Several different factors can cause your jet pump to lose pressure. One of them could be that you have a leak in your pressure tank or home’s water system. A leak in your water system can cause your jet pump to lose its prime, affecting the steady flow of water into your home.
The bad thing about leaks is that they can occur anywhere in the home. They can either appear at the foot valve of your jet pump or along the suction pipe leading to your pump.
Elsewhere, leaks may appear in the form of a leaking toilet, or anywhere else in your home’s piping or water system. Whichever is the case, you will need to find out why your jet pump is losing pressure.
Start first with some of these:
- Check the foot valve to know if there’s a leak. You can find the foot valve at the end of the suction line. Foot valves are common failure points in older water systems. It is a one-way valve — it allows water to flow in and prevents them from flowing back.
- Check the toilet float valve. If the float valve is stuck open, water will leak down the drain through your toilet.
- A loosely connected suction line may be responsible for your jet pump’s low pressure. This may occur while trying to winterize your pipes. It could be that you didn’t tighten the connections between or around your pipes. For example, quick-connect (Kamalock) fittings if improperly installed cause air to leak from your pipes.
- Check for leaks in your suction line.
- Check for leaks in your discharge line.
- If none of the things listed above doesn’t give you a clue, try closing your shutoff valves. Doing this will help you narrow down possible places where a leak could be in your water system and why your jet pump is losing pressure.
- If you still can’t figure out the actual problem with your jet pump, call your local plumber to check your home water system.
What Causes a Jet Pump to Lose Its Prime?
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Several factors can cause a jet pump to lose its prime. Finding out what these factors are can help you get the pump fixed in time.
So, how do you know what’s causing your pump to lose its prime? Below are some of the steps we recommend you take if your pump starts losing its prime.
- Check for leaks: Most prime problems are usually linked to leaks. These leaks may occur around the suction area of the pump. In addition, leaks around the shaft seal of pump housing can affect the pump’s prime. To get this out of the way, ensure that the pipes from the pump to your house are tightly wounded and that the intake line has no cracks or any loose fittings.
- Check the valve: Most pumps have foot valves that prevent water from spilling out of their intake line and casing when they are not running. However, if the foot valve starts leaking, this may cause your pump to lose its prime. Get a replacement immediately.
- Blocks: If there’s a block or clog in one of your water lines, your pump will likely get affected, causing it to lose its prime. Debris buildup in the suction strainer or foot valve is one of the most common causes of clogged lines. For instance, when there’s a blockage in the intake line, it can cause the water in the pump’s casting to overheat. This action may cause the water to boil out of the casing, leading to a leak and eventually causing the pump to lose its prime.
Bottom Line
Your jet pump can go bad for some reason. There are few indicators that let you know when your pump is going bad. Some of them include spitting faucets, high electricity bills and strange noises from your tank. If you notice any of this, it may be a sign that your jet pump is bad. Call a plumber to inspect it.
If it has to do with your jet pump losing its prime, check for leaks in the suction area of the pump or check that the foot valve is not leaving. In addition, you can check that there’s no blockage in the pump’s intake line.
Watch this video for more information:
References:
https://wplawinc.com/pump-is-losing-its-prime