Wfp air lock help?

[jgttdi]

Hi everyone, I have been using WFP for around 5 years. Recently I'm having a problem that's causing me stress to the point where I'm only getting a few jobs done a day.

My system set up:

350 litre upright tank

Shurflo pump

varistream digital controller

110 ah leisure battery

X2 resin bottles

The problem is this,

I can be cleaning a few houses with no problems then the water pressure will start to spit as if there is air in the system, over time this stops and the pressure returns, but recently my water has stopped completely and returning to the van I can't get water to come back through? Water level is fine, battery is fine, I disconnect hose from pump to hide reel and run pump at full but nothing after 5 minutes. Check my resin bottle and it's bone dry? One is fine (closest tank but the other is empty? Have to go home, refill bottle and prime system again with a hose pipe from the house tap. This lasts around 3 hours the next day and it does the same?

I have changed all the o-ring seals in the system but no joy.

Please help as I'm close to pulling my hair out!

Thanks in advance J

 

[Tuffers]

You haven't got a hozelock end stop after the second DI have you?

 

[Tuffers]

Like this?

If you have, it may not be letting the flow of water throw as the end stop could be facing the wrong way for flow.

 

[jgttdi]

Thanks for the reply, no the only end stop I have is onto the reel but it's never caused any problems over the last few years.

 

[Tuffers]

Sorry, meant end stop after first DI. So no water is getting to the second DI then?

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Does you pump suck or push water through your vessels?

 

[jgttdi]

Water is full in both bottles at the start of the day but over time the water drys out of 2nd DI bottle, the pump sucks it through. I've got the tank, then x2 DI bottles then pump then reel.

Thanks

 

[Tuffers]

Where is your strainer and have you checked it for blockages?

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

There lies your problem IMO, I've been using twin DI for nearly Eleven years. I've tried both ways & had the "dry vessel" issue before. You are MUCH more prone to air ingress if your pump is after the DI vessels. Re-route your pipes to put the vessels after the pump, prime everything again & I can pretty much guarantee your system will be cured regarding air ingress. Check all "O" rings, connections & any fixings also just to be sure.

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Where is your strainer and have you checked it for blockages?

This too, as IT can also cause many problems if blocked.

 

[Andy]

i have my pump before the di bottles i have a sureflow pump i think they are better pushing than sucking.

 

[Andy]

i was just thinking im glad im not married to a sureflow pump

 

[jgttdi]

The strainer is fine, I will move things around and recheck, it has been working this way for years, have had this a few times then months go by with it working find but this time it's not giving up. Will try this and get back to you all.

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

The strainer is fine, I will move things around and recheck, it has been working this way for years, have had this a few times then months go by with it working find but this time it's not giving up. Will try this and get back to you all.

Ha, brings back memories!! This is exactly how it goes- works fine for some time then all of a sudden, for no apparent reason it all goes Pete Tong, vessels going dry, spluttering, loss of flow/pressure etc. Change it round & you'll never look back. Another tip is to have the pump as low to the van floor as possible./emoticons/wink.png

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

I also now have a non-return valve inside the pipe just as it leaves the tank & this helps as it prevents any back flow thus prevents any air getting sucked in the other way.

 

[heyoh]

I also now have a non-return valve inside the pipe just as it leaves the tank & this helps as it prevents any back flow thus prevents any air getting sucked in the other way.

Could you tell us what this valve is, where you got it from?

I get air block when water in the tank is around 1/4. I have to disconnect hose and connect again to solve this. I would like to know how you solved this issue.

 

[tench0771]

it could b your diaphram on your pump it may b week mite b wrth changing there only £15 if u take it out u will c if its ok or not if the rubber is not flush then it will b a week link in ur suction

 

[♠Winp®oClean♠]

Could you tell us what this valve is, where you got it from?I get air block when water in the tank is around 1/4. I have to disconnect hose and connect again to solve this. I would like to know how you solved this issue.

This is the one I use. You heat the 1/2" hose up in hot water then force this thing inside it.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/110972438411?limghlpsr=true&hlpv=2&ops=true&viphx=1&hlpht=true&lpid=108&chn=ps&device=c&adtype=pla&crdt=0&ff3=1&ff11=ICEP3.0.0-L&ff12=67&ff13=80&ff14=108&ff19=0

 

[SPCleaning]

My DI's are after the pump.

 

[heyoh]

cheers for that! i've been getting this problem since i started using wfp

 

[jgttdi]

Hi everyone, I changed the system around and put the DI bottles after the pump and the results are like night and day.

The system is working great, pressure is amazing, I can now clean windows for a whole day without issues.

Thanks to everyone for the input. /emoticons/smile.png