When to replace pump (Grundfos 15/50)?

[maladofu]

Hello everybody!

I have a Grundfos 15/50 in my flat and it stopped working the other day. A friend told me that I could take out the screw in the centre of the pump and play around a little bit with a screwdriver in the hole. This little trick did work, and now I have heating in my flat again.

My question is: is my problem now solved, or should I consider replacing the pump altogether? Presumably, this shouldn't happen (or is this normal?). How long would you guys reckon that I have until the pump completely fails?

Cheers,
Mala

 

[SpecialK]

Hi Mala,
Grundfos pumps are pretty reliable. It's possible there is some gunk in the head that is stopping it from starting up. Or that it has not been used for a long time?
If you can - remove, dismantle and clean the pump.

 

[maladofu]

Hi Mala,
Grundfos pumps are pretty reliable. It's possible there is some gunk in the head that is stopping it from starting up. Or that it has not been used for a long time?
If you can - remove, dismantle and clean the pump.

Thank you for your quick answer! The pump worked fine the other week, so it's not that it hasn't been used in a long time. It just didn't start the other day.

There is no way I can remove it or dismantle anything (I'm pretty bad at these things and I'm still surprised (shocked) that my fiddling with the screwdriver worked so well).

I don't mind getting a new one installed, but I obviously don't want to do it if the pump is alright and this fiddling is normal. When I fiddle with the screwdriver I can stop the pump with the screwdriver. If I want it to run again I can fiddle around a bit more and it'll start again. Seems pretty dodgy to me...

Don't know the age of the pump. Previous owner installed it together with a boiler called "Ideal Classic RS 30". The system looks pretty old to be honest...

Cheers,
Mala

 

[SpecialK]

Sounds like its time to get an expert in then - Either to strip and clean the pump or install a new one...

 

[StevenJames125]

casn take pump head off - usually 4 allen key screws (4mm size) - then see if impellor is clean/intact and running smooth - don't forget to isolate pump at valves if any or drain down pipework if not - or as above - get an expert in

 

[StevenJames125]

if you have a multimeter you can check the reistance of the pump to see if it's running slower....

 

[maladofu]

Thank you for your help! I've had an expert in who said it was time to replace the pump. Cost me a total of £100 for the new pump (a Myson CP53) and the installation. Does that sound reasonable?

I'm happy with everything, although I guess I'll never know if the repair was necessary.

Cheers,
Mala