We get a lot of calls and emails from people struggling with pump disasters after buying a pump or part on ebay so I felt it was time to offer this alert:

The ebay listing states the pump “does not work” but sometimes people in bargain hunting mode overlook vital information.

• Read the ebay product description with great care. In many cases, the seller specifically states the product is used, offered as is, and/or fits a given name brand pump but it isn’t manufactured by the name brand. They’re not usually trying to deceive, but people get busy and just skim or overlook key pieces of the information.
• Read the ebay seller information – all of it – and contact the seller before buying. Having a trail of communication from prior to the purchase helps support any claims that may arise after the purchase.
• Replacement parts may not be genuine – we’ve heard accounts of cheap, lesser quality parts being packaged in plastic bags marked with the popular name brands.
• Used pumps may be filled with chemistry or hidden corrosion may cover the internals – there’s a reason the used pump is no longer in service. Why wasn’t it repaired? Why is the pump so cheap? Try to find out why in advance.
• Pump parts made from rubber and some other materials begin to break down in storage and have a limited shelf life. It’s very hard to find out how long a part has been stored but it can be frustrating to replace a diaphragm, for example, only to have it fail in a short time.

Yes, there may be bargains to be had on ebay but please be sure you know exactly what pump or pump part you need before bidding or using the Buy It Now to prevent any struggles and failures after purchase and installation.

For genuine replacement parts, call 203-740-1877 or email sales@reliable-equipment.com
For genuine Wilden repair kits, see here.

Q: We recently installed AODD pumps and I don’t think our chief engineer has the compressed air setup correctly. What are some basic recommendations to make sure we get the most out of our pumps?

A: It’s very common for people to invest a lot of time researching the pump brands, sizing the pumps and finding the right supplier, but then pay less attention to the compressed air. This is the A in the AODD – for air – so it’s a very important part of the system. For the pump to work at its peak level of efficiency, the compressed air has to be setup the right way. Here are a few thoughts to get you started in the right direction:

Check the air compressor size to be sure it’s the right size for the pump. PSI at the pump discharge must be equal or greater at the inlet – but PSI isn’t enough. Check the air compressor’s SCFM – Standard Cubic Feet per Minute. This measures how much air it can deliver to the pump. Every pump manufacturer states the recommended SCFM for each pump. Too low and the pump will never deliver the performance anticipated.

Make sure the pump isn’t running at max air pressure. This is like driving a family car at 120 mph. It would be nice to get to soccer and karate faster but puts too much wear and tear on the engine. AODD pumps excel when run at 80-90 psi as the max air pressure.

Check the air going to the pump. Since it needs to be clean and free of contaminants, consider installing an air filter, along with a regulator and needle valve to control air volume and speed to the pump. If the pump is set at the end of the air compressor line then condensation may become an issue and adding an air dryer is recommended. Of course, check for leaks in the piping and avoid PVC since it gets brittle over time.

Keep the temperature of the compressor the same all year. The compressor room needs to be cool (<100 degree F) and well ventilated to prevent overheating but freezing temperatures cannot be allowed.

The condition and settings of the compressed air line affect how quickly the wear parts in the pump actually wear. All of these parts come with a finite but extendable service life so preventive maintenance on these parts pays major dividends. Keep these spare parts on hand, just in case: diaphragms, valve balls, valve seats, glyd rings, pilot sleeves and others, depending on the pump.

See spare parts kits for Wilden here. For other brands, call 203.740.1877.

Reliable to Send Thousands to Operation Homefront

Reliable’s own Elise Vaughn powers through another Tough Mudder in support of military families.

To support military families, we’re going to make a $10.00 donation for every order over $499.00 online or by phone until Nov. 10th, 2018 to Operation Homefront. This non-profit organization helps military families pay the rent, feed their children and manage transitions to new homes and schools. These donations are to be made in conjunction with personal donations from by Reliable Owner Elise Vaughn and her sponsors when she competes in the brutal, 24-hour World’s Toughest Mudder in Fairburn, GA on Nov. 10th and 11th.

“As grueling as these events can be, I know they’re not nearly as challenging as parenting a military family,” says Elise Vaughn, “so it’s important to me to provide whatever support I can and I thank you for helping with your order.”

Learn more about Operation Homefront here.
To support military families with a donation, learn more here.
To Reliable home page here.

Reliable Equipment Sales to Represent Gizmo Engineering

Wolcott, CT: Pump and process equipment distributor Reliable Equipment Sales, Wolcott, CT, (Reliable-Equipment.com), has been named by Gizmo Engineering to represent the process controls manufacturer in the United States. Reliable offers the entire Gizmo product line of process controls and accessories including digital timers, chemical tank and drum alarms, temperature alarms, flowmeters and other products for the chemical process industries. Reliable was selected for the high level of working knowledge of the product portfolio among its sales team and their expertise in how the products operate as part of the larger process, according to Lisa Blokhuis, owner of Gizmo Engineering. “This is a family-owned company with a reputation for integrity in business and hands-on product experience in the field,” says Blokhuis. “It’s great to see our products moving on their e-commerce Website and I look forward to a long and successful partnership.”

