When your centrifugal pump just isn't working properly or isn't operating at peak efficiency, the best tool at your disposal is a gauge. Gauges provide crucial data to understand the current state that your pump is in. 

Know The Total Dynamic Head

One of the most important things you will learn from your gauge is whether the Total Dynamic Head (TDH) is too low or too high. The TDH is the total amount of height that the fluid is to be pumped, with friction being taken into account. For water, TDH is the difference between the inlet and outlet of the pump when measured at the same elevation.

Determine Why Your Pump Isn't Running

If the pump is not running, you can perform a static reading to determine if there is a suction leak. A suction leak is when one of your pipes is sucking in air rather than water. The length of the pipe needs to be checked to make sure that all of the fittings are airtight. One way to identify the joint that is not fitted tightly enough is to cover each joint with a plastic wrap until it is discovered which one is causing the valve to show that there is a suction leak. There could also be a discharge check valve problem. The valve might be shut and the pressure generated would not be enough to overcome the shut valve.

Gather Important Information About Your Self-Priming Pump

For self-priming pumps, the gauge can provide unique information such as whether there is enough pressure before the pump comes to prime. Also, gauges allow for your centrifugal pump to perform a maximum vacuum test, which can determine your pump's ability to pull a vacuum. 

Discover Evidence Of Vortexing

Gauges allow you to determine whether vortexing is occurring, an issue found with all centrifugal pumps. This problem refers to when water is drawn into a suction line and depression forms in the water. The vortex can lead to the pump entraining air because the pump will want to pump air, since this is easier to pump than water. This can cause the pump to operate less efficiently.

Because of the importance of gauges, it is important that you make sure that your pump is fitted with the right gauges. By having enough information ,you will be able to make sure that your pump is highly efficient and you can prolong the life of your centrifugal pump. For more information, visit http://pfcequip.com/.

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