New Pentair VSF Making Noise

[Chuckiechan]

It sounds like a singing bearing - off and on . But is was pretty hot yesterday and I wonder if the VSF has an audible alarm. The manual doesn’t say it does or doesn’t.

How do get a warranty claim on an intermittent problem?

 

[ajw22]

Video the problem to document it.

@JamesW

 

[JamesW]

How much on and how much off?

Could be bearings. Sometimes the seal can squeak.

Any specific speeds where it's better or worse?

 

[Chuckiechan]

I have the installer coming out today Wed, 6th. I have the intermittant noise on video. The pump is barely three weeks old, and I hope to get a replacement.

BTW, when the VSF pump is running on program 1 at 750 RPM, my GPM = 1
That is obviously wrong. Can anyone check theirs and see if that is what is shown.

 

[JamesW]

The intelliflo estimates the flow and pressure from the power usage and the rpm.

In my opinion it's not going to be accurate at low speed or with high head loss on the suction side.

It might be reasonably accurate for some middle conditions, but I would not trust it near the edges of performance.

 

[mknauss]

You can modify the rpm as you like for the different programs.

Anything below 1000 rpm is very inefficient. You are moving very little water for the electricity consumed.

 

[Chuckiechan]

Well, the installer got it squeaking like a little pig, so we’ll see what happens. Regarding low flow vs power, I’ll change that when things are resolved with the pump.

 

[JamesW]

Did the installer have an opinion on what was causing the noise?

What's the next step?

 

[Chuckiechan]

FYI ... they are going to replace the motor head part attached to the pump.

Thanks for your input!

 

[JamesW]

What's the motor head part?

 

[Chuckiechan]

“Motor head” I guess was some old slang. Rather than the whole pump/motor assembly, they are swapping out the motor.