Martin Todorov, Author at Mawdsleys Pumps

Best Practice for Controlling Noise in Booster Pumping Systems

Advice Booster Pumps Sectors

If you’re a facilities manager, public building owner or a tenant living within an apartment or block of flats; you will understand the vital role an efficient booster pumping system plays – providing water of sufficient pressure to every water point within the building.

However, one of the main reasons we are called out to attend booster pumping systems is due to noise coming from the system, attracting complaints from residents who may have been woken in the early hours of the morning by the pump.

In our latest blog post, we’ll cover off reasons why booster pumps make noise, how you can control it and essential regular maintenance checks you can carry out to ensure your pumping system runs efficiently without generating excessive noise.

Why Do Booster Pumping Systems Make Noise?

The key reasons booster pumps make noise are:

Higher water demand than the pump can facilitate.
Pump positioned incorrectly.
Worn components such as bearings.
Old or unmaintained pump.
Excessive vibration from the pump.
Excessive vibration from pipework within the building.

How Can I Stop My Booster Pumping System Making Noise?

With a few controls and proper maintenance, noise from booster pumps can be adequately controlled without impacting on the performance of the system:

Use the Right Pump for the job

Using the right tool for the job is key to achieving any task, and it’s the same with your pumping system. In older buildings, we often find that older and inefficient systems are being used to boost water pressure.

Not only does this mean lower efficiency and higher bills, but during times when everyone in the facility is using water, such as the morning shower, all pumps in the booster set are needed to provide adequate water, creating excessive noise.

In an efficient system that’s tailored to building requirements, the whole bank of boosters would never need to run simultaneously to supply the amount of water required.

Position the Pump Correctly

Following the selection of the most suitable pump for the job, the location of the pump is essential for achieving zero sound disruption for building users. In most cases, we recommend that the pump be installed in an enclosed space such as a soundproofed control room.

If your pump is already set in place and relocation would be impractical and expensive, it is still possible to erect a control room or sound barrier around the pump to reduce noise.

Note that regardless of your pump positioning, if you are using an inadequate system, complete cancellation of noise will be difficult to achieve.

Use Vibration Isolators

One of the most common causes of noise from booster pumps is vibrations; these vibrations generally come from the pipes or the pumping system itself vibrating against the structure of the building.

Using vibration isolators is a cost-effective way of reducing noise from your pump – the most effective method will depend on the level of vibrations your system is producing:

Low Level of Vibration – If your pumping system is producing a low level of noise and vibration, a vibration mat is a simple and cost-effective method of control. This is essentially a thick mat or pad on which the pump is placed to prevent vibrations from being carried up the building.

Mid Level Vibration – If your pumping system is producing a medium level of noise and vibration, vibration springs or mounts can be fitted, which absorb the vibrations coming from the pump.

High Level of Vibration – If your pump is producing a high level of vibrations, an inertia base can be constructed – this is a robust measure that will absorb the maximum amount of vibration.

Vibrations Coming from Pipework – If you find that the vibrations are coming from your pipes as opposed to your pump – fitting vibration isolators such as springs to pipework will prevent them from vibrating against the building.

If you find your pump is vibrating excessively or the vibrations are getting worse over time, call a specialist to come and inspect – it could be that vital components within your pump have become damaged.

Ensure Pump is Properly Maintained

As pumping systems age, vital components such as bearings wear down – creating unwanted noise. It is essential that these components are regularly inspected and replaced as required to prevent noise and further damage to the system.

Putting a proper pump maintenance plan in place is the most effective and cost efficient way of controlling noise and preventing failure within your system.

Essential Maintenance Checklist for Booster Pumping Systems

If you are responsible for the maintenance of the booster pumping system within a facility, we recommend carrying out a visual inspection once a week to ensure you can deal with problems before they develop; During your inspection, you should do the following:

Check all valves for free travel.
Check water and air pressure gauge.
Test alarm.
Inspect and lubricate bearings as required.
Check for any damage to the pump or any of its main components.
Take note of any unusual noises or ‘struggling’ from the system during start-up.
Take note of excessive vibration or unusual noise from the pump.
Take note of the temperature within the room.

