I just had another Rule bilge pump fail on me. They seem to only last about 6 months for me. What could be causing so many failures? Could it be debris in the bilge? Or, could it be that the wires are getting corroded? Or, is that about all the life I can expect out of a Rule bilge pump? I don't remember which pump I'm using, but I made sure it was plenty big for my '77 Catalina 30'. I'm going to be replacing the pump very soon, so I was hoping to get any help/suggestions from anyone. Thanks in advance! Gary
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Same problem.
Gary: I had the same problem with the rule pumps. I either had problems with the float switch or the pumps. My last upgrade was a West Marine brand with the switch built in. This has been in there for about 3-4 years without any problem. I have no idea who is making these for West Marine, but they seem to have solved the problem.
Gary: I had the same problem with the rule pumps. I either had problems with the float switch or the pumps. My last upgrade was a West Marine brand with the switch built in. This has been in there for about 3-4 years without any problem. I have no idea who is making these for West Marine, but they seem to have solved the problem.
J
J.B. Dyer
Wiring
You might think about checking the size of the wire and the amp draw on your bilge pump. If the power wire is not large enough to carry the proper amount of amperage to the pump motor it can cause failure. Check the size of the wire and find a bilge pump that matches the max amp capability. I'm not an electrician but I do know that overloading a wire can cause problems on both ends. I have a Rule and have never had any problems with it. Just a suggestion.
You might think about checking the size of the wire and the amp draw on your bilge pump. If the power wire is not large enough to carry the proper amount of amperage to the pump motor it can cause failure. Check the size of the wire and find a bilge pump that matches the max amp capability. I'm not an electrician but I do know that overloading a wire can cause problems on both ends. I have a Rule and have never had any problems with it. Just a suggestion.
J
John
I have had rule pumps for many years...
most have lasted at least 2-4years each. Believe it or not, I have mailed the failed ones back to Rule with a pleasant note and they have sent me a brand new replacement at nc. Great company....
most have lasted at least 2-4years each. Believe it or not, I have mailed the failed ones back to Rule with a pleasant note and they have sent me a brand new replacement at nc. Great company....
I prefer a great product vs a great company.
John: Great customer service and standing behind your product is a very good reason to purchase another products from a company. The only thing that I can think of that is better is a product that DOES NOT fail. Rule is at the bottom of my list as a suppler of bilge pump for my boat. When your pump fails after 2 years and the boats start filling with water it is not a good reflection on a product. I'd would rather pay $100 for a reliable product than pay $30 for a POC (piece of crap). This is not to say that you cannot get a good product for a reasonable price. This is also not to say that my West Marine unit has not failed in the past 4 weeks since I have been at my boat either.
John: Great customer service and standing behind your product is a very good reason to purchase another products from a company. The only thing that I can think of that is better is a product that DOES NOT fail. Rule is at the bottom of my list as a suppler of bilge pump for my boat. When your pump fails after 2 years and the boats start filling with water it is not a good reflection on a product. I'd would rather pay $100 for a reliable product than pay $30 for a POC (piece of crap). This is not to say that you cannot get a good product for a reasonable price. This is also not to say that my West Marine unit has not failed in the past 4 weeks since I have been at my boat either.
As a Rule....
I have seen the lower-end-market Rule bilge pumps turn into POCs (thanks for that acronym, Steve!) right and left. Corrosion, cracked plastic, wiring failure, totally gunked-up with junk, you name it. Not a product to instill peace of mind (which by the way is the job of an automatic bilge pump). Now this is from a former dyed-in-the-wool cheerleader for Rule pumps as the industry standard. Maybe the words 'Made in China' have something to do with it (I just feel squeamish buying anything electrical from the country that invented fireworks, you know). I prefer the British-made Whale to anything else for manual pumps-- just paid significantly more for a new Whale 10 rather than rebuilding a perfectly servicable Bosworth Guzzler-- but what IS the answer for electric pumps? Anyone? Anyone? JC 2
I have seen the lower-end-market Rule bilge pumps turn into POCs (thanks for that acronym, Steve!) right and left. Corrosion, cracked plastic, wiring failure, totally gunked-up with junk, you name it. Not a product to instill peace of mind (which by the way is the job of an automatic bilge pump). Now this is from a former dyed-in-the-wool cheerleader for Rule pumps as the industry standard. Maybe the words 'Made in China' have something to do with it (I just feel squeamish buying anything electrical from the country that invented fireworks, you know). I prefer the British-made Whale to anything else for manual pumps-- just paid significantly more for a new Whale 10 rather than rebuilding a perfectly servicable Bosworth Guzzler-- but what IS the answer for electric pumps? Anyone? Anyone? JC 2
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Peggie Hall/Head Mistress
Bad product? Or operator error?
