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Each year, when heating season rolls around, Pump Products staff get a flurry of calls from homeowners who fire-up their home heating systems and deliver a jolt to their system that results in leaks, circulator pump failure or total breakdown. For those who haven’t maintained their hydronic heating system all spring and summer, our Product Experts offer the following tips to ensure a safe start-up and maximize the life of your system:

1. Lubricate your hot water circulating pump. Lack of lubrication causes friction in motors and increases electricity use. Self-lubricating wet-rotor pumps like Armstrong 180203 Wet Rotor Circulators and Wilo Model Start 3-Speed Wet Rotor Circulators are exceptions to this rule.

2. Tighten all electrical connections and measure voltage and current on electric pump motors. Faulty electrical connections can cause unsafe operation of your system and reduce the life of major components.

3. Check your pump for leaks. Leakage damages the pump and introduces air into the system, forcing it to add make-up water. If the pump is noisy have it checked immediately to keep a minor repair from becoming a major one.

4. Never walk up to a pump that has been down all summer and hit the start button. Inspect all gas/oil connections, pressure gauges and heat exchangers. If you can’t verify that you have a hazard-free situation, call a contractor who will test the isolation valves; thoroughly examine the motor; conduct a surge test to assess the condition of your pump’s windings and controls; lubricate all bearings; and set the pump and motor to factory specifications.

Neglect is the number one cause of pump failure and yearly maintenance of a heating system is the only surefire way to ensure a problem-free start-up, maintain a comfortable temperature and keep heating costs down.