To help keep on top of routine maintenance, we have created a free inspection checklist for responsible persons. Click the button below to download your copy.

Ensure Pump is Properly Maintained

Putting a proper pump maintenance plan in place is the most effective and cost efficient way of controlling noise and preventing failure within your system.

Essential Maintenance Checklist for Booster Pumping Systems

If you are responsible for maintenance of the booster pumping system within a facility, we recommend carrying out a visual inspection once a week to ensure you can deal with problems before they evolve; during your inspection, you should do the following:

Check all valves for free travel.
Check water and air pressure gauge.
Test alarm.
Inspect and lubricate bearings as required.
Check for any damage to the pump or any of its main components.
Take note of any unusual noises or ‘struggling’ from the system during start-up.
Take note of excessive vibration or unusual noise from the pump.
Take note of the temperature within the room.

To help keep on top of routine maintenance, we have created a free inspection checklist for responsible persons. Click the button below to download your copy.

Nationwide Booster Pump Installation, Repair and Maintenance

At Mawdsleys Pumps, we provide an all-encompassing service for the design, installation, ongoing maintenance and emergency repair of booster pumping systems, we can also provide solutions for booster systems that are creating excessive noise.

Whether you are considering a booster pumping installation or experiencing noise or underperformance from your existing system – we can help. Give us a call today on 0117 954 8030 or fill out the form below and one of our team will get back to you.

How Working from Home Could Be Impacting Your Pumps

Advice Booster Pumps Sewage Pumps

One of the biggest impacts on people’s daily routines because of COVID-19 is the increased amount of time they are spending at home, with many continuing to work remotely where they can to adhere to lockdown rules.

Figures from the Office for National Statistics reveal that in April 2020, when the first lockdown was announced, 46.6% of Britain’s workforce did some work at home.

The shift to remote working has posed many challenges, with businesses and staff needing to adapt quickly to ensure staff can work efficiently from home whilst retaining a work/life balance.

A victim of remote working that has perhaps been overlooked is pumps. These systems that we rely on every day keep water pressure high and facilities such as toilets working properly, but with increased usage; these essential systems can run less efficiently and are at a higher risk of failure.

Find out more about the types of pumps that have been impacted by working from home and how building owners can ensure users always get a high level of performance from their pumps in our latest blog post.

Golf Course Pumping Systems – Tips for a Successful Winter

Advice Booster Pumps Sectors

As winter starts to bite, golf courses across the UK will be making preparations for the challenges that the cold weather brings including frost, snow and stressed grass.

Clubs and groundsmen are generally well prepared for the challenges that winter brings, with many being able to continue serving golfers for the majority of the cold season.

However, pumping systems found on golf courses such as irrigation, boreholes, booster sets, multistage pumps and sewage pumps are often overlooked – with a lack of expertise available on site to complete vital maintenance and prevent potential failure when the cold hits.

In our latest blog post, we run through essential steps clubs and groundskeepers should be taking to ensure they can continue to operate throughout the winter months or reduce the risk of damage to pumps during winter closure.

2 engineers in hi vis jackets in front of two Mawdsleys Vans

Top 5 Things You Can Do To Fix Your Submersible Pump

Advice

There is nothing worse than having a sump pump fail on you. If it’s a sewage pump, the first thing you might notice is that the electrics have tripped on the control panel, or that when you flush the toilet it starts backing up and the water level isn’t subsiding.

Worse still, sewage could start overflowing out of the manhole cover. If it’s your sump pump you might notice that your electrics have tripped and the water level is rising. If this is flood water coming into your basement this can rise very quickly and cause damage to your property and belongings. Here is a list of our top 5 Tips on what to do when your sewage or sump pump fails.

1. Always isolate the electrical supply to the pump

If you are in any doubt, please phone a qualified Electrician for assistance.

2. Make sure the pump hasn’t tripped

Have a look at your control panel or fuse box to see if the supply to the pump has tripped. If the supply has tripped, you will then need to consider the following:

Has there been a power cut? – If yes – reset the trip switch.

Has it been raining heavily? – If Yes, this puts the pump under increased load, the pump will need removing and checking.