When was the last time you actually CLEANED your bilge--lots of detergent followed by a thorough rinse that flushed ALL the slime, slop, oil, dirt, assorted bits of hardware etc out? All that stuff clogs bilge pumps...and when motor runs long enough without being able to move any water through it, the motor burns out. How often do you pour bleach into your bilge? Bleach used on a regular basis EATS rubber parts in pumps? Rule bilge pumps normally last for decades...one failure could be a defective pump. Repeated failures indicates that you may be causing 'em to fail...'cuz a dirty bilge and enough bleach will destroy any bilge pump.
When was the last time you actually CLEANED your bilge--lots of detergent followed by a thorough rinse that flushed ALL the slime, slop, oil, dirt, assorted bits of hardware etc out? All that stuff clogs bilge pumps...and when motor runs long enough without being able to move any water through it, the motor burns out. How often do you pour bleach into your bilge? Bleach used on a regular basis EATS rubber parts in pumps? Rule bilge pumps normally last for decades...one failure could be a defective pump. Repeated failures indicates that you may be causing 'em to fail...'cuz a dirty bilge and enough bleach will destroy any bilge pump.
J
Jack Tyler
Could be a bad product...
Gary: When in the Caribbean, we installed a deck (rainwater) collection system. For several reasons, we included a standard Rule shower sump (box with removeable lid, pump & float switch) as part of the system. The float switch lasted 2 months. I emailed Rule asking them about this and they quickly sent 4 (four!) replacements. I recognize this isn't reporting a Rule pump problem, but I continue to hear that both their float switches and pumps fail too often/too quickly. I notice that WM customers give these pumps a 1-star rating on a 1-5 scale. Jack
Gary: When in the Caribbean, we installed a deck (rainwater) collection system. For several reasons, we included a standard Rule shower sump (box with removeable lid, pump & float switch) as part of the system. The float switch lasted 2 months. I emailed Rule asking them about this and they quickly sent 4 (four!) replacements. I recognize this isn't reporting a Rule pump problem, but I continue to hear that both their float switches and pumps fail too often/too quickly. I notice that WM customers give these pumps a 1-star rating on a 1-5 scale. Jack
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Dave
Breaking the rules?
I have had a Rule 2000 for years. Peggy mentions some things to watch for, let me add a few. HAIR in a boat everything dropped on the floor seems to find it's way into the bilge. Human hair is one of the worst. From showers, brushing hair etc. it gets wound around the impeller in the pump and then eventually causes it to sieze up. Periodically remove the pump and clean the impeller from wound up hair. My beef with Rule is their automatic switch. If you buy the cheap one it doesn't have enough mass to shut off the switch and they just stay running...this is a lousy product!! The "SUPER SWITCH" on the other hand for 50% more cost works great.
I have had a Rule 2000 for years. Peggy mentions some things to watch for, let me add a few. HAIR in a boat everything dropped on the floor seems to find it's way into the bilge. Human hair is one of the worst. From showers, brushing hair etc. it gets wound around the impeller in the pump and then eventually causes it to sieze up. Periodically remove the pump and clean the impeller from wound up hair. My beef with Rule is their automatic switch. If you buy the cheap one it doesn't have enough mass to shut off the switch and they just stay running...this is a lousy product!! The "SUPER SWITCH" on the other hand for 50% more cost works great.
B
Bob
More Bilge Pump Blues
Check "Bilge Pump Blues" forum entry Nov 23, concerning the possibility of "vapor lock."
Check "Bilge Pump Blues" forum entry Nov 23, concerning the possibility of "vapor lock."
G
GaryC
Thanks
All, Thanks for all the useful info/comments. I doubt it very highly that it's faulty product, but more of negligence on my part. I think I need to start off by cleaning my bilge very well. I've got a lot of good suggestions...hopefully I can correct my environment so these pumps will stop failing. Thanks again for all your input! Have a wonderful holiday season! Gary
All, Thanks for all the useful info/comments. I doubt it very highly that it's faulty product, but more of negligence on my part. I think I need to start off by cleaning my bilge very well. I've got a lot of good suggestions...hopefully I can correct my environment so these pumps will stop failing. Thanks again for all your input! Have a wonderful holiday season! Gary
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