Have you ever thought about storing a water pump? It’s not something that a lot of people would think about, but something that can be very important, especially at a larger company that maybe has several extra water pumps in storage for backup purposes. When not stored correctly, the internal components of a pump can sustain serious damage. Whether that’s the casing or mechanical seals being damaged due to cold weather, the suction and discharge ports not being sealed and allowing debris in, or the pump seal being damaged due to improper storage, it is vitally important to store your water pump properly and safely.

Some of the methods to prevent damage are very simple and don’t require much money or time to address. First, we need to talk about the parts of a water pump that can be damaged by improper storage.

1: Pump Components

The first component to talk about is the pump’s casing. The casing is the part of a pump that stores the water, also called a volute. The second part of a water pump that can be damaged is the pump shaft. The pump shaft is what the impeller sits on and allows the impeller to rotate. The final part of a water pump that may sustain damage from poor storage is the pump seal, also often called the mechanical seal. The pump seal sits on the end of the pump shaft, where the impeller is mounted. The mechanical seal keeps water sealed inside the pump, while also allowing the shaft to rotate and prevent any foreign matter from getting in.

2: Pump Casing

The first thing to do is to always drain the pump casing of any liquid or water to prevent damage to the casing caused by freezing. If water or any other liquids are left in the pump, during the winter or cold, the water can freeze and damage the internals of the pump. If your pump is used for pumping saltwater or other corrosive materials, you should flush the pump with fresh water, then drain all the remaining fluid. Furthermore, if you have access to an air compressor, one final step is to use compressed air to completely remove any remaining water in the volute and internal parts.

If you cannot completely drain the pump for whatever reason, pour a small amount of anti-freeze into the casing and rotate the pump shaft to ensure mixing. The final way to help safely store your pump’s casing is to never fill the pump with oil. Oil should only be applied to the mechanical seal cavity when specified in your pump owner’s manual, as filling the pump with oil when not recommended by the manufacturer can cause damage.

3: Suction and Discharge Ports

One of the simplest yet easy-to-forget steps is to seal the suction and discharge ports. This is very important because if they are left open, debris can get inside the pump and cause damage. This is obviously not something anyone wants to have happen to their pump because it can cause so much damage. While you can use a standard cap, sometimes Dad’s ol’ standby, duct tape, will work just fine!

4: Mechanical Seal

If your pump has an oil lubricated seal, drain the oil from the seal cavity and refill it with a 30-weight non-detergent motor oil. If the seal is water cooled, place one half pint of lubricating oil (new or used) through the discharge opening in the pump and turn the engine over several times. This will prevent excessive corrosion and will also keep the mechanical seal lubricated. Another way to prevent corrosion is to prevent storing your pump in a humid or wet climate. Always be aware of the temperature and try to keep the pump stored in a dry place, and at or around room temperature.

5: Pump Shaft and Rusting

Another way to help prevent damage to your water pump is to rotate the shaft once about every 30 days. This may not sound like much, but rotating the shaft, even just once, keeps it from sticking and encountering damage, as well as helping to prevent flat spots on the bearing. This happens when the bearings are resting for too long. Another precautionary measure would be to apply rust prevention liquid on your pump shaft. Simply apply it to your water pump, and whenever you’re ready to operate the pump, just wipe the rust prevention liquid off.

Finally, always be aware of where you are storing your water pump. Follow the instructions in your owner’s manual and with these few simple steps, you can prevent a disaster. Underestimating your storage conditions is never safe, so being knowledgeable on damage prevention methods can greatly help save you time and money.