Or : Why the "man drawer" is not always the best first resort....

We've probably all been there....halfway through that "must-see tv event" when the screen suddenly goes dark..sometimes with a small pop. After looking at the confused faces around you, you check the other things in the house - hmm...power is still on. So we go to the "man-drawer" and retrieve that aged back of fuses and channel our inner boy scout and replace the fuse, feeling as self satisfied as if we've just performed brain surgery. The TV is back on, the kids are quiet once more, your position as "technical guru" is maintained and all is at peace...or is it. Two weeks later and the same happens. Dodgy fuse you say and install another and on the cycle goes.

In replacing the fuse we have fixed the outcome, but not addressed the causes.

In replacing the fuse we have fixed the outcome, but not addressed the causes. Was it a power surge? Is it a problem with the TV itself? Is the dog sitting on the remote (frequent in our house!) or is something else going on?

Pumps failures are very similar (except that it's unlikely to be the dogs fault!). When a pump fails it is easy to immediately point the finger (or spanner) at the pump as the sole cause, but of course many things affect its reliability and operation and like the fuse, the pump is typically the first indicator of a process problem and the only thing to be addressed leaving the real cause undefined. In such situations we find that 99% of the time the mode of failure comes from system upsets such as running dry, running against closed valves, blocked or broken filters, foreign objects in the line (ie metal, tools, glasses!), poor system design, system changes post installation, incorrect pump selection (ie where pumps have been moved from the original installation to a different line) and a myriad of other reasons.

In the long run you can end up performing more maintenance, having more downtime and seeing costs escalate by simply replacing parts - In some cases, whole pumps are replaced when a simple solution has been ignored or not identified, meaning that the new pumps then face the same problems.

If you're frequently "replacing the fuse" by repairing pumps, please do get in touch. I have some great training prepared as part of my lunch and learn sessions on maintenance, troubleshooting and process issues and am more than happy to call in an discuss issues you might be having with your hygienic pumps - they dont even have to be ours (and all free of charge). If I can spot a fix I will tell you as for me, that is all part of building strong and trustworthy relationships with my past, current and future customers.

So why not get in touch, and keep those "fuses" in the man-drawer where they belong!

Nik

Nik Sheppard

Regional Manager - North England & Scotland

07469 150262

[email protected]