new water pump broken after 2 months

Hannaho · 09-02-2019 11:50PM #1

Hi! I had a water pump installed two years ago when we moved in to our house in September 2018 - it was part of a renovation and new heating system. The pump broke in December 2018. A plumber installed a new one at a cost of 500 euros. The pump broke again tonight and we have no water in the house. What is wrong here??? So disheartened!!

Dakotabigone · 09-02-2019 11:52PM

Are you from the future, it’s 2019 here.

mobfromcork · 09-02-2019 11:57PM

Are you sure it's the pump? We had a pump replaced here about a year ago. There was a problem maybe 10 months later and I assumed it was the pump. I took it apart, cleaned the filters and any mechanical parts I could. Put it back and still no joy. Brought it to a guy in Dublin who who tested it for me and turns out it was fine. It was a pressure reduction valve further along which was malfunctioning rather than the pump.

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:07AM

Thanks, mobfromcork for your reply. Perhaps it is a pressure value from further along. I don't know the first things about pumps - how do I check this. The plumber who installed it in December says it's not his problem and won't return. I'm upset to say the least, and we have visitors arriving on Monday.

10-02-2019 12:11AM

Hannaho wrote:

Hi! I had a water pump installed two years ago when we moved in to our house in September 2018 - it was part of a renovation and new heating system. The pump broke in December 2018. A plumber installed a new one at a cost of 500 euros. The pump broke again tonight and we have no water in the house. What is wrong here??? So disheartened!!

What's the make and model of the pump? Most come with a 2 to 5 years parts and labour warranty.

There's another thread in the last week or so about a good quality pump failing within the warranty period. Manifacturer sent out engineer to repair for free but it was installed incorrectly & they wouldn't stand over the warranty.

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 12:14AM

If it's installed less than 2 months surely he/she should at least come back and take a look. That's very poor service, even if it is a fault with the pump. What pump is it?
Most should have a warranty if it is at fault. For example, all Grundfos pumps have a 2 year warranty.

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:19AM

It's a Tuscon automatic booster pump. When the plumber changed it in December, he told me the engineer would take several days to come out - we had no water and were desperate.

10-02-2019 12:20AM

Hannaho wrote:

Thanks, mobfromcork for your reply. Perhaps it is a pressure value from further along. I don't know the first things about pumps - how do I check this. The plumber who installed it in December says it's not his problem and won't return. I'm upset to say the least, and we have visitors arriving on Monday.

If he just installed it then he's responsible for the installation. If he supplied & fitted then he is responsible for whole thing. The warranty is offered on top of your statutory rights not instead of. Your contract is with the plumber.

I'm afraid to ask, did you get a proper receipt from him?

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:28AM

No. I didn't. I was working the day he put it in, with only my teenage kids here. I have texts from him on my phone stating the 500 euro price. He is a local plumber, and had done a few jobs for me before, which were fine. He has a website and I will be leaving him an very bad review if he continues to refuse to come back. What do I do now? I don't even know where to contact Tuscon pumps in Ireland for an engineer to come out - do you know if there is an agent for these pumps in Ireland, though I don't know how we can manage without water for several days, waiting for an engineer.

Dakotabigone · 10-02-2019 12:29AM

A Daniel o Donnell it was so.

10-02-2019 12:33AM

Hannaho wrote:

It's a Tuscon automatic booster pump. When the plumber changed it in December, he told me the engineer would take several days to come out - we had no water and were desperate.

So is an engineer coming out to fix it this time?

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:38AM

No, I don't know how to contact a Tuscon engineer - I have looked up a place in Wexford that sells only Tuscon pumps, I will try to contact them on Monday. Can I just ask how much these pumps cost - I don't know what the name of the original pump was - but one plumber quoted me 700 euros for a new pump. Then I got the local guy who quoted me 500, well 480. How can there be such a difference in price??

10-02-2019 12:41AM

Hannaho wrote:

No. I didn't. I was working the day he put it in, with only my teenage kids here. I have texts from him on my phone stating the 500 euro price. He is a local plumber, and had done a few jobs for me before, which were fine. He has a website and I will be leaving him an very bad review if he continues to refuse to come back. What do I do now? I don't even know where to contact Tuscon pumps in Ireland for an engineer to come out - do you know if there is an agent for these pumps in Ireland, though I don't know how we can manage without water for several days, waiting for an engineer.

A website means nothing. Someone posted a Dublin plumbing company last week. They have a website. The owner of the company has 12 criminal convictions against him for impersonating a RGI gas installer.

I can't post a link from my phone but search for Sanbra Fyffe online. Google tells me that they are agents for the pump

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 12:42AM

So if you turn on a tap does the pump just not kick in or does the motor turn and just not pump water? Have you tried resetting it? (Turning it off and on even?)

10-02-2019 12:47AM

Hannaho wrote:

No, I don't know how to contact a Tuscon engineer - I have looked up a place in Wexford that sells only Tuscon pumps, I will try to contact them on Monday. Can I just ask how much these pumps cost - I don't know what the name of the original pump was - but one plumber quoted me 700 euros for a new pump. Then I got the local guy who quoted me 500, well 480. How can there be such a difference in price??

