Please help identify this household machinery

[AudiPorsche]

I just moved into a new basement apartment in an old victorian house (downtown big city) .... and theres this mysterious appliance that is constantly running and making noise.

I assumed it was the hot water heater, but the tank part is empty and its only the motor part that is running/making the noise. It runs continuously 24/7. Looks like the previous tenants shoved carpet in there to reduce the vibration...

Any thoughts? My friend thinks it might be for some radiator heaters that they have upstairs?

i was thinking about unplugging it or finding the circuit its on....but dont want to blow anything up/lose water?

here are two pics of said problems

Pic 1
Pic 2

i will also accept any other noise reduction tips

 

[evident]

where do the hoses go?

 

[AudiPorsche]

Originally posted by: evident
where do the hoses go?

they run separately straight up the wall on the right... there is a small t-connection between both midway up...then they continue individually up into the ceiling

 

[jaqie]

It looks like it is made for water of some sort, and if its empty and running 24/7 then there is something wrong with it. Report it to the landlord ASAP as a malfunctioning appliance.

 

[olds]

Looks like part of a well.

 

[AudiPorsche]

we arent on a well



it does look like its for water, the piping that goes up the wall looks like standard copper pipes.

The tag on the tank says Hydrau-Force, Aqua+, and the grey box by the pump says Pumptro...which links me to a water pressure pump maker.

I dont want to get invovled with the landlord cause im only subletting... but i guess i might have to....the noise is terribly annoying...a constant drone

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

It's a water pump. Looks like there's a pressure transducer on it that should kick on the motor when the pressure drops below a preset minimum, but if it's running 24/7 it's obviously not working.

 

[olds]

Maybe a sump pump?

 

[AudiPorsche]

I just flicked off the breaker titled 'Water Pressure Tank'...and it turned it off.

Now im just waiting for the impending explosion....


Im guessing the system is broken because the water pressure tank is constantly empty (i knock and it sounds hollow)?

Im not entirely sure how these systems work... i assume its by water pressure not air?

 

[Sluggo]

We are on a water well, and the pressurization system works with a tank like that.

It is run by air pressure to keep the water pressure up. Ours has a little valve stem on the top to adjust the air pressure, which in turn raises or lowers your water pressure.

 

[TastesLikeChicken]

Originally posted by: AudiPorsche
I just flicked off the breaker titled 'Water Pressure Tank'...and it turned it off.

Now im just waiting for the impending explosion....


Im guessing the system is broken because the water pressure tank is constantly empty (i knock and it sounds hollow)?

Im not entirely sure how these systems work... i assume its by water pressure not air?

Yep, by water pressure.

It's a booster system to augment low pressure water systems. The storage tank functions as an accumulator that helps to maintain a relatively constant reserve pressure. When the pressure drop below a minimum the motor kicks on to bring the pressure back up. Apparently building maintenance has it rigged to feed directly to the line without the tank. Maybe it has leaks or other issues and they didn't want to go through the expense of replacing it? Looking at the picture, it's not being maintained very well at all.

btw, you're potentially screwing your upstairs neighbors by turning off the breaker. Their water pressure will drop gradually so you may want to turn it back on.

 

[gorcorps]

Originally posted by: Sluggo
We are on a water well, and the pressurization system works with a tank like that.

It is run by air pressure to keep the water pressure up. Ours has a little valve stem on the top to adjust the air pressure, which in turn raises or lowers your water pressure.

Sounds like what you have OP (but not for a well). You're probably ok to turn it off overnight or when you want it quiet, but you'll probably lose water pressure if you have it off all the time.

 

[AudiPorsche]

Originally posted by: TastesLikeChicken
Yep, by water pressure.

It's a booster system to augment low pressure water systems. The storage tank functions as an accumulator that helps to maintain a relatively constant reserve pressure. When the pressure drop below a minimum the motor kicks on to bring the pressure back up. Apparently building maintenance has it rigged to feed directly to the line without the tank. Maybe it has leaks or other issues and they didn't want to go through the expense of replacing it? Looking at the picture, it's not being maintained very well at all.

btw, you're potentially screwing your upstairs neighbors by turning off the breaker. Their water pressure will drop gradually so you may want to turn it back on.

dammit, the brief few moments of silence were golden.

Ill probably experiment with nighttime shutoffs.... maybe the upstairs residents wont notice....or will complain and get the landlord to come investigate. He prob wont do anything for me since im just a subletter, here for 4 months.