5 Tips to Preserve Building Services Pumps in Warmer Weather

As summer approaches and temperatures rise, it's a crucial time to give some extra attention to your building services pumps. Whilst colder months bring their own set of challenges, Summer is also an important time for planned preventative maintenance.

To help you keep your pumps running smoothly and efficiently, we've put together five essential summer maintenance tips. These will help prevent any potential failures and ensure your systems are ready to handle the heat.

 1. Enhance Cooling and Ventilation

Warmer weather can cause pumps to overheat, reducing efficiency and increasing wear and tear on components. Proper cooling and ventilation are essential:

• Ensure plant rooms are well-ventilated. Regularly clean and maintain heat exchangers to improve cooling efficiency.

• Ensure sufficient airflow around blowers to prevent overheating. Inspect and clean air filters to maintain optimal performance.

• Regularly inspect cooling jackets and ensure they are free from blockages that could impede heat dissipation.

2. Regular Inspection and Maintenance

Routine maintenance is crucial to identify and address potential issues before they lead to failures:

• Regularly inspect bearings, seals, and gaskets for signs of wear and overheating. Replace any components showing signs of damage.

• Check for proper alignment and wear on lobes and diaphragms. Lubricate moving parts as recommended by the manufacturer.

• Inspect the rotor and stator for signs of wear or damage due to increased friction and heat during operation.

3. Manage Fluid Viscosity and Chemical Compatibility

Warmer temperatures can change the viscosity of fluids, affecting pump performance:

• Monitor fluid viscosity regularly and adjust pump settings accordingly to ensure consistent flow rates and pressure.

• Ensure the materials of construction for pumps, such as seals and gaskets, are compatible with the chemicals being pumped to prevent corrosion and degradation.

4. Implement Advanced Monitoring Systems

Utilising advanced monitoring systems can help track pump performance and prevent failures:

• Install temperature and vibration sensors to continuously monitor pump conditions. Set up alerts for abnormal readings to allow for prompt intervention.

• Use monitoring systems to track water levels and pump operation, ensuring they are not operating dry, which can lead to overheating and damage.

5. Optimise Energy Efficiency

Improving energy efficiency reduces the strain on pumps and helps manage operating temperatures:

• Use variable frequency drives (VFDs) to adjust pump speed based on demand, reducing energy consumption and heat generation.

• Optimise blower speed and airflow rates to match demand, minimising excess energy use and reducing the risk of overheating.

• Ensure pumps are properly sized and operating within their optimal range to avoid excessive energy use and heat build-up.

Impact on Building Plant Equipment and Risk Mitigation

Failure to properly maintain pumps during warmer weather can have significant impacts on building plant equipment, especially when it's essential to keep buildings cool or during peak usage periods, such as busy summer holidays in leisure centres.

Overheating can lead to pump failures, resulting in downtime and costly repairs. Adding stress to the facilities teams – and that’s not even mentioning the compromise it will have on comfort and safety of building occupants.

By implementing our five tips, you can preserve the performance and longevity of your building services pumps. And this proactive approach helps mitigate risks, ensures reliable operation during critical periods, and maintains the overall efficiency of your building's systems.

Interested in learning more or scheduling a maintenance visit with our specialist pump engineers at Deckpro Pumps? Contact us today to get started.