So, the old pump, yeah, the one that’s been chugging along for ages, it just started acting real funny a while back. Groaning sounds, not much oomph. You know the drill. First thought, call a pro. But then you see the call-out fees, and they always find “something else” wrong, right? Plus, I was a bit tight on cash that month, things were piling up, and I figured, how hard can it be?
Decided to tackle this acid wash thing myself. Heard about it, watched a couple of vids. Seemed doable. The biggest thing, honestly, was psyching myself up for it. It’s not like baking a cake; you’re dealing with acid, even if it’s diluted. So, safety gear was number one. Went out and got myself some proper gloves, the thick kind, and some goggles. Didn’t want any nasty surprises. Found a good spot outdoors, well-ventilated, away from the kids and pets.
Getting the pump out was the first real job. Had to shut off the water, obviously, then wrestled with the fittings. Some were rusted on pretty good. A bit of grunting and a lot of WD-40 later, I finally got it disconnected. Felt like a small victory already, just getting the darn thing free. It was heavier than I remembered, or maybe I was just feeling a bit drained that day. You know how some days, even small tasks feel like climbing a mountain?
Then came the main event: the acid bath. I got the right kind of acid, muriatic, I think it was, and diluted it carefully. Always add acid to water, not the other way around – that’s what they all say. Found a big plastic tub, big enough to submerge the pump parts that needed cleaning. So, I took the pump apart, as much as I dared without breaking something I couldn’t fix. Laid out all the pieces. The impeller was caked with gunk, all sorts of mineral buildup. No wonder it wasn’t working right.
So I carefully lowered the parts into the acid solution. Let them soak. You could see it fizzing a bit, doing its thing. Didn’t just leave it, though. Gave it a bit of a scrub with an old brush where the buildup was thickest. The smell wasn’t great, even outdoors, but the goggles and gloves made me feel a bit like a mad scientist. It’s funny the things you end up doing.
After a while – didn’t want to overdo it and damage the pump – I fished the parts out. Rinsed them like there was no tomorrow. Gallons and gallons of water. You really gotta get all that acid off. The parts looked way cleaner, almost new in some spots. That was pretty satisfying, I gotta admit. Seeing that grime just dissolve and wash away. It’s like, you put in the effort, and you see the result right there.
Putting it all back together, that was the next puzzle. I thought I’d remembered how it all went, but there’s always one little washer or screw that makes you scratch your head. Took a bit longer than I expected, with a couple of false starts. My back was aching a bit by then, and I was starting to wonder if I’d bitten off more than I could chew. It’s that point in any project where you think, “Maybe I should’ve just paid someone.”
But, I pushed through. Got it all reassembled, tightened all the connections back up. The moment of truth. Turned the water back on, checked for leaks – so far, so good. Then, flipped the switch for the pump. It whirred to life, quieter than before, and the water pressure, man, it was like night and day. Strong and steady.
Felt pretty good, not gonna lie. It wasn’t just about saving a few bucks, though that was nice. It was more about, you know, figuring it out and getting it done myself. That old pump’s running like a champ now. Sometimes you just gotta get your hands dirty. It’s a bit of work, sure, and you end the day tired, but it’s a good kind of tired. Beats sitting around, anyway.