Mandy's Manufacturing Blog

Belt Up: How Heat Can Cause Your Water Pump to Fail

If the water pump in your bore well is inconsistent or broken, it could be that heat is the primary factor in the break. As such a vital part of the process of keeping that water clean, and accessing it from the well, this is a big issue. So how does excess heat get to your pump, and what kind of damage does it do?

Insufficient Lubricant & Coolant

Like any other engine, your water pump needs to be well-oiled to ensure that there's no excess friction as it operates. If there isn't enough oil and coolant in the pump, or if it isn't the correct type, then you'll start to see increased temperatures, and that will lead to failures.

You may also have problems if the coolant is contaminated. This can occur a variety of ways — sometimes just by dirt and debris working their way inside the machine over time, and sometimes because wear and tear inside the machine is 'grating off' small impurities from your components into the coolant. Either way, this will need to be cleaned.

Missing Seals

If you do find that your pump is low on oil or coolant, this may be a symptom — not a cause. For example, if you have ill-fitting or broken seals inside your pump, then it won't matter how much you top up the oil or coolant. They will always leak out, and you'll have the same dry engine all over again. As such, you'll need an expert to occasionally check that the seals inside your pump are still fit for purpose.

Warping & Wear

Excess heat can lead to warping of the elements inside your pump. Needless to say, this can cause a whole host of problems; they're designed to fit together carefully, and any small changes in shape or thickness could lead to increased friction and wear, perhaps entirely breaking through or damaging internal components inside your pump.

Any increased friction inside the pump can also cause serious wear on your pump's belt. If this becomes worn, it can easily prevent proper operation of your pump — or cause it to seize up entirely. You'll need to have the belt periodically checked, and perhaps replaced, to avoid this issue.

Frequent maintenance of your pump is the best way to guard against these problems, but knowing what the likely issues are is half of the battle. Ensure that your water pumps are working in optimal conditions, and hopefully, you won't need to call out for repairs any time soon.