Submersible Pump Question

[Beltzington]

Other than the accelerated wear and tear from the motor running will any damage be done to the pump if it is left on for hours without any water flow? Will it continue to build up pressure and rupture pipes? TIA

 

[Carl_NH]

The pump will heat up and impellers will melt and cause the motor to burn out. Actually your well should have a pressure relief valve that will cut in at 70 psi so that should pop first allowing enough water to flow to not burn up the pump. But you stated no flow.

 

[Willl]

Depends on the pump.

Some can run dry with no harm what so ever, others can be damaged within minutes or even seconds of running dry.

Best to know YOUR pump.

 

[scott_vt]

Good Afternoon Beltzington,
I have two of the Flowtec submersibles in my basement. They both have the float activated tether switch.

I have allways been under the assumption that if the pump continued to run without any water to pump that the pump section would wear rapidly, and eventually become unusable. The only way that could happen as far as my setup goes, is that the tethered cannister that turns the unit on and off would have to get hung up on the inside of one of my drain tiles. To date this has not happened to me. Prior to any weather event that I may have water issues I usually check both units to see if they are in the proper position inside the drain tiles.

 

[Carl_NH]

A sump pump can run dry for quite a while - a submersible well pump cannot. My understanding from the OP "rupture pipe" was a submersible well water pump.

A sump pump cannot rupture pipes as they dont build pressure.

 

[Bikewanderer]

Yes, it will burn up shaft seals and eventually the impeller.

you need this;

Coyote Pump Protectors protect pumps and motors. Coyote Manufacturing, Inc.

 

[scott_vt]

A sump pump can run dry for quite a while - a submersible well pump cannot. My understanding from the OP "rupture pipe" was a submersible well water pump.

A sump pump cannot rupture pipes as they dont build pressure.

Good Afternoon Carl,
Yep I re read the OP's original question and saw that... sorry about that !

I still wouldnt want my sump pumps running too long without any water, JMO...

 

[Carl_NH]

Scotty,

Yes I concur they shouldnt but it happens. Mine is a 3/4HP Flotec SST oil filled case, Cast base with metal impeller and it ran for at least 3 hrs one day before I got home. It was hot, but still pumped OK. It also has a lifetime warranty so I returned it and got a new one even tho it was the switch that failed.

 

[vwnotrunning]

Many sump pumps are only designed to be operated for extended periods of time with the motor housing immersed in water to cool the motor.

 

[Bikewanderer]

OP - you probably need to define if this is a submersible sump pump or a submersible well pump.

Either way, leaving them running (in water) with the outlet blocked will build up the pressure to a certian point and stop. The energy from the pump then is converted into heat which can be damaging. They can and will get quite hot. Once or twice I've nearly burned myself grabbing my jet pump that didn't get primed properly.

If it's not in water and running, see my previous response. That's even worse.