Pump Leakage: What Are The Common Causes Behind It?
Pump leakage is among the most common reasons behind failures and damage in water pumps. Not only will leakage increase the downtime of your pump, but it can also add substantial wear and tear to your system. For this reason, it is extremely important to address the problem of pump leakage right away. Addressing pump leakage basically begins with knowing the common indications and causes why pumps may leak.
Keep in mind that not all pump leakage can be discovered easily by puddles of liquid or oil on the floor underneath it. Leaks within your pumps can take place both externally and internally, which means that you must be vigilant to avoid and spot these leaks in time before further damage is done to your pump. Among the most common indications that internal leakage is occurring in your pump are increased noise, increased temperatures, decreased system speed, and reduced overall capacity.
Meanwhile, here are some of the major reasons why your water pump may experience internal or external leakage.
1. Shocks and vibrations
Excessive shocks and vibrations can cause large radial and axial play of your system’s shaft, thereby resulting in improper and a higher chance of leakage. Operating conditions, incorrect alignment, and working the pumps past their best efficiency point (BEP) can provide excessive vibration and minimise the lifetime of the seal. If your water pump needs to deal with heavy-duty environments or conditions, make sure that your seal is able to manage above-average radial and axial play.
2. Dry running
Normally, a pump seal requires fluid to lubricate the materials around the shaft. In the absence of available fluids for lubrication, the seal will run dry, which then causes extra heat and friction. As a consequence, the seal will burn, melt, and become destroyed, which leads to fluid leakage because of the pressure. Even a couple of seconds of dry running can result in blisters and heat cracks, which then lead to pump leakage. Oftentimes, dry running failures occur by restarting the pump following maintenance.
3. Pressure spikes or drops
If your pump needs to handle pressure spikes or drops, its wearing process will inevitably increase. The sudden changing conditions of operation will cause an increasing leakage of fluids. A recognised solution to this is the use of rubber lip seals. If your pump utilises rubber lip seals, there may still be an increased risk of leakage, but it will not be as significant as the other kinds of seals.
4. Wearing down of the seal material
The shaft of a pump is already sealed with materials around it. Regardless of the type of seal your pump utilises, there is usually friction or contact between the seal and the shaft. The materials from every shaft seal always begin to wear down due to friction. The seal has a longer lifetime and wears slower when there is less friction on the shaft.
The most challenging part here is knowing when the seal has already worn down, thereby necessitating a plan for maintenance. As much as possible, you want your seal to last and not replace it immediately. By having the drain flow monitored, you can reduce the risk of abrupt pump failure and maximise the mean time between maintenance (MTBM). Monitoring the condition of the seal can be done either manually with the use of a bucket and stopwatch or digitally with the use of a digital flow meter.
Conclusion
Like any other machines, such as high-pressure cleaners and wet and dry vacuum cleaners, water pumps are susceptible to system failure and damage due to several possible causes, one of which is leakage. If not addressed immediately, pump leakage can certainly lead to system damage, which will most likely require costly repairs or replacement. As such, it is necessary to avoid or fix pump leakage right away, and it usually starts with knowing the common signs that your pump needs servicing. Regular maintenance, including inspecting worn-out seals or damaged components, can help identify potential issues early on and prevent the escalation of pump problems.