We receive a lot of calls about vacuum pump problems. So we'll list the most common problems. If your problem is not listed, you can contact us at anytime. Remember, we are here to help you.

1. My vacuum pump is noisy and sometime stops.

A: Whenever your vacuum pump starts to make noise, shut it down if at all possible. There are many reasons why a vacuum pump starts to make noise. One of the most common reasons is that the vanes are sticking.

Here are some things to check:

Where is the oil level? If the oil level is within its min – max range, then drain the oil, keeping an eye on the condition of the oil.

Is it dark and have an odor? Sometimes, flushing the pump helps. It depends on how the oil looks draining out. If you stick a screwdriver in the drain after the oil drains and it has sludge stuck to it there’s a good chance the oil ports are clogged; if so, do not run the vacuum pump because you may cause more damage to the pump.

Before you get to this point, there are a few things you can do to prevent this:

1) Change the oil. You need to find a benchmark for your pump because there are so many applications for vacuum pumps; it’s hard to say exactly when it should be changed.

2) Are you using the correct oil for your pump or application? Using inexpensive vacuum pump fluid doesn't go far in a hot running pump; it breaks down faster and starts to varnish. It’s always a good practice to use the recommended oil for the pump.

3) How much water does your pump see? If there is humidity, there’s water. Water destroys vacuum pumps. Most vacuum pumps have a gas ballast valve on it. This is to help remove water from your pump. By using the gas ballast, changing your oil on a scheduled basis and using the correct oil you can greatly increase the life of your vacuum pump.

There will be more troubleshooting tips added to this site soon. If you have any questions you can always call us. We want customers for life and will help you anyway we can.