Return Pump Failure - Thank Goodness for Backups

[BigHildy53]

Cleaned my Vectra L1 return pump this evening. Unfortunately I ended up breaking it somehow. I can't get the impeller back in. Looking into the back of pump it looks like something broke. Thank goodness for backup pumps. Very disappointing, the L1 was less than 18 months old.

 

[dbl]

Wow...that stinks. I too have one as my return but unlike you, no back up at the moment. Apparently that is about to change based on your post!!!

 

[Flippers4pups]

Good to have a back up. I've got a brand new, never taken out of the box panworld pump just for this reason.

 

[Fin]

I will be running two M1s at the same time (for redundancy) and I think now (after seeing this) I will just clean it by running it in a bucket of vinegar solution, without disassembly (if at all possible). Hope you can get the pump repaired.

 

[dbl]

I will be running two M1s at the same time (for redundancy) and I think now (after seeing this) I will just clean it by running it in a bucket of vinegar solution, without disassembly (if at all possible). Hope you can get the pump repaired.

That's how I cleaned mine the one time I have. Just let it run in vinegar mix...I wasn't comfortable opening it up the first time. I've always had a back up but since switching to the L1, I've procrastinated picking up the back up.

 

[BigHildy53]

I will be running two M1s at the same time (for redundancy) and I think now (after seeing this) I will just clean it by running it in a bucket of vinegar solution, without disassembly (if at all possible). Hope you can get the pump repaired.

Next time, this will be my approach. But since I procrastinated it, I wanted to be thorough. I thought I was being gentile.

 

[Mrx7899]

It looks like it melted

 

[FPSJackyl]

Contact EcoTech.

I came home from work Wednesday morning and found that my L1 had stalled and shut down. I removed the pump and found the same thing had happened to mine. I contacted EcoTech advised them what I found and they got a new pump on the way to me. I was able to clean the pump and get it operational again. I'm just waiting for the new pump to arrive so I can swap them out.

 

[BigHildy53]

Contact EcoTech.

I came home from work Wednesday morning and found that my L1 had stalled and shut down. I removed the pump and found the same thing had happened to mine. I contacted EcoTech advised them what I found and they got a new pump on the way to me. I was able to clean the pump and get it operational again. I'm just waiting for the new pump to arrive so I can swap them out.

I have contacted EcoTech; will probably get a reply Monday or Tuesday. They have been quick to respond in the past.

 

[mfinn]

The Vectra L1's have had a issue for a while now. Mostly from what I've seen revolves around heat.
I went through 2 of them before switching brands on my closed loop. They were very quick to get replacement pumps out to me.
The M1 I had worked flawlessly for a 1-1/2 years before changing out that one too.

 

[ca1ore]

I think it is always sensible to have some kind of backup return pump. I run a panworld 200 and fully expect to get at least 15 years out of it. Even so I have a 150 as backup.

 

[BigHildy53]

As e.xpected EcoTech's tech support is superb. They are sending out a new L1 as a replacement. I'll make sure to clean a bit more often, WITHOUT, disassembly.

 

[Sleepydoc]

+1 to the above.

The return pump is one of the most important pieces of equipment we have, so having a backup is a very smart thing to do. Even if you have a high end pump like a Abyzz or Red Dragon, a cheap Jabao will still keep your livestock alive. It makes it easier to do maintenance, too. Just hook up your backup pump when you need to clean the main one.

If you have a different brand of backup pump, I’d also advise making sure you have plumbing fittings ready to go and/or using a union to connect your pump to the return plumbing. That makes swapping pumps out about as painless as possible.