Pumps, pressure, and machines that outlived their makers
How Do You Prime a Pump? A Safe Step-by-Step Guide
Priming a pump means filling the pump casing—and, when the design requires it, the suction line—with the liquid being pumped while allowing trapped air to…
By Walt Brenner · 10 August 2026 · 19 min readLatest
Well Pump Capacitor Replacement: Testing, Matching & Safety
Electrical safety warning: A capacitor can retain a dangerous charge after supply power has been disconnected. Switching off a breaker is not, by itself, proof…
Well Pump Stopped Working? Safe Troubleshooting Steps
When a well pump stops working—or appears to—the pump itself is only one possible cause. A tripped breaker, failed pressure switch, clogged filter, closed…
Pump Pressure Switch: Selection, Settings & Troubleshooting Guide
A pump pressure switch is easy to recognize but easy to misdiagnose. It responds to water pressure and tells a pump when to start or stop, placing it at the…
Claverton Pumping Station: History, Engineering & Visitor Guide
Claverton Pumping Station is best understood not simply as an old waterwheel, but as a complete water-management system.
Sump Pump Definition, Purpose, Installation & Maintenance Guide
A sump pump is not a stand-alone promise of a dry basement. It is one part of a building-wide water-management system, and it works only when water can reach…
Check Valve One Way Valve Guide: Types, Selection & Use
A check valve, one-way valve, and usually non-return valve are synonymous general terms. Each describes a two-port valve—with an inlet and an outlet—that…
