Kibkom North Cyprus Forum

Why is my water pump always running? Starts for 8-15 seconds then stops for 15-22 seconds!
I have replaced the Automatic Pump Control unit twice in the last 4 months. The ball cock in the roof tank is good with the float checked. I have shut off all toilet supply valves and checked all showers and taps for leaks. Still the pump starts/stops.

They are sometimes over sensitive condensation in the tank dripping can set it of or there could be a leak some where that you cant see.It might be the return valve on the tank they get lime scale build up and that can make the pump come on and off.

this happens when you have a leakage somewhere, like water dripping from taps/toilets or a hole in the pipe somewhere.

Drop in the pressure from this leakage on house-side will make the pump kick in until it reestablishes the presure and stops. But loses pressure again due to this hole/leakage.

You need to figure out where you are losing water from to fix the problem.

Kemal

Can you isolate the outlet of the pump?
If you can and the problem continues, it's the pump/pressure switch that's faulty.
If the problem stops, it's the house pipework, taps, toilets, etc.

Check non return valves at both storage and rooftop tanks, overflow inside the toilet cistern may be passing. Can you isolate parts of the system by closing valves to find leak?

3 suggestions for you to consider.

1. Between the cold tank and the hot tank is a non-return valve which gets damaged by limescale allowing water to flow the wrong way. However, this normally only manifests itself as the hot tank cools down once the sun is off the solar panels - the remaining hot water contracts and the hot tank is 'topped up'. It is easily replaced with a few spanners/wrenches.

2. Outside of the hot tank is a pressure relief valve - it can be fitted directly to the hot tank or sits by itself at the end of a short section of pipe. This also can be jammed partially open by limescale allowing water to escape constantly from the system and causing the pump to run almost continually. If this is your problem it will be immediately obvious on inspection - even if you don't see dripping water then it will be wet beneath it. Again it is easily replaced but make sure you get one of the correct rating - usually either 4 or 5 atmospheres.

3. You checked the ballcock valves but check the ballcocks themselves because they sometimes leak. If they have water in them then they are not sufficiently buoyant to keep the valve closed and need to be replaced.

Top gun,
We have exactly the same problem - it drives me crazy, so much so that the pump it switched off except when needed. We replaced the press control unit on pump after isolation showed it was a problem and it seemed to fix the problem for one day. We switched the pump off overnight and when it came on the next day the problem started again, we isolated the pump again but it made no difference. Our plumber said he had checked everything,we mentioned non return valves, etc but we still have the pump going on every 18 seconds... I also notice a drop in pressure and even when the pump has been off for a short time and no/little water has been used when switched back on it seems to be on for ages to fill the top tank up. This is why we thought it was a non return valve. It's very frustrating so I will watch this post with interest.

Thanks for your help folks. I have done what Vaughan suggested and isolated the output from pump/control/check valve and the pump stops running! The water pipe then disappears down underground. However the cold water feed up to the roof tank has an isolation valve. This was then shut and once again the pump stopped running. So far so good.

Next check will be up on the roof to find anymore valves. This I will do later as my wife will shoot me if I go on the roof unattended! Safety first.

When you switch on a tap (or flush a toilet or whatever) the pressure in the system drops and the pump starts and directly feeds the particular demand. The water does not come from the roof tank - that is only there to provide pressure during a power cut. So if you cut the feed to the cold tank and the pump stops then the demand cannot be coming from within the house - which leaves only the hot/cold tanks (which are interconnected) and the associated non-return and pressure relief valves.

Topgun think you will find its the non return unit on roof mine did same renewed 12tl

We had exactley the same issue last year and spent many days doing all of the suggested checks.

In the end it was an underground pipe which had a very small leak- we were very lucky because we could get to the pipe to fix the repair.

We established the leak by checking for damp patches outside the house.-again we were so lucky.

Hope this helps.

If you cant solve the problems and you are in the Esentepe area give me a ring.
0533 8472311

goldfinch,would think you are spot on!!

Will 99 percent be non return valves. Best to change them all at the same time. Depending on set up but usually three.
Also best to have an extra pair of hands up there, one for safety and one to help with disconnection of valve so as not to damage pipes etc.

Also make sure pump is OFF and all vaves are OFF. Beware of hot water discharging! Make a note of direction of non return valve you are replacing.

Above all be careful!

I may have missed some points but just woke up

Kevin

TRNCVaughan wrote:Can you isolate the outlet of the pump?
If you can and the problem continues, it's the pump/pressure switch that's faulty.
If the problem stops, it's the house pipework, taps, toilets, etc.

This is a very good point. If you have any work done at your pump and you do not have stop valves either side get the plumbers to do it it helps no end if you have a problem. That said often the valves will leak a bit so cannot be 100% relied on when trying to locate pump cycling problems.

Once again thanks guys.
I will get up to the water tanks as soon as the weather improves and replace the non-return valve between the tanks.

Hi;

İf you give us a call l can send my team and they can have look.

Best Regards;



Aylin Xhafolli
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