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Water Pump Woes

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Last night at bedtime my wife said that there was a pool of water in our humble bedroom.I didn't give it much thought right then since it was around 1.00 a.m. I thought it may be some underground pipe leak in our attached bathroom. If so the marble floor had to be broken ! This morning a short while ago I found that the "electric pump closet" had a small pool of water. I cleaned the electric pump with a toothbrush & cloth & discovered that drops of water was leaking from the water pump. I telephoned Haru-the-plumber who said he'd come over tomorrow... More typing tomorrow....

19th July 2019 :: On 15th I again telephoned the Great Haru-the-Plumber and had told him about the steadily dripping water which was quickly filling up small utensils which I put under the leak. Haru informed that he was at his daughters place for the weekend & would call on me after he had done his Monday Pujas. After a long anxious wait Haru arrived at 10 am. He said that the "servicing" would cost me 1500/- to which I readily agreed.He opened up the pump (not the motor) and cleaned it with some strong acid followed by plain water & refitted it after greasing & new packings. "You can now switch on the pump" said Haru. He had also bought a small tin of blue enamel paint which he put on the pump & motor.It "looked " fine from the outside.

I pressed the green button & discovered that the sound had beed reduced drastically.My real shock & despair came next..... The water was flowing to my overhead tank in a weak trickle.. at this rate the pump would have to work for more than two hours to fill the tank. "Hey Haru.. what's wrong ? " Haru confidently replied " It will be okay in 3-4 days "... "But Haru , yesterday the flow was double !! " ... " I'll have to check the pipeline, check valve, stopcocks... " My last question to Haru was "There's nothing more YOU can do ?" His reply was "NO !!" I paid him the money 1500/- and bid him goodbye.

Well... my pump was 39 years old and during Haru's work (which ended at 4.30 pm.) I had asked him if installing a new pump would be better. He had said that for a new pump the entire inlet outlet pipes had to be changed which would be very very expensive.

As soon as Haru left I asked my wife about visiting the nearest store and ask about a new water pump. My wife's thoughts were in tandem with me so I made a beeline to the nearest store which I knew also sold electric domestic water pumps.The clocks showed quite a few minutes past 7.00 pm. "Oh ! old pump woes ? Change it ! " He suggested a heavy duty dependable model for 5300/- ."Will you accept a cheque ?" When he replied "Yes" I told him to provide me with a GOOD plumber to fit it instantly."At this time he mayn't agree" However, seeing my desperation & sad looks he telephoned a plumber who fitted the new pump for 1200/- and also gave me 200/= for the old pump.He did the job in two hours flat. No new inlet-outlet pipes were needed.

At 9 pm on 15 July water was gushing into my overhead tank and 1000 litres  filled in 15 mins ...

What more could I ask for. As I conclude this "burp" the pump is singing its melody without any hassles. Dear PostPoem friends beware of repairing old pumps... Replace them after every 10 years else... don't say I didn't warn you.