My brick saw's water pump died halfway through a big patio job last Friday

I was cutting pavers for a 400 square foot patio in the afternoon sun. The pump just stopped pushing water, so the blade started smoking after about ten cuts. I had to stop everything, run to the supply house, and drop $180 on a new pump to finish the day. Do you guys fix the pumps or just replace them when they go?

3 comments

3 Comments

robin4893mo ago

That "run to the supply house" moment is the worst. I mean, it feels like everything is built to fail right when you need it most, not when it's convenient. Makes you wonder if planning for a backup is just part of the job now.

martin.vera3mo ago

My neighbor's sump pump died at 2 AM during that big storm last week. He had to drive 45 minutes to find a 24-hour hardware store that was open. It really does feel like you need a backup plan for your backup plan these days.

emerycarr2mo ago

I actually saw a video from some older plumber on YouTube saying that most pumps and motors these days are built with planned failure somewhere around the 5 to 7 year mark, and it kind of stuck with me. He showed how the seals and bearings are just barely good enough to get you past the warranty, so your mileage may vary depending on how often you're actually using the thing. It's not exactly a conspiracy, but in my experience, the stuff that used to last 20 years now seems to barely make it through a few heavy seasons. Definitely makes the case for having a cheap backup pump or even just a spare float switch on the shelf before you need it.