Planning

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POND PUMP AND PLUMBING INSTALLATION HINTS

WE HOPE YOU WILL FIND THE FOLLOWING SUGGESTIONS AND COMMENTS REGARDING PUMP INSTALLATION TO BE HELPFUL. WE DO NOT CLAIM THAT ANY OF THESE SUGGESTIONS ARE THE ONLY WAY TO ACCOMPLISH YOUR JOB, BUT IN GENERAL THEY WILL SOLVE MANY OF THE COMMONLY FOUND PROBLEMS AND HELP YOU PREVENT MANY OTHERS.

1. LOCATE THE PUMP AS CLOSE TO THE SOURCE AS POSSIBLE. IT IS BEST TO HAVE YOUR MAIN (LONGEST) RUN OF PIPE ON THE DISCHARGE SIDE OF THE PUMP. THE PUMP IS DESIGNED TO PUSH WATER, NOT PULL IT.

2. INSTALL THE PUMP OUTSIDE THE POND, AND IF POSSIBLE BELOW THE SURFACE LEVEL OF THE POND (FLOODED SUCTION). THIS WILL HELP INSURE A PROPER SUPPLY OF WATER TO THE PUMP. REMEMBER, A PUMP CAN'T PUMP OUT WATER IF THERE ISN'T ANY AVAILABLE. EVEN IF YOUR SUPPLY LINE COMES UP AND OVER THE TOP OF THE POND WALL (AS IN MANY LINER PONDS), IT WILL STILL OFFER A FLOODED SUCTION IF IT HAS NO BREAKS TO ATMOSPHERE BEFORE IT GOES BACK DOWN BELOW THE SURFACE LEVEL, AND IF ALL AIR IS REMOVED.

FLOODED SUCTION

3. IF IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO PROVIDE A FLOODED SUCTION INSTALLATION THEN:

POSITION THE PUMP AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, AND AS NEAR THE SOURCE AS POSSIBLE. (A PUMP 1 FOOT ABOVE THE SURFACE WORKS BETTER THAN ONE 6 FEET ABOVE THE SURFACE.)
IF YOUR PUMP IS NOT SELF PRIMING INSTALL A PRIMING POT ON THE INLET OF THE PUMP OR PROVIDE SOME OTHER PRIMING SOURCE.
INSTALL A FOOT VALVE, OR A CHECK VALVE IN THE INLET LINE BELOW THE WATER LEVEL.
ALWAYS PRIME THE ENTIRE INLET LINE, PRIMING POT, AND PUMP BEFORE TURNING IT ON.

4. ALWAYS HAVE YOUR INLET PIPE DIAMETER EQUAL TO, OR LARGER THAN, THE DISCHARGE LINE.

5. MINIMIZE FRICTION LOSSES BY USING LARGE DIAMETER PIPE. DETERMINE THE APPROXIMATE FLOW RATE YOU WANT, AND THE APPROXIMATE TOTAL LENGTH OF YOUR PIPE. CONSULT A FRICTION LOSS CHART TO CHOOSE THE PROPER DIAMETER PIPE. (THE SIZE OF THE PUMPS SUCTION AND DISCHARGE PORTS DO NOT DICTATE YOUR PROPER PIPE SIZE.) CHOOSE A PIPE DIAMETER THAT KEEPS YOUR FRICTION LOSS BELOW ABOUT 6 FEET PER 100 FEET OF PIPE. BELOW IS A CHART TO HELP YOU DETERMINE YOUR PROPER PIPE DIAMETER.

MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED FLOW RATE FOR GIVEN PIPE DIAMETER. (BASED ON MEDIUM RUNS OF £ 80’ AND SCHEDULE 40 PVC PIPE)

PIPE SIZE	MAX. FLOW GPM	MAX. FLOW GPH
1/2 "	3.5	210
3/4"	6	360
1	10	600
1 ¼"	20	1,200
1 ½"	30	1,800
2"	60	3,600
2 ½"	100	6,000
3"	175	10,500

NOTE: FOR SUBSTANTIALLY LONGER RUNS, OR SYSTEMS WITH EXCESSIVE ELBOWS OR FITTINGS USE NEXT SIZE LARGER PIPE.

6. USE A FILTRATION SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT REQUIRE A LOT OF PRESSURE. IT COSTS MONEY TO CREATE PRESSURE. BIOLOGICAL FILTERS WORK WELL AND REQUIRE VERY LITTLE PRESSURE.

7. NEVER ALLOW A HORIZONTAL CENTRIFUGAL PUMP AND MOTOR UNIT TO BECOME SUBMERGED. IF THIS EVER ACCIDENTALLY OCCURS, SHUT THE UNIT DOWN, DISCONNECT IT, AND HAVE A REPUTABLE SERVICE SHOP EXAMINE THE MOTOR BEFORE USING IT.

8. NEVER RUN A PUMP DRY. THIS MAY DAMAGE THE SEAL AND IMPELLER. THEY ARE DESIGNED TO PUMP FLUID, NOT AIR. INSURE THE PUMP IS FULL OF WATER BEFORE YOU TURN IT ON, AND THAT IT DOESN'T OUT PUMP THE SUPPLY.

9. COVER THE PUMP AND MOTOR UNIT WITH A SUITABLE SHELTER. WHEN PROTECTED FROM RAIN AND DUST THE MOTOR WILL LAST MUCH LONGER. THE COVERING SHOULD STILL ALLOW THE UNIT TO HAVE SUITABLE AIR RECIRCULATION FOR PROPER COOLING.

10. If your pump is producing to much flow, you can reduce the flow by partially closing a value on the discharge line (never restrict the inlet). Always allow a couple gallons per minute to flow to prevent over heating.

11. IF MORE FLOW IS REQUIRED THAN A SINGLE PUMP CAN PRODUCE , USE TWO OR MORE PUMPS IN PARALLEL. THIS ALSO OFFERS THE BENEFITS OF BEING ABLE TO VARY THE FLOW RATES, INSURE PARTIAL FLOW IF ONE UNIT NEEDS SERVICING, AND CAN OFTEN SAVE A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF ELECTRICITY COMPARED TO USING A SINGLE LARGER PUMP. SOME LAYOUT EXAMPLES ARE LISTED BELOW.

12. CHOOSE A PUMP THAT CAN GIVE YOU THE REQUIRED FLOWS AT THE LOWEST POSSIBLE AMP DRAW. SINCE MANY PUMPS WILL BE OPERATING CONTINUOUSLY, THE AMP DRAW, AND ITS EFFECT ON YOUR MONTHLY UTILITY BILL CAN BE VERY SIGNIFICANT.

13. CHECK TO BE SURE THE MOTORS ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS ARE SET UP TO MATCH THE SUPPLY VOLTAGE.

14. INSTALL SHUT OFF VALES BEFORE AND AFTER THE PUMP, SO YOU CAN EASILY REMOVE IT FROM THE LINE WITHOUT HAVING TO DRAIN YOUR SYSTEM.

15. SEAL THE THREADED JOINTS WITH TEFLON PASTE OR TAPE .

16. MAKE SURE ALL YOUR PIPE JOINTS ARE AIRTIGHT. THIS IS ESPECIALLY IMPORTANT ON THE SUCTION SIDE.

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