Water Pumps and Motors Pumps and associated motors are common in hotels for fire suppression purposes or to meet the facility's HVAC needs. Large pumps / motors may be worth thousands. Pumps can break down due to seals, bearings and other mechanical failures or suffer electrical motor burn out. Rotating electrical pump motors can be damaged by electrical power disturbances such as surges, spikes and "brown outs." © 2004 The Hartford Steam Boiler Insurance and Inspection Company.     All rights reserved.