PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE PROGRAM

What is the biggest problem most cities and contractors have with their sewer cleaning equipment? When asked this question, most people will answer downtime. The best way to prevent lengthy downtime is to have a good preventative maintenance program.

A good preventative maintenance program will make sure the equipment is properly maintained, and catch any potential problems before they arrive.

The Underground Service Department offers full comprehensive preventative maintenance programs tailored to meet your specific needs. A maintenance program may be set up quarterly, monthly, or to suit your particular schedule.

This program will include:

1. Changing all oils and filters on the sewer cleaner module.
2. Servicing all lubrication points.
3. Checking pump pressure and performance.
4. Checking hydraulic pressure and performance.
5. Checking vacuum system for performance.
6. Checking all safety features of the unit.
7. Inspection of all hoses, sewer, vacuum, and hydraulic.
8. Checking overall operation of unit.
9. Minor adjustments of unit such as pressure, RPM, tightening of hoses or packing to stop leaks, etc…
10. A full comprehensive report with a list of needed or recommended repairs.

This program can be applied to any sewer cleaning unit regardless of manufacturer or age. We can perform this service either at your facility or ours. Please contact Paul Baumy at Underground for a quote today!!!

95% of a Pump' Problems:

When trying to determine where that awful knock is coming from in your sewer cleaners pump, keep one thing in mind; Ninety five percent of a pump’s problems occur in suction. Problems can range from inadequate water supply, obstructed flow, or any leaks in the suction system, leading to pulsation, loss of pressure, or little to no flow at the end of the hose.

What you need to remember is that for a pump to properly operate, it must get the proper amount of water that is needs in order to deliver the gallons per minute that it is rated for. The higher the flow rate (gallons per minute), the larger the suction system needs to be. Consult your pump specifications for this information.

You must start with the water tank outlet. Is it adequately sized? Is there anything obstructing the outlet port?

Next, you need to check the suction valve (if applicable) to insure that it is open and functioning properly. While inspecting the valve, check the suction hose and all connections for leaks or obstructions.

Finally, and most important is the strainer. The strainer is located in the suction line between the tank and the pump, usually closer to the pump. The strainer is there to catch any trash that may come from the water tank before it enters the pump causing major internal damage.

The strainer should be removed and cleaned on a daily basis, sometimes more. When you remove the strainer screen, you should let the water free flow from the tank for a moment to insure that there is no obstruction in the suction line. After doing so, reinstall the strainer, making sure the seal is good and there are no leaks. Remember, any water leak in the suction system means there is a way for air to get in to the system, causing problems that can lead to premature failure of the pump packing or valves.

Keeping the pump’s suction system clean and leak free will add to the life of your packing and valves. This in turn will lead to less downtime and more profitable and efficient cleaning.

“The Pumpman”