Why does nobody talk about how much a worn impeller can kill your pump's output?

I've been running a 6-inch dredge on the Mississippi near Cairo, Illinois for the last 2 summers. This past June I noticed my production was down maybe 30% compared to the year before. I checked everything - suction lines, swing cables, even the engine RPMs. Turned out the impeller vanes were worn down maybe a quarter inch from all the sand and gravel. Swapped it out for a new one from the supplier and my pump pressure jumped right back up. Cost me about 400 bucks and a half day of work but the difference was night and day. Has anyone else noticed their pump losing efficiency and traced it back to impeller wear?

2 comments

2 Comments

felix14722d agoMost Upvoted

Exactly the same thing happened to me last season, a quarter inch wore off and lost me 20% flow easy.

emmaj3322d ago

Oh come on @felix147, that tiny bit of wear wouldn't cost you 20% unless your setup was already struggling. Probably more to do with your pump or filter than the impeller.