3. Is the Sump full of fibrous material and/or debris?

If yes – This could block impellor, causing the electrical supply to trip – the pump will need a visual inspection for blockages.

4. Is the equipment old and unmaintained?

If yes – Pump and associated equipment will need to be checked.

Only consider the following if the size and weight of the pump allows:

Remove sump cover
How is the pump mounted? Free standing on guide rail system? Only consider removing pump from sump if it is a free-standing system.
Locate lifting chain and slowly raise pump from sump?
Visually inspect for damage or blockages.
Remove any visible material from impellor and outlet.
Lower pump back into the sump, reset electrical supply, and test for free operation of equipment.

5. Check the level control floats are operational

Floats can be attached to the pump or wired in separately?
Is the pump running continuously or is it not running at all? Either way, lift float or pump and float from sump, clean off and give a quick shake to reactivate.
If this does not work, the floats appear to have failed and will require replacement.
Check floats are not stuck on pipe work or debris, free up if necessary.
If in doubt, call the experts for advice

Need a Hand?

If none of the above tips help and the pump still won’t start, then now is definitely the time to call in the experts and get the problem fixed before greater damage occurs. Give us a call on 0117 954 8030 or fill out a contact form and we will get back to you.

Mawdsleys Engineers Complete National Water Hygiene Scheme

Company News

We are pleased to announce that several of the team at Mawdsleys Pump Services have successfully completed National Water Hygiene Scheme training, otherwise known as the Blue Card Scheme.

The scheme, which is designed to protect public health and promote safe drinking water practices, gives professionals working with water the skills and knowledge they need to ensure that the water supply remains uncontaminated.

Throughout the course, the team learnt about the fundamentals of water hygiene including potential waterborne disease and how to prevent contamination of a clean water supply.

About the National Water Hygiene Scheme

The National Water Hygiene Scheme was originally developed in 2006 to replace a number of different company-specific water hygiene programmes. This often meant that professionals had to undergo separate learning and health screening and carry cards for each provider.

Many clean water sites across the UK mandate National Water Hygiene training for individuals that are entering or engaged in any operations across the water network. This also includes operational areas such as water pumping stations, water treatment plants and boreholes.

This scheme was developed by the Energy & Utility Skills Registered (EUSR).

What Was Covered Throughout the Course?

Throughout the course, several subjects were covered by an expert trainer – the modules included:

The importance of water – Helping attendees understand the role that water plays in a functioning society.
Water as a carrier of disease – Covering the role of water as a potential carrier of disease and examining the various diseases that can be contracted from contaminated water.
Potential contamination and its consequences – Assessing potential sources of water contamination across the water industry.
Preventing contamination – Finally, attendees learnt what steps they can take to prevent contamination in the water supply.

At the end of the session, attendees were required to complete a written test paper to demonstrate their new knowledge. All of the Mawdsleys team passed this examination.

As well as developing their understanding of water hygiene, all attendees were required to fill out a health screening questionnaire to declare whether they have had any illnesses which could contaminate a water supply.

Blue Card Accredited Engineers

Following the training, all of the attending members of staff from Mawdsleys, namely Steve Hunt, Bob Cooper, Zac Hogarth, Will Hindle, Mitch Stalley and Nathan King, were registered to receive the blue EUSR Water Hygiene Scheme card.

“As we regularly work with systems that handle potable water, is it essential that we can demonstrate knowledge in water hygiene best practice. The blue card gives our clients the peace of mind that the member of staff working on their site or equipment has the expertise required to prevent any kind of water contamination taking place”

Peter Woodward, Managing Director

Water Hygiene Services

To keep your commercial or private water supply in safe working order, we provide a range of water hygiene services including:

Talk to The Experts

Are you looking for an accredited company to work on your water systems including pumps, boreholes, sewage treatment plants, water pumping station and reservoirs? Mawdsleys Pump Services can help.

Give us a call on 0117 954 8030 to speak to a member of our expert team or fill out a contact form and we will get back to you.

