Heating and Cooling Pumps: 10 Installation and Maintenance Practices

Also known as the HVAC pump system, heating and cooling pumps are integral to maintaining comfortable indoor environments in any residential, commercial, or industrial setting. They play a critical role in circulating water or refrigerants to transfer heat or provide cooling. 

Pump solutions for HVAC are essential for cooling towers, boilers, hydronic mechanical systems, and more. However, several facilities managers, architects, and designers often overlook the proper installation and maintenance. 

Let’s delve into the world of heating and cooling pumps, exploring the best practices for maintenance and installation. 

Pump Maintenance in HVAC Systems

You can purchase an energy-efficient HVAC pump for your commercial application. If you don’t install and maintain it properly, it will result in additional costs in replacement parts, labor expenses, and equipment downtime. To keep heating and cooling pumps running for the long haul, you must ensure that best practices are followed. 

1. Select the Right Mechanical Seals

If mechanical seals go wrong, it’s probably due to improper installation. Most bearing failures result from misaligned pump shafts, excessive heat, and dirt or moisture contamination. 

First, pick the correct seal for your application. You should avoid operating it at a shut-off condition for more than a few minutes. Also, don’t run the pump dry. Lastly, ensure the HVAC pump shaft is aligned correctly during installation. 

2. Take Care of the Additional Load 

Avoid adding additional stress to your energy-efficient HVAC pump. Make sure it includes flexible connectors to prevent any external piping load. In addition, please ensure that adjacent piping hangers are correctly installed with the help of a professional. 

3. Install Only One Pressure Gauge

Some people assume that two gauges are better than one. However, installing multiple pressure gauges will badly affect pump performance. So, install only one pressure gauge according to the operation manual. 

4. Consider the Foundation of the Pump 

If you don’t want the pump impeller to wobble around like an old ceiling fan, ensure the pump is aligned correctly to maintain balance and decrease pump vibration. This is especially true for base-mounted end pumps. For other types of pumps, the impellers must be appropriately balanced before startup. 

5. Install External Seal Flush Lines

Installing an external flush will help you keep damaging solids away from the seal. It isolates the seal from pumped fluid and cools down the seal by carrying away the seal-generated heat. You can also add a sediment separator on the seal flush line to boost the life expectancy of the seals. 

6. Use Drain Pans

Be sure to use drain pans for chilled water condensation. Piping the drain pan to a floor drain helps keep the room safe from stray puddles. Also, you must bleed the air from the lines since air has no role.

7. Protect the Pump from Debris

Use a suction strainer to protect the HVAC pump system from external debris. It will help clean your pump system and keep trash from ruining the impellers and seals. Also, remember that the suction diffusers have fine mesh temporary screens. These screens need to be removed after the initial startup and system flush. 

8. Replace Old HVAC Ductwork 

Proper ductwork is crucial when it comes to avoiding indoor air quality issues. Some people keep the old ducts even after installing a new HVAC pump system. This decision may save you money, but it’s not always a great idea. Old ductwork can easily trap impurities, such as dust and debris. Also, a poorly sealed duct can affect the air quality and pump performance. So, consider replacing old ducts. 

9. Locate the Pump for Easy Maintenance

Larger pumps need to be located for ease of service, such as removing the motor. There has to be sufficient room around the pump to remove the motor so that the mechanical seals, impeller, and bushings are easy to access. You can use a pump motor hoist beam for larger inline pumps to move the heavy motor for servicing. 

10. Avoid Making DIY Repairs 

Making DIY repairs might help you save money, but HVAC systems are not one of those cases. DIY repairs can put your energy-efficient HVAC pump at risk. This is because such repairs involve electricity and require various specialized tools and replacement parts. Even a small mistake can lead to safety concerns, such as a fire. 

Follow these HVAC installation and maintenance practices for optimal system performance and energy efficiency. We hope you keep these points in mind when installing an HVAC pump. To learn more about pump maintenance in HVAC systems, talk to the pump experts at Callaghan Pump!