARTICLE OF WHY WE HAVE JUST A LITTLE BIT OF OPINION ABOUT THESE LIQUID ENDS.

THE LIMITATIONS OF THESE PUMPS ARE:

1.    THE PRESSURE SETTING ON THE TRANSDUCER (LIKE A PRESSURE SWITCH) CAN ONLY BE SET UP TO A VERY MAXIMUM OF 80 PSI.

2.    THE CONTROLLER NEEDS TO BE IN A DRY, CLEAN, WARM, STABLE ENVIRONMENT. (LIKE ME)

3.    THE PRESSURE TRANSDUCER COMES PRE-WIRED AND THAT AMOUNT OF WIRE IS MAXIMUM DISTANCE THAT THE TRANSDUCER CAN BE INSTALLED AWAY FROM THE CONTROLLER.

4.    THE PRESSURE SETTING ON THE PRESSURE TANK NEEDS TO BE EXACTLY AS THE DIRECTIONS SAY. (WE FOUND THIS OUT THE HARD WAY)

BAAAD STA-RITE SIGNATURE 2000 PUMPS:

THERE ARE MANY GOOD SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS IN THE INDUSTRY. THE TOUGH JOB IS FINDING A PUMP THAT IS ‘HEAD AND SHOULDERS’ ABOVE ANY OTHER PUMP. THE OTHER DAY, A PUMP SALESMAN FOR THE LARGEST PUMP MANUFACTURER IN THE WORLD WAS IN OUR OFFICE AND HE LOOKED AT THE CUT-A-WAY ON THE TABLE OF OUR SIGNATURE 2000 PUMP AND SHOOK HIS HEAD AND SAID, “I KNOW YOU LIKE THOSE PUMPS, AND ALL I CAN SAY IS, IF YOU EVER GET MAD AT YOUR SUPPLIER, I’M HERE.” EVEN EXPERIENCED, REPUTABLE, PUMP SALESMEN FROM COMPETING MANUFACTURERS KNOW BETTER THAN TO WASTE THEIR TIME TRYING TO SELL THEIR PUMPS UP AGAINST THE STA-RITE SIGNATURE 2000 SERIES. HERE’S WHY:

NO OTHER PUMP THAT WE KNOW OF HAS EVEN ONE OF THE FOLLOWING THREE ADVANTAGES – MUCH LESS ALL THREE. AND THE BEST PART IS, THIS PUMP DOESN’T COST ANY MORE THAN ANY OTHER PROFESSIONAL GRADE PUMP.

1.    CERAMIC INSERTS ARE MOLDED INTO THE WEAR SURFACE OF THE DIFFUSERS. THROW-A-WAY PUMPS HAVE NO WEAR RING. OTHER PROFESSIONAL GRADE PUMPS USE A STAINLESS STEEL WEAR RING. IF SAND IS PRESENT, STAINLESS STEEL GETS CHEWED UP IN SHORT ORDER. CERAMIC FLAT-OUT DOESN’T WEAR.

2.    THE THRUST PADS BETWEEN THE IMPELLERS ARE MADE FROM WHAT WE SUSPECT IS SOME SORT OF GRAPHITE MATERIAL. STA-RITE WON’T SAY, AND EVEN IN THEIR MANUAL THEY SAY THAT THIS IS A PROPRIETARY SPECIFICATION. OTHER PUMPS WE REPLACE AND SEE EVERY DAY JUST DON’T HAVE THRUST PADS – ZIP, ZILCH, NONE.

3.    THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE LOWER BARREL CONNECTION TO THE INTAKE HOUSING IS STAINLESS STEEL WELDED. THIS GIVES THE PUMP BETTER ALIGNMENT AND STRENGTH.

4.    WE SAID THREE ADVANTAGES ABOVE. WHAT CAN WE SAY, THERE IS A LOT MORE, BUT WE’LL STOP WITH THIS ONE: THE INTERNAL CHECKVALVE AT THE TOP OF THE PUMP WORKS GREAT. STA-RITE REALIZED THIS EARLY ON, AND WANTED TO KEEP THAT CHECKVALVE IN-HOUSE. THEY BOUGHT THE CHECKVALVE COMPANY, FLOWMATIC.

THREE TIMES NOW, WE HAVE HAD THESE PUMPS RUN DRY FOR AT LEAST TWELVE HOURS EACH, WITH NO DAMAGE OR LOSS OF EFFECIENCY TO THE PUMP THAT WE COULD SEE . . . UNHEARD OF!

OUR CLIENTS, FOR ONE REASON OR ANOTHER, DID NOT HAVE LOW WATER PROTECTION DEVICES INSTALLED THAT WOULD SHUT OFF THEIR STA-RITE PUMP IN THE EVENT OF RUNNING OUT OF WATER.

(WE CALLED OUR SUPPLIER AND JOKINGLY TOLD HIM THAT WE WEREN’T SURE THAT WE WANTED TO SELL THESE PUMPS ANY MORE, SINCE WE ARE BEGINNING TO BELIEVE THAT WE WON’T HAVE TO REPLACE THESE PUMPS IN OUR LIFETIME – AND REPEAT BUSINESS IS GOOD BUSINESS!)

BAAAD BOTTOM PUMPS:

IN OUR AREA, THERE MANY HOMES THAT RELY ON VERY SHALLOW WATER SOURCES. SINCE IT GETS VERY COLD HERE, THE ABOVE GROUND CENTRIFICAL PUMPS THAT USE A FOOTVALVE VERY NEAR THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL TO ACCESS ALMOST ALL OF THE WATER ARE IMPRACTICAL. IF HEAT IS NOT CONSTANT, THESE PUMPS FREEZE AND BREAK.

