Guest Column: Pump Cavitation Giving You A Headache?

By Liz Braden, Technical Service Representative, CSI

If you've ever heard what sounds like gravel running through your pump, you've probably experienced the problems that come from cavitation.

Cavitation, the formation and implosion of bubbles inside the pump head, causes more than just an obnoxious noise. Those tiny bubbles can result in thousands of dollars in repairs due to pitting on the impeller and casing, or collateral damage from the vibration of the pump. Meanwhile, the pump's efficiencies plummet, and head pressures decrease, resulting in suffering production numbers.