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Welcome back to another edition of Inspector Pumphead’s Quick Tips! In this space I, Inspector Pumphead, will be dispensing wisdom regarding your pump, whether it be about performance, maintenance, repair parts or navigating our site to find a new product, I’m here to help! Today we’re going to be talking about short cycling. Is your pump turning on and off so fast it’s bringing you back to your strobe light-disco days, complete with afros and bell bottoms No Just me Sometimes the Inspector likes to think back to simpler times when he had a full head of hair. But I digress. Let’s talk about some common causes and fixes for your short cycling submersible well pump. Short cycling is when a pump turns on and off too rapidly. Not only can short cycling result in pump failure, but it can harm the rest of your system as well. Short cycling can occur for a number of reasons. One of most common reasons for short cycling is a loss of air in the water pressure tank. This is especially common in older, non-bladder pressure tanks. For these older tanks, the solution to this problem entails repairing the water tank air volume control. If you have a more modern tank, your tank’s bladder may be damaged, which means it won't be able to hold pressure properly and will need replacing. If the tank is damaged in any way, replacing it as soon as possible should be a priority so the rest of your system doesn't become stressed. Short cycling can also occur because of the state of some of your pump’s components such as the pressure switch and check valve. You will want to examine these parts for wear and tear as they may be the culprit. The settings on your pressure switch may need to be readjusted or the switch could potentially need replacing if damaged. Your pressure tube may be clogged due to hard water or sediment in the system so this is something to check as well. A failed check valve means your system will not be able to hold pressure when the pump shuts off, which means this part may also need replacing. If you've tested your pump's components and they are in working order, something as simple as a leak in your system may be responsible for your pump's malfunctioning. It's important to look for damp spots around your system. If you are still unsure of the problem, or which repair part you need, you can always consult and schedule an appointment your local plumber or professional. PumpProducts.com sales specialists are standing by to help you find the right pump or part, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800 to speak to an expert today.

Pump Products recently held a training seminar and Q&A session with Michael, the Northeast territory manager representing A.Y. McDonald Mfg. Co. This training session was just one of a number of such sessions designed to familiarize Pump Products application engineers and marketing staff with a manufacturer’s products, processes and customer service capabilities. Pump Products employees will in turn be able to better communicate about those products to customers. The talk centered specifically on A.Y. McDonald’s versatile and well-built submersible well pump line. The strength of A.Y. McDonald well pumps lies in their quality construction; all pump ends are made and manufactured in the United States. The target market for these well pumps is the discerning consumer who is willing to pay for quality manufacturing. While A.Y. McDonald has experimented with imported pump ends in the past, according to Michael, the company has rededicated itself to domestic manufacturing centered in its factory in Dubuque, IA. Keeping design and manufacture in-house allows the company to have “wonderful customer service,” according to Michael. “It’s a very tight knit and family-oriented group,” he said. The focus on customer service is particularly important for A.Y. McDonald because it is a “boutique” manufacturer. That focus extends to shipment (A.Y. McDonald can drop ship directly from the factory) and to the warranty process. Most pumps carry a one year warranty, but extended warranties up to three and five years are also available. Michael estimated that he fields about one warranty request per month. The group also talked about A.Y. McDonald’s vaunted SludgeMaster pump. Commonly used to get radon out of water cisterns, the SludgeMaster is powered by an air compressor and can evacuate mud, gunk, leaves, twigs and other waste from a system. While it can’t run on pure solids - the pumping medium should be about 70% liquid - the SludgeMaster is still a heavy duty pump. It has been described as an “animal” or “beast.” All in all, it was an enlightening and invigorating training session that strengthened the partnership between Pump Products and A.Y McDonald and has better equipped Pump Products to better serve the customer needs. Pump Products application engineers are standing by to help you find the right pump, as well as to provide price quotes, stocking availability and shipping information. Call our toll free number 1-800-429-0800.