NORMAL SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS INSTALLED VERTICALLY IN SHALLOW WELLS LEAVE AT LEAST TWO-FEET OF WATER UNAVAILABLE. AMAZINGLY, ACCESS TO THIS TWO-FEET OF WATER DETERMINES WHETHER OR NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE A CONSISTANT AND RELIABLE SOURCE OF WATER. IN OUR NEW INFILTRATION GALLERY WELLS, WE HAVE PERFECTED THE VERTICAL TO HORIZONTAL DESIGN WHERE OUR EXCELLENT STA-RITE PUMPS INSTALL VERTICALLY, BUT END UP LAYING HORIZONTALLY IN THE BOTTOM OF THE WELL. THIS ALLOWS ACCESS TO ALL BUT 6” OF WATER.

BUT WHAT ABOUT ALL OF THE OLD COMPETITOR INSTALLED ‘BURRITO’* STYLE SHALLOW WELLS WITH ONLY VERTICAL ACCESS, COMBINED OF COURSE, WITH THE DROPPING WATER LEVELS?

THE SOLUTION IS BOTTOM DRAW SUBMERSIBLE PUMPS! THIS PUMP IS CALLED ‘THE DOMINATOR’. (CAN’T YOU JUST HEAR ARNOLD SWARTZINAGGER SAYING, ‘THE DOM-IN-ATOR!’) AND THE BEST PART IS THAT THESE UNIQUE PUMPS ARE BUILT BY STA-RITE, WITH THE SIGNATURE 2000 IMPELLER / DIFFUSSER STACK. THIS LIQUID END HAS THE SAME GUTS AS OUR EXCELLENT, AND PROVEN VERTICAL STA-RITE PUMPS. THE MOTOR IS MADE FROM AN ITIALIAN COMPANY THAT STA-RITE JUST BOUGHT.  WE HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT GREAT LUCK WITH THESE PUMPS. FOR A FEW HUNDRED DOLLARS AND AN HOUR OF ON-SITE REPLACEMENT INSTALLATION TIME, OUR CLIENTS GET WATER ONCE AGAIN, WITHOUT SPENDING THE $5,000 OR SO FOR A NEW WELL. (WE GET TO SEE A LOT OF DENTAL WORK WITH THE BIG OL’ SMILES ON THEIR FACES!)

*BURRITO WELLS ARE WHAT WE CALL THE SHALLOW WELL DESIGN THAT USES FOUR FOOT IN DIAMETER GALVANIZED CULVERT THAT IS TWENTY FEET LONG. INSTEAD OF PUTTING CAPS ON THE ENDS, THE ENDS OF THE CULVERT ARE SMASHED DOWN WITH AN EXCAVATOR BUCKET TO PREVENT GROUND MATERIAL FROM COMING IN THE ENDS. WHAT CAN WE SAY?  THAT HIGH-TEC CONSTRUCTION TECHNIQUE LEAVES IT LOOKING LIKE A BIG OL’ SILVER BURRITO. (THE LEAD, ZINK, AND IRON THAT YOU CAN’T HELP BUT GET FROM THESE WELLS IS ANOTHER ARTICLE FOR ANOTHER TIME.)

BAAAD ELECTRONIC PUMPS:

FOR CERTAIN SPECIAL APPLICATIONS, THE FAIRLY NEW GRUNDFOS MQ CENTRIFICAL PUMP IS PERFECT. THIS PUMP COMES IN EITHER ¾ HP OR 1 HP. SINCE THE COST DIFFERENCE IS VERY LITTLE, WE ARE ONLY STOCKING THE 1 HP MQ PUMP. THIS PUMP HAS A HIGH-TEC ELECTRONIC BRAIN THAT MAKES IT SMART ENOUGH TO WORK WITHOUT HAVING TO USE A PRESSURE TANK. IT ALSO HAS AN AUTOMATIC NO-WATER SHUT OFF, AND A RESET BUTTON. 

WE PROVIDE THESE PUMPS FOR OUR CLIENTS THAT WANT TO SAVE A FEW BUCKS AND PUT IN A QUALITY PUMP THAT IS FORGIVING. THE MQ PUMP IS PERFECT FOR AN IN-LINE BOOSTER PUMP APPLICATION FOR EXAMPLE: AN UPSTAIRS SHOWER THAT DOESN’T HAVE ENOUGH PRESSURE. DON’T, HOWEVER, EXPECT THIS PUMP TO DEAL WITH SILTY WATER FROM A DRAINAGE DITCH. THIS IS NOT A FRIENDLY PUMP TO INSTALL IF YOU HAVE SAND OR HEAVY TURBIDITY IN YOUR WATER.

YOU MAY HAVE HEARD THAT GLADE AIR-FRESHING COMMERICAL . . . ‘PLUG IT IN, PLUG IT IN’. THAT’S JUST ABOUT ALL THIS PUMP NEEDS.

WHEN YOU WANT TO PUSH SOME WATER AROUND, JUST GIVE US A CALL. WE JUMP THOUGH HOOPS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU WILL GET THE MOST RELIABLE, COST EFFECTIVE PUMPING SYSTEM THAT THE ENTIRE INDUSTRY HAS TO OFFER. AFTER ALL, WE WOULD NEVER LET YOU GET A BAD PUMP – JUST A BAAAD PUMP!