08/25/2026
Common causes of centrifugal pump leaks include:
1. Mechanical seal failure.
Failure commonly occurs due to wear, misalignment, and residue buildup that is caused by dry running, cavitation, improper CIP, incorrect reassembly, or incompatible fluids.
2. Improper water flush.
On certain pumps, a stuffing box sits around the pump shaft and holds an E-style mechanical seal. It's designed to lubricate and cool the seal by using flush liquid. Without proper flushing, the stuffing box will fill with the pumped liquid, causing leaks and contamination.
3. Casing or Tri-Clamp misalignment.
You need to avoid uneven gasket compression as this will not seat and/or seal properly. Another cause is excessive vibration caused by pressure spikes (water hammer) and/or cavitation.
4. Wrong rotation during startup.
When the shaft spins opposite its intended direction, internal hydraulic performance is compromised, and internal components may become stressed beyond their design limits.
5. Deadheading.
Deadheading is when a pump continues operating without flow. The energy from the impeller rotating will begin to heat the recirculating fluid, eventually turning it into v***r. This creates unstable conditions that will damage internal components.
Check out our full breakdown in our blog! Link in bio.
