Cottage Q&A
QUESTIONSomehow, air is getting into our cottage water system. After we've been away for a few days, the first time we turn on the taps, they spit air and water all over. We thought that if we had a leak, our pump would either lose its prime or cycle on and off frequently, which is not the case. It's a piston pump, with a galvanized pressure tank. Any ideas?
ANSWER
A piston pump - unlike a jet pump - can tolerate a fair amount of air and still keep pumping. So the fact that you're not losing prime is no proof you don't have a leak.
Brad Hallam, manager of The Pump House in Richmond Hill, Ont., thinks the most likely explanation is a leak at the packing, the sealed area where the piston rod goes into the body of the pump. Ideally, the packing should remain wet at all times, since the moisture keeps it lubricated and the space around it sealed. A little dripping is normal, but there shouldn't be a lot of water escaping; if there is, that's likely your problem area.
Then too, when you're away from the cottage for a few days and the pump isn't operating, the packing may be drying out - which could explain why your taps spit when they're first turned on, then settle down and flow smoothly.
Try replacing the packing first - it's the easiest and least expensive fix. If you're handy, you can do it yourself. It's worth noting that Max Burns, author of Cottage Water Systems, says piston pumps are for the incurable tinkerer. The packing isn't the only thing to play with - there's oil to check (and change) and belt tension to monitor, too.
If your pump's in top shape and tap spitting is still getting you down, consider a move to newer technology: a jet pump and a bladder pressure tank. However, a jet pump might not be the answer for you, depending on the distance you need to move the water. Ask your supplier or plumber.
* Published in the September/October 2005 issue of Cottage Life
