Little Giant pumps run hot?

[Frank Mularo]

I just turned on my Little Giant 3MDX SC pump this evening for the first time. It's returning water for a three tank system, two at about five feet and one at about seven feet. Within an hour, the pump was literally too hot to touch for more than a second. Is this common? I don't want to burn my house down and sacrifice it to my hobby.

 

[Frank Mularo]

bump

 

[kellymm7149]

yes it is in my opinion i run a 4 mdqx and its just kinda warm i can hold my hand on it no problem

 

[thaiman]

I also have the 4mdq and it's downright hot to the touch. I have it feeding the chiller and used for top-off water sitting in the garage on a closed loop. Been running pretty near 24/7 for over 5 years.

Since it does get hot I put the pump an a piece of fireproof padding used in insulation for chimneys and then on a small 1 by 4 on the ground just to raise the pump slightly. I feel that if the pump housing is not touching any burnable/flammable surfaces I am fairly safe from fire dangers.

 

[RobinsonFam1]

put a small fan on it. it is amazing what just a small amount of air flow will do for ya.
my 4MDQ has a fan built in, my 3MDQ does not and i added one.

 

[stevem650]

I have 2- 4MDQX pumps running. One for returns and the other for my chiller. The new one is very warm and the old is hot to the touch. As long as you feel cool air comming out the rear of the pump, you are OK. Its strange that the older pump has less noise.