Reeflo return pump shakes whole house when I unplug it

[Spiderman097]

Hey everyone,
When I turn off my return for feeding or maintainance, after maybe .5 seconds of the power being interrupted from the pump. The pump shakes 1 time really hard shaking all the piping. the shake is so bad that it rattles the entire floor and produces a huge boom. Is this normal? There's no way I could turn off the return daily for feeding.

 

[billdogg]

I've never heard of that before.

 

[gone fishin]

Mine has never done that before.

 

[Sk8r]

Sounds like cavitation with a vengeance. Is it hard-piped?
I'd think a shockwave that violent might injure fish.

 

[Spiderman097]

It's hard plumbed, with a piece of spa tubing in 2 different spots

 

[Sk8r]

Do the pipes move when this happens?

 

[Spiderman097]

Yes, it shakes very violently once.

 

[Sonyardo]

I agree, it sounds like it's cavitating. I've never taken a reeflo apart. But My experience back in the day, It was usually associated with a sticking valve, busted internal oring, or restricted intake.

 

[Sk8r]

It's getting air in the line, perhaps from the standpipe/downflow box---I'm envisioning a system I can't really see, but somehow, it may be producing a bubble.

This piece is for general dry land operation, but the principles are somewhat the same: google 'cavitation causes in pumps' and you'll find info with pix and diagrams that may help. It can damage the pump. https://blog.craneengineering.net/what-is-pump-cavitation

 

[billdogg]

I'm confused. Does this happen when you turn the power off, or right after you turn it back on? If it is when you turn it back on, then i would agree that it is somehow getting a big bunch of air in it or cavitating for some other reason. What size plumbing do you have to the input and output of the pump?

 

[gone fishin]

I am confused as well. I thought the OP said it was when the pump shutdown??

What model pump is it?

 

[Spiderman097]

The pump shakes right after I unplug the pump. The input is 2 inches the output is 1.5 inches.

I got it from BRS SUNTAIL GOLD - 4100 GPH - REEFLO

 

[gone fishin]

I have a dart/snapper pump for the last 5 years with the same pipe size layout. since it happens when you turn the pump off I would not think it is cavitation. I will also assume that when you turn it back on it fires up fine.

Do you have any sort of check valve on the outlet side of the pump?

I just looked at that pump on the reeflo website. It is a pressure pump, Do you have it in the basement? how much head is it pushing? and how is the plumbing secured?

 

[Ron Reefman]

Have you considered calling Chris at Reeflo? He and his daughter are very good about customer service. If anybody could ask you the right questions and come up with an answer, I'd think Chris is who you need to talk to.

When I used a Reeflo Blackfin pump he was very helpful and easy to talk to.

 

[Devolver]

my suntail has a vibrating noise when running that I need to fix. but nothing like you are describing...I think you need to contact reeflo and see if they have some insight on the issue

 

[Spiderman097]

Have you considered calling Chris at Reeflo? He and his daughter are very good about customer service. If anybody could ask you the right questions and come up with an answer, I'd think Chris is who you need to talk to.

When I used a Reeflo Blackfin pump he was very helpful and easy to talk to.

I've looked, and I can't seem to find a phone number to call them at.

 

[Ron Reefman]

http://www.reeflopumps.com/

This site has 2 email addresses but no phone number. One of the emails says for emergencies. Good luck.

 

[Desert Sea]

It's not cavitation. The pump would have to be running for that. Sounds like your experiencing water hammer. Is the pump located a floor below the tank? How is it piped ?

 

[Spiderman097]

It's a floor below the tank. The pump is 6 feet below the check valve. I've been in contact with Beth, and she's suggesting putting another check valve closer to the pump. I have another check valve from brs coming in.

 

[billdogg]

I would suggest removing the check valve altogether. If your sump can't handle the dean down it is just a matter of when, not if, your sump overflows.