Don’t let your pitch get a red card for poor irrigation

Long Reach Irrigation Portable Irrigation Services

With football season almost over and summer just around the corner, now is the perfect time to rethink the upkeep of your playing field. Low quality dry or hard pitches are a constant source of embarrassment for clubs and also one of the most common causes of injury in rugby and football; an irrigation system can provide you with a professional standard of pitch at a fraction of the cost.

Give your Turf a Sporting Chance with the Right Irrigation

Long Reach Irrigation Portable Irrigation Services

We expect a lot from our sports fields. We increasingly want them to stand up to longer playing seasons, a multitude of uses and all the punishment that the British weather can throw at them. Waterlogged one minute, dry and parched the next, then completely frozen solid – it’s a wonder that the poor turf doesn’t just decide to give up all together.

Rise to the challenge

If you’re a Groundsperson, you probably feel like you’re fighting your own battle against Mother Nature. No doubt you’re working with constricted budgets and the pressure of having to provide a cost effective service – all while trying to ensure your sports ground looks beautiful and provides a safe surface to play on.

No matter what your sports field is used for, compaction is likely to be your biggest challenge. Not only is it the primary factor in sporting injuries, it can also mean death to turf. In a compacted soil, the roots have little chance to absorb the air and water they need to feed the grass and ensure its survival.

Start with good irrigation

The right irrigation system can make your life so much easier. Whilst many sports grounds already use sprinkler systems, better results could be achieved by using a portable long reach irrigation system. These systems can be moved around the pitch, delivering water exactly where and when it’s needed. This ability to control the amount of water delivered in any one place means you can avoid overwatering an area which is prone to waterlogging or concentrate on areas which are especially dry or compacted.

Mark Perrin, Head Groundsman at Crystal Palace Football Club has a system supplied by Somerset Pumps and told us, “We use our long reach irrigators all the time. It is particularly good before training sessions or matches when we need to lightly water the whole pitch in a very short time – the LRIs only take one hour to water the whole pitch, whereas ordinary travelling sprinklers take 3 hours.”

The benefits of a portable long reach irrigation system

These systems can be a real boost for clubs who can’t afford to invest in an underground watering system. Our portable long reach irrigator is the only system of its kind which can run off a standard mains supply. It’s also able to water large areas of turf quickly and efficiently, even if you’re in an area with poor water pressure. What’s more, it’s easy to move so can be used across all your pitches and to target specific problem areas.

Someone else who wouldn’t be without their Somerset Pumps portable long reach irrigation system is FA Groundsman of the Year, Kevin Turney. He says, “It’s an invaluable part of the grounds team and has never let us down. It has to be seen as an investment not a cost as without it our pitch would be nowhere as good as it is today.”

How our systems work

Here at Mawdsleys Pumps, we have different sized systems available, depending on the size of your sports ground. Both units can be left to run unattended day and night without problems and are free standing and completely portable. In fact they work just like a permanent underground system but for a fraction of the cost.

If you do not have access to a water source with adequate pressure, we can assist with the design and installation of a tank and pump to suit your requirements.

All our football field sprinkler systems are supplied at a highly competitive price and offer significant savings over other pitch irrigation systems. To find out more and get up-to-date prices please get in touch or fill out the form below to request a callback

Perfect pitches for cricket, rugby and football

Different sports demand different playing surfaces but irrigation plays an important role in all of them. On cricket pitches it will help the soil particles stick together and aid the rolling process, while on rugby and football pitches, efficient irrigation will ensure the production of a healthy and resilient turf that delivers maximum playability and reduces the risk of match cancellations due to water logging or dry, hard surfaces.

Talk to the specialists

We’d love to help you produce the perfect playing surface. To find out more about any of our irrigation systems or talk to us about designing a bespoke solution for your sports ground, just call our friendly and knowledgeable team on 0117 954 8030.

Mawdsleys Fully Operational for Customer Base

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We trust you are well and staying safe in these difficult and concerning times.

We just wanted to let you know that as a key supplier & critical infrastructure business we are fully operational and ready to continue supporting your business with mechanical & electrical services, repairs and parts supply in our key market fields of;

Defence
Food Processing & Manufacturing
Facilities Management
Care Homes
Water & Sewage
Transport

We have a fully operational workshop for the maintenance, service and repair of all types of mechanical & electrical rotating equipment and offer a 24/7 emergency call out.

