Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Plumbing => Topic started by: DBeleskey on April 14, 2020, 01:13:47 PM

Title: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: DBeleskey on April 14, 2020, 01:13:47 PM
Hi
I posted a similar question in the Polar forum then realized it should have been here...

I have a Grundfos UPS15-58FC on my Polar G2 furnace on the manifold. It came on the furnace from new. Last night we had a wind storm and the power flickered badly a few times before my backup generator came on. This morning I notice no heat coming from the furnace. When I went out the circulator from the furnace to the house was running but it appears the one on the manifold to circulate the water in the furnace tank was not.
This pump is only a few months old, could it be on the fritz ?
I thought maybe the capacitor on the pump but I check it and get a reading of 11.45, the capacitor is 10 uF +/-10%
Don't know what else to try, or should I just try to find another pump ?
Dave
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: RSI on April 14, 2020, 10:21:42 PM
You could open up the pump and see if the impeller turns. If you remove the Allen head screws to motor should come off the head.

Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: E Yoder on April 15, 2020, 06:36:08 AM
Make sure there's 120 v. at the pump. Otherwise remove and check for rotation, you might be able to see the impeller looking in the outlet side. If it's bad get a new one and see if you can get warranty.
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: DBeleskey on April 16, 2020, 06:31:24 AM
Well...Took the pump out so I could have a better look at it. It was kind of up in the left corner and hard to work on in place. It was simple removal and had spare gaskets so I decided to remove it if it might need replaced anyway. Once out I decided to remove the head as RSI suggested. The impeller was stuck for some reason. I freed  it up and all seems good now. In hindsight I should have just removed the pump head while still installed like RSI said but, live and learn...
Thanks for all your help. :)
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: E Yoder on April 17, 2020, 03:17:11 AM
Glad you got it running!
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: mlappin on April 17, 2020, 08:17:15 AM
Strange, I’ve literally never had a grundfos stick. I’ve seen a few B&G’s that i took a small screwdriver and reached in thru the fins and gave the fan a flick to get em running.
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: DBeleskey on May 04, 2020, 06:53:06 AM
Ya, it looked good and clean with no buildup inside, had a slight pink color from the water treatment but that's it. Don't know why it would do that, I guess when the power went out and then back on it wouldn't  wind up. They are off now,  and I will go out once a month and turn them on for a few minutes with Hope's that won't happen again. Time will tell I guess..
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: DBeleskey on June 07, 2020, 02:47:51 PM
Okay...it's been a couple of weeks now and I thought I would check my boiler circulation pump. Well, it's stuck again !!
It ran fine for a few weeks after I took it off and gave it a spin by hand. Now its been off for a couple of weeks it a no go again. We get a lot of power outages here in the winter and if I have to remove the head and spin it every time it would be a real pain. That is what caused the original problem was a power outage !!

Any ideas would be appreciated. I am thinking of getting another Grunfos UPS15-58FC but am concerned that this will be an on going problem...
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: juddspaintballs on June 11, 2020, 02:20:00 PM
If power going out is what's making it get stuck, you could plug in a computer UPS to power it for the brief power flickers. 
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: E Yoder on June 11, 2020, 06:58:45 PM
I bet there's something wrong with that pump. I'd try a new one.
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: RSI on June 11, 2020, 09:43:48 PM
Yeah, getting a new one would be a new one would probably be smart.
You might be able to open that one up and clean it and getting it operational for a spare.

If you open it up, you should be able to pop the rotor assembly out of the silver can part. If there is any mineral buildup on anything, you could fill it up with vinegar and let it soak to dissolve it.
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: RSI on June 11, 2020, 09:46:47 PM
Is electricity expensive where you are? I have heard some places in Canada are real cheap and some are real expensive.

If it is high where you are, now would be a good time to switch to an ecm pump.
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: DBeleskey on June 20, 2020, 06:58:45 AM
Is electricity expensive where you are? I have heard some places in Canada are real cheap and some are real expensive.

If it is high where you are, now would be a good time to switch to an ecm pump.
I didn't think that the exam pumps would take the heat from the furnace? That would be my choice if it would because electricity is not cheap here.
I think I will get a new one and keep this one for a spare. Clean it up as suggested and see what happens. This pump is on the back of the furnace so I don't see how I could put a ups on it.
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: RSI on June 20, 2020, 09:12:28 AM
What is the cost per kwh? What speed do you run the current pump on?
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: DBeleskey on August 26, 2020, 07:05:39 AM
The cost per kwh is 13 cents. I run the pump on the highest setting (3) thats what it came set at and thats what they say to have it set at in the manual.

I have started it at the first of every month since and it has started each time.
Title: Re: Manifold Ciculation Pump Stopped Working
Post by: RSI on August 26, 2020, 01:25:46 PM
Then the ECM pump would only save you about $3.50 to $4 per month.