700 would have gotten you a good pump like salamander, Stuart Turner, grunfuss etc. Most likely with a five year warranty.

The price difference is usually down quality. I wouldn't rate Tuscon as a top quality pump.

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:49AM

Thanks Sleeper12 for the info re the agent for the pump - I will contact them on Monday.

Mobfromcork - the pump keeps grinding and grinding with even a flush of the toilet, and only a small amount of cold water came out of the upstaris bathroom tap. This is how it went the last time - it was grinding so much I thoughti it would explore - normally it's only noisy for a short while, but tonight and last night it went on for almost 45 minutes. I can't see a light on the pump now. I don't know where to turn it on and off, and am a bit afraid to do so in case it doesn't come on at all tomorrow. What happened last time was that it was grinding for increasingly long periods and then the water went compleely. I hope with no toilet or sink use tonight, it might recover enough for me to have a shower before I go to work tomorrow a.m. but it's not likely to last too long after that.

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:52AM

Thanks sleeper 12 - I don't mind paying for a good pump if it works, but I just thought the other guys were ripping me off. We had a lot of hassle with this house as you can see from other posts, so I am terrified to trust anyone at this stage.

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 12:52AM

The grundfos mq35 booster is around 450ish.
Not sure how much a plumber would charge to fit it.
Even if the Tuscon is a lesser quality.pumo, I'd be surprised if it had stopped working completely so soon after installation if everything was installed correctly.
(I'm not a plumber, just a reasonably competent DIYer. )

10-02-2019 12:52AM

https://m.facebook.com/SanbraFyffe/photos/the-tucson-sbp-100-all-in-one-automatic-booster-pumpour-pump-combines-motor-pump/917075371795072/

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:56AM

Mobfromcork - that's what I am seriously lacking - a competent DIYer at home.

Sleeper12, thanks for the link to the agent.

Do you boht think I would be better replaing the pump entirely with a new pump of good quality?

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 12:56AM

That sounds like you're not getting water into the pump. If it running and running, that's definitely not good for the motor. It says it has dry-run protection on the manual si that usually means it will cut out automatically to stop further damage if water is not being pumped.
Is the cold feed from the pump coming from a cold water tank in the attic or from another source?

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 12:59AM

The cold water tank in the attic I think, but I can't be sure. How would I know and what does this mean.

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 01:00AM

Take a picture of the set-up around the pump if you can sure and maybe someone might be able to shed some light on it.
I'm not sure just buying a new pump is the answer. If the pump isn't getting water then your primary issue might lbe elsewhere

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 01:00AM

Do you think there is another problem - I can hear it grinding away as I write - so upset about this.

Car99 · 10-02-2019 01:03AM

Hannaho wrote: »

Do you think there is another problem - I can hear it grinding away as I write - so upset about this.

Have you tried bleeding the pump?

10-02-2019 01:03AM

mobfromcork wrote:

Take a picture of the set-up around the pump if you can sure and maybe someone might be able to shed some light on it. I'm not sure just buying a new pump is the answer. If the pump isn't getting water then your primary issue might lbe elsewhere

This is where the plumber should at least have a look & confirm that it's the pump or not.

Hannaho · 10-02-2019 01:04AM

How do I post photo - I'm not very technical - I have taken a photo

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 01:09AM

My pump is fed from the cold tank in the attic through a 3/4 inch pipe that leads from near the bottom of the tank. There are other 1/2 inch pipes feeding the toilet cisterns. If your tank in the attic doesn't have enough water in it, it won't be able to gravity feed the pump the water it needs.
It will keep grinding as the motor turns over until it cuts out. If you safely do it, check if there is water in your tank in the attic. It should come in through a ballcock style fitting (depending on your set-up). If there is no water in the tank, then the problem might be from your mains feed rather than from the pump.
All this is only guesswork but might help you rule things in or out. If you don't feel comfortable checking this stuff I would suggest you call a plumber though. Maybe a different guy/girl from the last time

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 01:11AM

If the pump is grinding and not working anyway I think you'd be best turning it off. It'll just be plugged in someone with a normal plug.

mobfromcork · 10-02-2019 01:20AM

When you manage to find the plug coming from the water pump, switch it off and look at it with a fresh head tomorrow. It's hard to troubleshoot at this hour!!

Turbohymac · 10-02-2019 01:50AM

Yes..like previous posts sounds like theres no water in your attic storage tank..even with the pump not operating if the attic storage tank is full of clean water and no blockage in pipe to pump them water should pass through pump gravity... however by your initial post you seem to say theres no water in toilet cistern etc...usually the booster pump is only for mixer shower.. not suppose to supply taps and cisterns etc...
I'd be getting a second opinion on your overall plumbing setup.. your plumber seems a fly by night caracter if he's refusing to come out and diagnose whatever is causing your issue.. I've got a booster in my attic and it's now 10 years old only issue was to replace the flow sensor which triggers the pump to turn on when water is needed..
Doesn't sound like a faulty 2 month old pump but instead a pump that's either starved of supply or else has taken in dirt from your attic storage tank..
Have a good look at that tank to ensure it's full of water up to a few inches from the top and that the bottom of the tank is clean..
Good luck

new water pump broken after 2 months

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