On the Reliable Equipment Sales Website, the company features the Gizmo line of digital process control timers for use in plating, metalworking, process heating and other industries. The timers count down a preset amount of time then sound an alarm and flash a red light to alert personnel. Additional products are to be added to the Website in the future.

For more information, contact Reliable Equipment Sales, LLC, 770 Bound Line Road Wolcott, CT 06716; 203-740-1877; sales@reliable-equipment.com or go to www.Reliable-Equipment.com.
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Reliable Equipment Sales Owner Elise Vaughn and Penguin – Filter Pump Industries COO Larry Frederick discuss the latest in pumps and process equipment at Sur/Fin 2017.

Elise Vaughn of pump distributor Reliable Equipment Sales met with Penguin Filter Pump Industries COO Larry Frederick at SUR/FIN 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. Attending the National Association for Surface Finishing’s (NASF) SUR/FIN Tradeshow and Conference is critical for distributors to stay up to date on the latest pump, filter and process innovations in plating, anodizing, passivation, cleaning, rinsing and fluid transfer, according to Vaughn.

For details on the latest Penguin pumps featured at the show, call Elise at 203-740-1877.

See Penguin filter chambers here.

See Penguin pumps here.

Thanks to Your Orders, Reliable Sends $4,670.00 to Operation Homefront

Reliable Owner Elise Vaughn helped raise $4,670.00 for Operation Homefront in support of military families. Vaughn raised $3,270.00 by competing in her fifth Tough Mudder New England and the company donated an additional $1,400.00 by contributing $10.00 for every order placed in June, 2017. Thanks for your help in supporting America’s troops and their families.

“We’re always thankful for every order,” says Elise Vaughn, “but now there will also be thousands of American military families based all over the world who also thank you for your order.”

Learn more about Operation Homefront here.
To support military families with a donation, learn more here.
To home page here.

Reliable Equipment Sales Stocks Parts Kits with Genuine Wilden Parts

Wolcott, CT: Pump and process equipment distributor Reliable Equipment Sales, Wolcott, CT, has introduced custom parts kits for repairing Wilden air-operated, double diaphragm pumps. Featuring only genuine, Wilden replacement parts, the rebuild kits include the parts required for both the air side and liquid side of the pump such as diaphragms, shafts, glyd rings, pilot sleeves, valve balls, air valves and gaskets, and other components based on the model. The pump repair kits are available for the Wilden M, T, P and PX Original™ series pumps in metal and plastic and are customized to suit the pump housing material, inlet and discharge sizes, and diaphragm elastomer requirements.

Priced from $157.19 plus UPS, the Wilden spare parts kits are pre-packaged and in stock for immediate delivery with some models shipping within 48 hours. Free guidance on selecting the proper rebuild kit and on repairing the pump is included while the company’s proprietary “What’s My Pump?” online identifier tool helps verify the Wilden pump model.

For more information, contact Reliable Equipment Sales, LLC, 770 Bound Line Road Wolcott, CT 06716; 203-740-1877; sales@reliable-equipment.com or go to www.Reliable-Equipment.com.

Fraij Yapoujian (left) and Elise Vaughn of Reliable Equipment Sales meet Finish Thompson CEO Casey Bowes at the annual FTI global educational conference.

Elise Vaughn and Fraij Yapoujian of pump distributor Reliable Equipment Sales participated in the FTI Global Conference, an annual pump education event hosted by pump manufacturer Finish Thompson. At the 2017 event in Las Vegas, Nev., team Reliable met with FTI CEO Casey Bowes and enjoyed access to the FTI engineering team responsible for the design of the company’s pumps including the new FTI Air line of aodd pumps. Already noted FTI pump, parts and repair experts, team Reliable learned valuable insider information about FTI pumps that isn’t readily available.

See the FTI Air pumps here.

See all FTI pumps here.

In this new video, see Owner Elise Vaughn express heartfelt thanks and warm holiday wishes.

It was tough sledding through the muck and mud for the thousands of competitors at Tough Mudder New England last week in Mt. Snow, Vt. but for our own Elise Vaughn, it was nothing short of exhilarating. For the fourth year in a row, our determined Reliable Equipment Sales owner finished the demanding strength and endurance race, overcoming menacing obstacles and grueling, team-oriented tasks en route to raising $2,735.00 for Operation Homefront. The organization provides financial assistance and support for military families.

Very special thanks go to everyone who helped make this donation possible. Learn more about Operation Homefront here. To support military families with a donation, learn more here.