You can view our detailed capabilities on our website;

Please do not hesitate to contact us should you require further information or assistance.

Mawdsleys Response To COVID 19 (Coronavirus)

Company News

https://www.mawdsleyspumpservices.co.uk/covid-19-coronavirus/COVID-19

Dangers-of-dirty-sewage-water---Featured-

The Dangers of Septic Tanks and Cesspits

Advice Dirty Water Pumping Systems Sewage Pumps

If your home or business is out in the countryside or otherwise ‘off the grid’, you may use an alternative sewage treatment method such as a septic tank or cesspit/cesspool.

As well as upcoming changes to legislation making sewage treatment plants the only approved method of waste treatment, septic tanks and cesspools pose a number of risks and can damage the environment around them.

Find out more about the hidden dangers of septic tanks and cesspits and why you should upgrade to a full sewage treatment plant in our latest blog post.

What’s the Difference Between a Septic Tank and a Cesspit?

Contrary to popular belief, a cesspit and a septic tank are two different things – the fundamental difference is that within a cesspit, sewage is simply stored, the cesspit is then emptied by a professional when it is full.

On the other hand, within a septic tank, sewage is stored and partially broken down before being discharged, whilst safer than raw sewage, this discharge is still considered to cause damage to the environment.

The General Binding Rules 2020

The General Binding Rules were first released in 2015 and come into force in 2020. If you have a septic tank that discharges into a body of water such as a stream, you’ll need to upgrade to a sewage treatment plant before 2020.

Additionally, if your current set up is found to be negatively impacting its surrounding environment, or if you are looking to sell your property, you will be required to upgrade sooner.

Dangerous Gases

Due to the nature of what is stored within them, both cesspits and septic tanks contain gases that are potentially harmful to health. Whilst there is no risk when they are sealed in the tank, there are several dangers they hold including:

Rupture of the tank – This can be caused by tree roots and building works and will result in harmful gases being released in the vicinity of the septic tank or cesspit.
Lid collapse – Septic tanks generally have a concrete lid to keep them secure. Over time, the gases can eat away at the lid, causing it to become weaker and increasing the risk of collapse.
Fires – The gases produced by cesspits are extremely flammable, a naked flame should never be anywhere near a cesspit.

Flooding

Flooding of a septic tank can be caused by several circumstances including heavy rain, flooding, blocked pipes, damage to internal components and saturated soil preventing discharge.

If your septic tank is flooding, you will need to reduce or completely restrict the amount of water that is used to avoid contracting an illness and making the problem worse, you find raw sewage backing up into your sinks and toilets.

Additionally, you will need to contact a professional to inspect and service the tank, failure to do so can leave you liable to legal action should the flooding cause a health or pollution risk.

Flooding can cause a lot of damge to your property or the facilities which you manage!

In an emergency call us on 0117 954 8030

Pollution

As cesspits are sealed, they generally only cause damage to the environment around them if they are damaged. However, as septic tanks discharge into bodies of water, they can cause serious damage to the environment, killing wildlife and contaminating private water supplies.

In addition to sewage, a septic tank or cesspit will contain anything that is flushed down the toilet or poured down the sink, this often includes chemical cleaning products, kitchen oils, detergent and human waste.

Inspection Costs

The final danger of cesspits and septic tanks is the amount they will cost you! In addition to installation costs, you will need to pay for regular emptying, inspection and servicing of your cesspit or septic tank in order to prevent it from posing a risk.

Furthermore, if your property currently relies on a septic tank or cesspit, you will have trouble selling it, as the new owners will have to take into consideration all the costs associated with maintaining it and the inevitable cost of upgrading to a sewage treatment plant.

Nationwide Sewage Treatment Plant Installation, Repair and Maintenance

If your property currently handles sewage through a septic tank or cesspit, you will need to upgrade it before 2020. At Mawdsleys Pumps, we provide a nationwide service for the installation, repair and maintenance of sewage treatment plants; we’ll even remove and dispose of the old unit for you.

For more information, give one of our expert team a call today on 0117 954 8030