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Industrial Pump Repair & Rebuild Services
Lafayette, LA
What Is Pump Repair & Rebuild?
Pump repair and rebuild is the process of restoring a pump to its original operating specifications through inspection, component replacement, machining, and reassembly rather than replacing the unit outright. In industrial environments where pumps run continuously under high pressure, extreme temperatures, or with abrasive fluids, wear is inevitable. Repair and rebuild programs extend equipment life, reduce capital expenditure, and minimize downtime when a pump fails.
A pump repair typically addresses a specific failure: a worn seal, a damaged impeller, a failing bearing. A full rebuild involves complete teardown, inspection of every component, replacement of all worn or out-of-tolerance parts, and performance testing before the pump returns to service.
What Are the Types of Pump Repair?
What Is a Power End Repair?
The power end is the mechanical drive side of a positive displacement pump: the crankshaft, bearings, connecting rods, and seals. Power end wear typically presents as vibration, noise, or a drop in performance. Power end repair involves full teardown, measurement of all components against OEM spec, replacement of worn parts, and reassembly to tolerance.
What Is a Fluid End Repair?
The fluid end is the working side of the pump where the actual fluid movement occurs: valves, seats, pistons, liners, and packing. Fluid end components wear faster than the power end, especially in abrasive or high-pressure service. Fluid end repair focuses on replacing worn consumables, reseating valves, and verifying liner condition before the pump returns to service.
What Is a Wet End Repair on a Diaphragm Pump?
On air operated double diaphragm (AODD) pumps, the wet end includes the diaphragms, valve balls, valve seats, and all wetted components. Wet end repair replaces diaphragms and elastomers based on the chemical compatibility requirements of the application. Common materials include Hytrel, Santoprene, Viton, and Teflon.
What Is an In-Shop Rebuild?
An in-shop rebuild is a full restoration of a pump performed in a controlled shop environment. The pump is completely disassembled, every component is inspected and measured, worn or damaged parts are replaced or machined, and the unit is reassembled and tested to performance spec before returning to service. In-shop rebuilds are the most thorough form of pump restoration and are cost-effective when the pump structure is sound.
What Is Field Repair?
Field repair refers to pump service performed at the customer's site rather than in a shop. Field repairs are common for pumps that are too large or complex to transport, for urgent situations where downtime must be minimized, or for installations where the pump is integrated into a larger system. Field service typically covers diagnostics, component replacement, seal and packing service, and startup verification.
When Should a Pump Be Rebuilt vs. Replaced?
The decision to repair, rebuild, or replace a pump depends on several factors: the extent of the damage, the age and condition of the pump structure, parts availability, and the cost comparison between repair and replacement.
A general industry guideline holds that if repair costs exceed 60–70% of the cost of a comparable new unit, replacement is typically the better long-term investment. However, in cases involving obsolete equipment, specialized configurations, or long lead times on new units, rebuilding is often the only viable option - particularly when custom parts can be machined in-house.
| Situation | Recommended Path |
|---|---|
Pump structure intact, components worn |
Rebuild |
Specific component failure, structure sound |
Repair |
Structural damage to housing or crankcase |
Evaluate for replacement |
Obsolete pump, OEM parts discontinued |
Rebuild with custom-machined parts |
Repair cost exceeds 65–70% of new unit |
Replace |
New application with different specs |
Replace with right-sized pump |
Tight timeline, can't wait on new equipment |
In-shop rebuild |
How Does a Pump Rebuild Work?
A complete pump rebuild follows a structured process to ensure the unit is restored to OEM spec or better before returning to service.
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Intake & Assessment: The pump is received and a visual and dimensional inspection is performed to identify the failure mode before teardown begins.
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Full Teardown: Complete disassembly. Every component is catalogued and measured against OEM tolerances.
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Parts Sourcing or Custom Machining: OEM replacement parts are sourced where available. For obsolete equipment where parts are no longer manufactured, components can be custom machined.
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Rebuild to Spec: All worn or out-of-tolerance components are replaced, and the pump is reassembled to factory spec or better.
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Performance Testing & QC: The rebuilt pump is tested under operating conditions before it is returned to service.
What Pump Types Can Be Repaired & Rebuilt?
Most industrial pump types can be repaired or rebuilt, provided the core components are structurally sound. The process and parts involved vary significantly by pump type.
Centrifugal Pumps
Centrifugal pumps are among the most commonly repaired pump types. Typical repair work includes wet end replacement, impeller wear ring replacement, shaft seal replacement, and bearing housing repair. Common brands serviced include Cornell, Goulds, Mission Magnum, and Titan. See the centrifugal pump selection guide for more on how these pumps are built and what affects their longevity.
Positive Displacement Pumps
Positive displacement pumps, including triplex and quintuplex piston pumps, require power end and fluid end repair to maintain pressure integrity and consistent flow. Common brands include Kerr, NOV, Gardner Denver, SPM, and Weir.
Air-Operated Double Diaphragm (AODD) Pumps
AODD pumps are rebuilt through wet end kit replacement and air end servicing. Because wet end kits are interchangeable, they can be adapted to different chemicals and fluid types during a rebuild. See Types of Diaphragm Pumps: Which One Is Right for Your Application? for a breakdown of diaphragm pump types and how they differ.
