7 Fire Pump Problems Facility Managers Should Understand
Updated 2026-11-12 · Reviewed by the Fire Solutions NW service team (28+ years in commercial fire protection)
A fire pump only matters in an emergency — which is why problems often go unnoticed.
1. Pump fails to start
Controller, power, or battery issues can prevent automatic starting.
2. Low discharge pressure
May indicate impeller wear, suction problems, or valve issues.
3. Excessive packing leakage or overheating
Some packing drip is normal; excessive leakage or heat is not.
4. Diesel engine problems
Fuel, battery, and cooling issues are common on diesel-driven pumps.
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Phase, power failure, or other controller alarms that are never investigated.
6. Jockey pump short cycling
Frequent starts can indicate leaks in the system.
7. Missed churn and flow tests
NFPA 25 requires periodic no-flow (churn) tests and an annual flow test. Skipped tests hide problems.
Regular testing is the only way to know a fire pump will perform when needed.
References
- NFPA 20 — Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire Protection
- NFPA 25 — Chapter 8, Fire Pumps
General information only. Your adopted code edition and Authority Having Jurisdiction govern what applies to your building.
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