How can I tell if my circulator pump is on his way out

[adamant]

What are the symptoms of a circulator pump going? I think it's a Taco 007! Outside temp is 182 at the boiler and in the house it's coming in at 155 and return is 142 to 145 measured by a remote smoker thermometer which I'm sure is not as accurate.

 

[maple1]

What makes you think it is on its way out?

What kind of underground piping do you have, exactly - and how old is it?

 

[harttj]

Curious on this. I have a Taco 007 on my primary loop that has basically run continuously for the last 9 years. I unplug the boiler in the summer but this pump stays running.

What is the hr life of one of these?

Being that this pump is installed outside it would be a pain to change in the middle of a cold spell.

 

[Bob Rohr]

Symptoms are usually noise for a failed bearing. The other failure is a stuck impeller caused by crappy fluid conditions.

Normal use should be 15-20 years under best operating conditions.

Excessive stop and starts shorten the life of any motor.

Centrifugal pumps do like to have some positive pressure on the suction side, maybe 4 psi at 180 temperatures. Outdoor open systems do not always assure that and pumps fail prematurely on those systems. Always have a spare and valves on both sides for quick, easy replacement.