Gear Pumps
Gear pumps can be rebuilt even when OEM parts are no longer available. Worn gears, shafts, and housings can be remachined or replaced with custom-fabricated components. See how EV Pump rebuilt three obsolete Viking gear pumps before grinding season when factory parts were no longer manufactured.
Mud Pumps & High-Pressure PD Pumps
Mud pumps and other high-pressure positive displacement pumps used in drilling and well servicing operations require fluid end and power end repair. Liners, pistons, valves, and seats are replaced to restore pressure rating and flow consistency.
What Pump Brands Can We Repair & Rebuild?
| Pump Type | Brands |
|---|---|
Positive Displacement / Mud Pumps |
Kerr, NOV, Wheatley, Gaso, Gardner Denver, GD Energy Products, Serva, SPM, Weir, Hydraplex, OFM, Ellis Williams |
Centrifugal Pumps |
Cornell, Titan, Pinnacle Flo, Goulds, Mission Magnum, MCM O-Drill, RAE, Webtrol |
Diaphragm / AODD |
Pinnacle-Flo (primary) — additional brands on request |
Gear Pumps |
Viking (obsolete/specialty expertise) + others |
Specialty / Grinder / Sump |
Flomore, LMI/Milton Roy, Hydra-Tech + others |
Brand not on the list?
Call us (337-252-6487) or click below for more info on the brands we sell, support, and repair.
Which Industries Rely on Pump Repair & Rebuild Services?
Oil & Gas
Positive displacement pumps, mud pumps, and frac pumps in oilfield service operate under extreme conditions and require regular fluid end service and periodic power end rebuilds to maintain performance and uptime.
Petrochemical & Chemical Processing
Chemical service pumps, including centrifugal and diaphragm pumps, require rebuild programs that account for material compatibility. Seal selection and elastomer choice are critical in corrosive or hazardous fluid applications.
Municipal Water & Wastewater
High-volume centrifugal pumps in water and wastewater treatment plants are candidates for rebuild rather than replacement due to their size, cost, and the long lead times on new equipment.
Agriculture
Irrigation and transfer pumps in agricultural service are frequently rebuilt seasonally. Gear pumps and centrifugal pumps used in chemical application require regular wet end service.
Food & Beverage
Sanitary diaphragm and peristaltic pumps in food processing require regular elastomer replacement and wet end inspection to maintain hygienic standards.
Mining
Slurry pumps and dewatering pumps in mining environments wear rapidly due to abrasive solids content. Impeller and liner replacement is a routine part of maintenance programs.
Real Repairs. Real Results.
Tier 3 Trash Pump Rebuild — Charles Holston Inc.
CHI needed three Tier 3 diesel-driven trash pumps sourced, rebuilt, and skid-mounted in under six weeks to support a rig start date in the Uinta Basin. No new equipment. No Tier 4 complexity. Just field-ready iron, on time.
Viking Gear Pump Rebuild — Lafourche Sugars
Three obsolete Viking gear pumps. No OEM parts available anywhere. A grinding season deadline that couldn't move. We machined custom replacement components in-house and had all three pumps rebuilt and back online before the season started.
Custom Chemical Injection Skid — Turbo Chem International
Turbo Chem needed a chemical injection skid built to a proven design spec with tight fabrication tolerances. We designed and built the complete skid, from pump selection through final assembly and testing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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How do you know when a pump needs to be rebuilt vs. replaced?
If the pump's core components — the casing, power frame, and major structural parts — are intact and within tolerance, a rebuild is usually the more cost-effective path. Replacement makes more sense when the casing is cracked or eroded beyond repair, when the pump is severely undersized or oversized for the application, or when a newer model offers a meaningful efficiency advantage. If OEM parts are no longer available, that doesn't automatically mean replacement — components can often be custom machined to restore the pump to spec.
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What does a pump rebuild include?
A full rebuild typically includes complete disassembly, inspection and measurement of all components against OEM tolerances, replacement of all worn or out-of-tolerance parts, reassembly to factory spec, and performance testing before the unit returns to service. Depending on pump type, a rebuild may also include shaft straightening, bearing housing repair, seal replacement, and custom machining of obsolete parts.
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What is a power end repair?
The power end is the mechanical drive side of the pump — crankshaft, bearings, connecting rods, and seals. Power end repair involves complete teardown, measurement to tolerance, replacement of worn components, and reassembly. Most common on positive displacement pumps in oilfield and industrial service.
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What is a fluid end repair?
The fluid end is where the pumping happens — valves, seats, pistons, liners, and packing. These wear faster than the power end, especially in abrasive or high-pressure applications. Fluid end repair replaces worn components and verifies valve seating before the pump goes back to work.
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How long does an industrial pump repair take?
Turnaround depends on pump type, failure mode, and parts availability. Straightforward wet end rebuilds on common pump models can be completed in one to three days. More complex power end repairs or custom machining jobs for obsolete equipment can take one to two weeks. Emergency turnaround is available for critical downtime situations.
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Can obsolete pumps be rebuilt when OEM parts no longer exist?
Yes. When OEM replacement parts are discontinued, worn components can be reverse-engineered and custom machined to original dimensions. This is a common approach for older positive displacement pumps, gear pumps, and centrifugal pumps that are still mechanically sound but no longer supported by the original manufacturer.
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Do you offer mobile pump repair?
Yes. EV Pump offers field service for situations where pulling the pump and transporting it to a shop is not practical or would extend downtime. Mobile repair is available for pump assessment, emergency field repairs, installation support, and startup verification.
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