A campus refrigeration system with noisy condenser water pump #1, fluctuating discharger gauge, and hot motor: what action should you take?

• A. Turn on pump #2, shut off pump #1, and troubleshoot pump #1
• B. Rebuild pump #1
• C. Increase the speed of pump #1
• D. Ignore and monitor

Answer: (A)

When a condenser water pump is noisy, the discharge gauge is fluctuating, and the motor is hot, the system needs reliable cooling and the failing pump should not keep running. The best action is to bring the standby pump online to take over the flow, shut off the suspected faulty pump, and troubleshoot it. This preserves condenser water flow to reject heat, reduces the risk of motor burnout or further damage, and provides a safe window to diagnose the problem without letting cooling collapse.

While the other pump continues to carry the load, inspect the faulty unit for common causes of these symptoms: worn bearings or impeller damage, air leaks or blockages in suction, valve misadjustments that affect flow, belt or coupling issues if applicable, and electrical problems such as overheating or protection trips. Once you identify and fix the issue, you can restore both pumps to normal operation or reconfigure as needed to maintain adequate condenser water flow. Ignoring the symptoms or simply increasing speed would risk more damage and insufficient cooling.