Noisy Pump - 2

[bolo 2]

Following my previous’Noisy Pump’ thread which ended with Andy suggesting that I buy a new pump, I decided to start again by presenting in a series of photos showing what a plumber would be faced with if called in to remedy the problem.
One photo, ignoring the pieces of foam insulation, shows the pump in situ. Note that the plumber has used 2 pieces of pipe insulation below the unit presumably to minimise vibration and noise. From the pump via the flexible pipes, three 22mm pipes travel up the wall and into the ceiling space while a fourth, the feed from the.hw tank is fitted horizontally from there to the pump. Hopefully the pics will make the underlying cause of ‘the noise’ a bit clearer and the remedy a bit easier.

U

 

[Madrab]

Is it just excess pump noise - I.E bearings etc are wearing out, or is it a resonance/booming noise? I think that needs to be understood first. That is also an older regenerative pump, which tend to be noisier than centrifugal pumps.

If, as suggested, it's 21years old then it could quite easily be the former, though if it's the latter then try a nice solid base - as suggested, something like a nice thick concrete slab to sit it on and makes sure the floor underneath, if floorboards, are well screwed down - that pipe insulation wont do much, especially if it's being compressed.

 

[stem]

I'm not sure of your history with this shower pump, or shower pumps in general, but 'noisy' is a difficult thing to quantify. All shower pumps are quite audible and liable to wake light sleepers. [I know, I have had experience of 4 from different manufacturers.]

They are never quiet like central heating pumps (or circulators) are for example. OK, you may be aware of this already but if you've only just moved in or had no previous experience of this type of pump you could be considering the normal operating sound as being excessive.

 

[bolo 2]

Is it just excess pump noise?

I really don’t know but do know that the dividing wall between the airing cupboard and the adjoining bedroom vibrates like blazes and that the noise is deafening.

If, as suggested, it's 21years old

It is 21 years old just like I was 66 years ago!

try a nice solid base - as suggested, something like a nice thick concrete slab to sit it on and makes sure the floor underneath, if floorboards, are well screwed down - .

That’s a definite Madrab.

I'm not sure of your history with this shower pump.

When pump was fitted originally, the noise was hardly noticeable. However, when relocated to it’s present position from an almost inaccessible spot, the noise began but since the 2 bedrooms adjoining the airing cupboard weren’t used at the time, the problem of noise didn’t arise.

Bearing in mind that I know next to nothing in general about plumbing and absolute zero about pumps, I have an idea which may or may not work and I need advice. To the left of the existing pump there is room for its relocation or indeed the fitting of a new pump as suggested by Andy in my original thread. However, if I firstly lay a slab and sit the existing pump or its replacement on top of the slab the overall height would be increased. Would it possible to replace the short flexible hoses with longer ones to accommodate the height and increased length ?

 

[bolo 2]

 

[Madrab]

Careful what you do with the flexi pipes - the ones that are supplied with the pump are quite specific and designed to run with a pump to minimise vibrations being transferred to the pipework and are stronger and thicker, to cope with the pump whilst operating, ordinary flexi pipes would not be recommended.

 

[bolo 2]

………something like a nice thick concrete slab to sit it on

50mm? The cutting board in the pic below is about 330x230mm and the piece of paper 200x150mm the length and width of the existing pump. The question is, would a 50mm slab cut down to 330x230mm be big enough?

and make sure the floor underneath, if floorboards, are well screwed down -

Floor is chipboard!

that pipe insulation wont do much, especially if it's being compressed.

Agreed! Someone suggested a piece of carpet below the slab to minimise vibration and hopefully sound too.
P.S. thank you for your patience.

 

[Madrab]

Try and find the joists and have it sitting across them, if it's sitting in between the joists the chipboard can resonate but would certainly be better with a heavy piece of slab. You want the slab as large as you can, the bigger the better.