Stenner Pump failure

[Kainedogg]

I was just curious to see how many of us are using the Stenner Injection pump for their holding tanks. The one I use injects chlorine into a vat for house use, once it leaves the well.
It just seems like every few months (less than 65 days) I am replacing a Phenolic gear or the darn tube that creates the pumping action. I would love to toss mine out for a superior product since this is getting old fast.

 

[t-spec]

We use one at work and have had the pump tube crack once a week for the past 5 weeks, sales douche bag keeps saying that its a solid proven pump and there must be manufacturing defect in the pump tube. They finally conceded and said they undersized the injection pump for what we need and gave us a bigger unit, we'll see if that one will last. There both Stenner brand.

 

[MagKarl]

They have many models that vary in capacity and need to be selected specifically for the application. I put one in for my well water chlorination about 2 years ago, I bought extra tubes expecting them to die frequently but still on the original.

An alternative is the Chemilizer pump. I was considering this route but thought it might be too noisy. If I have troubles with my Stenner, this is what I will go to next.
http://hydrosystemsco.com/product/chemilizer/

 

[Kainedogg]

Thanks guys. I got tube #5, specifically for my needs and the pump is well within its safe operating parameters. My biggest issue is the tube. At $13 a pop, they are an unnecessary expense. I expect it to last a year or better not a month or two.

I don't mind the noise MagKarl, I am on 5 acres and the pump would be closer to the rear of the property.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Believe it or not I found Grainger to be teh lowest cost on tubes. If I recall most places (even on-line) wanted about $15 each (others were packs of 2 for $30) for the tubes.
Grainger had the tubes in a pack of 5 for $15.
As far as longevity some have leaked after a few months, others have lasted a few years.
Very inconsistent even out of the same package.

 

[gregtwojeeps]

Being the pool operator at work for 14 years now while running a 250,000 gallon Jr. Olympic size swimming pool that requires two peristaltic chemical injection pumps...two chlorine (one primary and one back up) and one acid pump, I have had some experience with peristaltic pumps......

I have tried all name brands available locally over the years including Stenner and others. I keep going back to these little gems for overall performance and dependability. I was getting them for $150.00 five years ago but now. wow $$$$$$ ...

The bladder tubes from Grainger for them are getting expensive also, at $27.00. FWIW and JMO

http://www.grainger.com/product/MEC-O-MATIC-Peristaltic-Metering-Pump-WP171548/_/N-bir/Ntt-peristaltic?nls=1&sst=subset&s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/2P304_AS01?$smthumb$

 

[davidlee]

Are you injecting your chemicals on the suction side of the main pump or on the pressure side. While the Stenner will pump against a small amount of pressure the tubes will usually last a long time on the suction side (vacuum) of a pump.
I don't recall having a gear failure on any of the hundreds of Stenners that I have worked on. Most were the 45m and a few double head 85s.

 

[Kainedogg]

Believe it or not I found Grainger to be teh lowest cost on tubes. If I recall most places (even on-line) wanted about $15 each (others were packs of 2 for $30) for the tubes.
Grainger had the tubes in a pack of 5 for $15.
As far as longevity some have leaked after a few months, others have lasted a few years.
Very inconsistent even out of the same package.

Those days are long gone my friend. $42 for two at Grainger http://www.grainger.com/product/STENNER-Pump-Tube-C-35PG01?s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/35PG01_AS02?$smthumb$

Being the pool operator at work for 14 years now while running a 250,000 gallon Jr. Olympic size swimming pool that requires two peristaltic chemical injection pumps...two chlorine (one primary and one back up) and one acid pump, I have had some experience with peristaltic pumps......

I have tried all name brands available locally over the years including Stenner and others. I keep going back to these little gems for overall performance and dependability. I was getting them for $150.00 five years ago but now. wow $$$$$$ ...

The bladder tubes from Grainger for them are getting expensive also, at $27.00. FWIW and JMO

http://www.grainger.com/product/MEC-O-MATIC-Peristaltic-Metering-Pump-WP171548/_/N-bir/Ntt-peristaltic?nls=1&sst=subset&s_pp=false&picUrl=//static.grainger.com/rp/s/is/image/Grainger/2P304_AS01?$smthumb$

Thank you. I will add this to my search today. This is my first foray into well water and manual treatment of my own water. Wife is in the military and I am a vet. This is our retirement home and I want to keep it simple stupid (K.I.S.S)

Are you injecting your chemicals on the suction side of the main pump or on the pressure side. While the Stenner will pump against a small amount of pressure the tubes will usually last a long time on the suction side (vacuum) of a pump.
I don't recall having a gear failure on any of the hundreds of Stenners that I have worked on. Most were the 45m and a few double head 85s.

I am not sure David. The bottom of the stenner 85mph pump is the suction side and feeds from a 50gal drum with chlorine. The upper hose is the injection side and feeds into the vats that the well pump supplies. Does this help?

 

[MagKarl]

I would double check your sizing calculations for your chlorine injection. Maybe you can better balance your chlorine concentration and pumping time to maximize pump component life. How much does your pump run?

 

[davidlee]

Is it an open vat? If it is then the pump should do the job. Have you checked the roller assembly. If the rollers are not turning freely they will cause premature tube failure.

If you can't get to the root of the problem contact G H Stenner in Jacksonville, Fl. I assume they still do repairs. ( I've been out of the pool business for nine years)

 

[Kainedogg]

I would double check your sizing calculations for your chlorine injection. Maybe you can better balance your chlorine concentration and pumping time to maximize pump component life. How much does your pump run?

The pump cycles 6x a day for 15 minutes maximum; well below the rating life it is spec'd for friend. The hoses, which are a critical component of the pump should not be failing so soon.

Is it an open vat? If it is then the pump should do the job. Have you checked the roller assembly. If the rollers are not turning freely they will cause premature tube failure.

If you can't get to the root of the problem contact G H Stenner in Jacksonville, Fl. I assume they still do repairs. ( I've been out of the pool business for nine years)

Thanks Lee. The rollers are free spinning, however a while back the phenolic gear shaved it's teeth and I could not find a replacement soon enough. Luckily I found another pump on Ebay with the exact same specs, just an older model, but rated for the same tube. It too, saw tube failure.
I plan to write Stenner today, because it is an issue for me.

 

[ratdoggy]

I'm running caustic soda through them 9 hours a day. My newest one is over 5 years old the older one is probably 6 or 7 years old.
As far as I'm concerned they are bulletproof. Must be an odd issue you are having.
There are different tube compositions for different chemicals

 

[MagKarl]

I got my Stenner stuff here. Hoses are about $30 for two.
http://www.uswatersystems.com/water-filter-brands/stenner.html?p=2

 

[Kainedogg]

That's about right Mag. Thanks.