Grundfos Circ Pumps- Were the old ones better?

LearningFromTheBest1

Our system is 6 zone hot water and is 20 years old. Four of the original UP15-42F pumps were replaced 2 years ago years ago with the same UP15-42F pump. Last month we replace the other 2 pumps. We discovered that the UP15-42F pump was discontinued and replaced by the UPS15-58FC. The new pump was no longer MADE IN THE USA, but ASSEMBLED in the USA.

One of the new pumps failed immediately, the second one is OK. The new UPS15-58FC has two significant changes, the addition of a check valve and a 3 speed motor. Are these improvements or did Grundfos discontinue several different pumps and introduce one new model to save money?

GGross

Grundfos phased out their single speed residential pumps to be replaced by 3 speed pumps, the 3 speed pumps had been around for a long time, UPS15-58 is not by any means a new pump, it's almost obsolete as is, in some places they have to use the ECM pumps, could be here soon as well. I didn't know the pumps themselves were ever actually constructed in the US I thought they were always assembled here, Grundfos is based in Denmark. A DOA pump is either defective (covered under warranty) or is air locked (most likely scenario) for reference I have seen infinitely more "DOA" pumps come through that were simply air locked than actually DOA pumps. I would say in general 3 speed choices is an improvement in 90% of use cases, the internal check valves were added to stop nuisance calls from installers and DIY that don't understand when and where a check valve is needed. The check valve itself, being inside the pump is a less than ideal location, you aren't required to use the check valve and can take it out and pipe in your own.

hot_rod

I think the Alpha series has always been 100% manufactured in Fresno, California. The plant opened in 1973, so many of the other wet rotor circs came out of Fresno.

You can maybe arrange a tour of the plant through your rep.

There were some assembly multi turret machines developed by the founder dating back to the 1940 or 1950 still in use when I visited several years ago.

A massive solar array on the building also.

Efficiency standards in Europe are what drive the development of ECM based circs. The PSC motors may disappear completely in the next few years 2026 possibly? The date keeps changing.

GroundUp

I've got several thousand 15-58s in service over the past 10ish years and have replaced exactly one, which was only due to the homeowner closing a valve instead of turning down the thermostat. The 15-58 is one of the better circs ever to hit the market, in my opinion. I replace at least a dozen Taco 007 annually and even a handful of the 15-42, but have never seen a DOA 15-58. I too would put money on an improper install/startup, or it's not a real 15-58. Those big box store knockoffs might say 15-58 on them, but they're not the same quality.