The triple-duty valve on the first pump was the problem causing low flow. There was a possibility of several issues; the check valve may have been jammed in a position that restricted flow and allowed water to pass the wrong way through the pump, causing it to continue operating in reverse during a switch-over. Dirt, sediment or a foreign object could also have been hampering the operation of the check valve and restricting flow. The owner and contractor were informed that the triple-duty valve would need to be disassembled and investigated for proper operation. What is more valuable than pump curves, flow sensors and even ultrasonic technology is the intuition of an experienced and certified AABC balancing technician. A balancer needs to use a systematic approach, and process of elimination, making use of all available tools and procedures. This helps in determining if a measurement is accurate and assists in narrowing down where issues affecting the system performance can be found. Not all acquired measurements and readings can be taken as gospel, but compiling all the test results available, analyzing them, and deciphering what makes the most sense is the procedure a good balancing technician follows. Many jobs create dynamic situations that require more than a simple measure and report situation.
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