Fresh Water Pump Runs Continuously & Pump ID Help

[SailorBruce]

Last night I ran the water tank dry while in the shower. The only good thing about the scenario is that it was me, and not my wife, with unrinsed soap....

When I filled the tank, just as I’ve done several times in the past, (pump breaker off, run out hoses, fill tank, breaker on) the pump won’t stop cycling. The pressure builds up to about 48PSI at the accumulator, but never goes higher. I have opened all of the sinks and flushed all of the heads thinking I might have air trapped in the lines but to no avail. My next step was to look at the pump for an issue, but I can’t figure out where to start. Can anyone help identify the pump in the photo?


What do people think my next step should be?

Thanks in advance!

 

[SailorBruce]

Follow-up:

Last night I also sent an email to the PO asking for any tips. He called me this morning after I started this thread and gave me the answer: Bleed the secondary water heater. I had forgotten about that thing! I cracked the valve he had installed for this very purpose, and watched a tiny air bubble run through the hose to the bilge. Solved.

What a gem of a man to call me so quickly. I think he misses the boat like a missing limb!

I would still love some help identifying that pump though. Any ideas out there?

 

[LaBomba]

Happy to hear your issue was solved so quickly and easily. So far as your pump, it looks like a Groco Paragon Senior.

https://www.ebay.com/i/253957627298?chn=ps

 

[SailorBruce]

Happy to hear your issue was solved so quickly and easily. So far as your pump, it looks like a Groco Paragon Senior.

https://www.ebay.com/i/253957627298?chn=ps

Winner! Thanks so much!

 

[hmason]

The Paragon Senior pump sells for $2,500. Should it ever fail it is rebuildable. The rebuild of the wet end on mine cost $250. Runs like new now.

 

[OldDan1943]

Follow-up:

Last night I also sent an email to the PO asking for any tips. He called me this morning after I started this thread and gave me the answer: Bleed the secondary water heater. I had forgotten about that thing! I cracked the valve he had installed for this very purpose, and watched a tiny air bubble run through the hose to the bilge. Solved.

What a gem of a man to call me so quickly. I think he misses the boat like a missing limb!

I would still love some help identifying that pump though. Any ideas out there?

Did he get visitation rights like my ex-wife demanded and got. Maybe you can invite him for a ride?

 

[SailorBruce]

Did he get visitation rights like my ex-wife demanded and got. Maybe you can invite him for a ride?

He may be lurking on this site, so I will state publicly he has a standing invitation!

 

[Bare Necessities]

I had a similar issue with my Paragon Senior although it continued to run and build pressure until it tripped the circuit breaker in the electrical panel. It turned out to be the pressure switch contacts were stuck together (the black box in the picture). I lucked out and found a new old stock still in the box on eBay cheaper than from Paragon/Groco.

 

[Bare Necessities]

If it is your switch, this should be the one you need:
GROCO PRESSURE SWITCH 69-A PARAGON WATER SYSTEM BA2

 

[Lepke]

A common way for air to get into fresh water systems is when there is a filter before the pump. The standard housings have a button on top to release air. But, when the filter starts to fill with debris, the pump may create enough suction to draw air thru the button. A fix is to put an air eliminator in place of the button. Air eliminators are common in hydronic systems and are cheap on ebay or Amazon.
You can add an air eliminator anywhere air seems to accumulate.