If you want to avoid costly repairs and ensure your pump runs efficiently, understanding the causes behind pump seal leakage is important.

These seal leaks can lead to water wastage, damage to pump components like bearings and shaft seals, and even pump failure. 

From wear and tear to improper maintenance, overheating, shocks, and vibrations, several factors contribute to seal leakage.

This article will guide you through the common reasons for pump seal leaks and preventive measures to solve them.

Understanding 12 Common Causes Of Pump Seal Leakage

Many factors damage the seal and cause a pump seal failure or leakage problem. These causes are

1)- Physical Wear And Tear

The pump seal is constantly exposed to various fluids, temperature fluctuations, and friction in high- and low-pressure environments, which wears the seal face over time. These processes slowly decrease the seal’s quality and efficiency over time.

2)- Incorrect Installation

Improper seal installation can cause misalignment, uneven pressure, or small gaps that lead to faster wear and leaks. For example, a pump shaft seal that’s not installed properly won’t adjust well with the shaft, making it wear out quickly and fail.

3)- Temperature

If the lubrication in pumps is not done properly, it can cause them to overheat. This leads to valve expansion and reduced effectiveness, leading to seal leakage and failure.

4)- Misaligned Shaft

The face of the seal experiences uneven wear due to the misaligned shaft. The seal is designed to move with the shaft in a fixed horizontal or vertical direction. Improper shaft installation leads to friction between the shaft and the seal, which can cause seal wear, failure, or a seal spring break.

5)- Shocks And Vibrations

Shocks and vibrations originate from cavitation, improper equipment rotation, and pipe resonance. This puts constant stress on pumps, leading to their failure over time.

6)- Improper Maintenance

If proper maintenance is neglected, the pump can fail severely. Regular maintenance, proper lubrication, and the replacement of broken parts are essential for better pump performance.

7)- Corrosion

Corrosion is the common cause of seal failure in pumps. It happens when materials, like metal, react with water, oxygen, or chemicals over time. This can lead to cavities, cracks, or holes that can cause wear on the faces of the seal.

Additionally, corrosion can also affect the elastomers (plastics that hold their shape well and can bend without breaking), which is a cause of premature seal failure.

8)- Cavitations

Developing a vapour bubble in the liquid is known as cavitation. These bubbles collapse at low pressure, creating a shock in the pump. This process wears out elastomers and seal faces, leading to common seal leakage.

9)- Dry Running

Dry running occurs when the pump operates without sufficient lubrication, often due to insufficient fluid in the casing. This leads to overheating, damaging the pump’s internal parts. 

It’s one of the main causes behind common seal leaks, so make sure the pump is properly primed before starting.

10)- Solid Ingress

The seal is not designed to handle solid particles, such as dust and slits. These hard particles can develop cuts on the soft seals that cause the leakage.

11)- Sudden Changes In Pressure

Sudden pressure changes in the pumps can cause seal failure. When pressure spikes or drops suddenly, it stresses the seal, potentially damaging it. This weakens the seal’s ability to contain fluids, leading to leaks. A rubber lip seal would be better for this situation.

12)- Selecting The Wrong Seal

Several factors influence seal selection, such as operating conditions, non-process activities, cleaning, steaming, seal materials, etc.

A seal incompatible with the system’s pressure, temperature, or material can fail to perform, leading to leaks. Therefore, choosing the right seal prevents such issues.

Prevention Measures To Prevent Pump Seal Leakage

We know that seal failure is a common event in the pump, so you must know how to prevent seal leakage. The preventions are

1)- Understand The Pump’s Process

Understanding how a pump works is important to preventing seal leakage. When you know how the pump operates, you can ensure proper fluid levels and avoid dry running. It’s important to keep track of whether the pump is running in the right conditions. 

With the right knowledge, you can quickly spot any issues before they turn into bigger problems, helping you prevent seal leaks and extend the pump’s lifespan.

2)- Manage Dry Running

The uneven vibrations and noise indicate that the pump is running in dry conditions. In this situation, you must stop the pump when the tank is full and lubricate it appropriately before starting it again.

3)- Get Consultation With Experts

Consulting with experts can help you set up your pump properly, choose the right seals, and spot potential issues early, like improper priming or misalignment, before they cause more problems.

Plus, they’ll offer more tips on regular maintenance to help you avoid such leakage problems in the future.

4)- Regular Checking And Maintenance

Seal leakage is the major concern in high-pressure and industrial pumps. To prevent this issue, regular checking and maintenance are important. 

If you notice any wear, damage, or leakage, it is important to replace the seal immediately. Delaying this can reduce the pump’s efficiency and increase the risk of failure.

5)- Lubrication

Lubrication helps reduce friction and wear on pump seals. This keeps the pump in good condition. It also prevents overheating. Regular lubrication ensures smoother operation and longer seal life.

6)- Remove Contaminants

You must use a filtration process to remove particles such as sand and silt. This process needs to be performed regularly to improve the efficiency of your pump.

7)- Maintenance Training

Maintenance training helps you understand proper seal installation, troubleshooting, and pump maintenance. It also helps to update the best practices and new technologies.

Conclusion

Seal leakage may seem like a small issue, but it can be severe, damaging other pieces of equipment, causing fluid loss, and unwanted pump downtime.

To prevent pump failure, make sure seals are properly installed, aligned, and made of the right materials. You should also know about the pumping process, working environment, regular pump maintenance, and more, which help improve the efficiency of the pumps.

Since different types of pumps have different sealing needs, whether for industrial, irrigation, or home use, choosing the right pump and seal combination is equally important to avoid leaks.

If you’re unsure or facing recurring problems, it’s always a good idea to reach out to an expert who can offer better advice and solutions and more, which help improve the efficiency of the pumps.

Advanced technology and inventions also help to overcome these problems. If you’re unsure or facing recurring problems, it’s always a good idea to reach out to an expert who can offer better advice and solutions.

Read More About: Types Of Irrigation Water Pumps