Outside faucets
#1
06-19-20, 03:54 PM
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Outside faucets
My son just purchased a property that has faucets at various locations. This is a small farm property so the faucets were used for watering and RV parking. Our problem is we cannot use the outside faucets unless the pump is running. But that only happens when tank pressure goes down inside the house. It appears that the lined feeds directly from where the piping leaves the well. Any ideas.
#2
06-19-20, 04:01 PM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums.
Those are more like hydrants as they aren't attached to the house.
Depending on the type of well..... the line between the submersible pump and the tank should be at the same pressure. When it goes down the pump should start.
Maybe you have a leaking footvalve at the bottom of your submersible pump and a check valve was installed at the tank to maintain house pressure.... then the line to the pump would not be charged.
You need to know how your well is set up.
Those are more like hydrants as they aren't attached to the house.
Depending on the type of well..... the line between the submersible pump and the tank should be at the same pressure. When it goes down the pump should start.
Maybe you have a leaking footvalve at the bottom of your submersible pump and a check valve was installed at the tank to maintain house pressure.... then the line to the pump would not be charged.
You need to know how your well is set up.
#3
06-20-20, 05:42 AM
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There is a check valve by the tank in the house. There are three hydrants that we think feed directly from the line (One that we have actually seen flow when the pump is running). Will the check valve prevent the flow through the hydrants when pressure in the tank is up since that would prevent the line from seeing tank pressure. Is there any way to check the foot valve without pulling the pump?
#4
06-20-20, 08:28 AM
Group Moderator
Yes, a check valve only allows water to flow in one direction. When you turn on a yard hydrant you might get a little water but nothing can flow back from the house. To remedy it you could remove the check valve but it was likely installed as a Band-Aid fix for a leak, often at the foot valve.
#5
06-20-20, 10:16 AM
You need to investigate the system more.
Attach a hose on the house side and turn it on.
Confirm that the pump is running.
Now open one of the hydrants.
Do you get water?
If yes then close that one and try the next one.
This will confirm that they are hooked up between the house and the pump.
Then with all them off including the house, shut the pump off.
Then go to one of the hydrants and open it.
If there is a rush of air into that hydrant then odds are that there is not a foot valve at the pump as the main line is emptying rapidly.
Many systems have a bypass around the check valve so check if you have one.
This allows you to empty the system including the house.
Some care must be taken when doing this.
My neighbor at the lake opened the line at the lake without opening a tap in the cottage. The suction from the water emptying turned his old copper water heater into an hour glass.
Also something to be aware of is that many pressure switches for submersible pumps have a mechanism that shuts the pump off if the pressure falls below a certain point.
This prevents the pump from running continuously if the pump comes loose from the pipe.
They have a lever on the side that manually closes the pump relay contacts so you can get the pump goin.
Attach a hose on the house side and turn it on.
Confirm that the pump is running.
Now open one of the hydrants.
Do you get water?
If yes then close that one and try the next one.
This will confirm that they are hooked up between the house and the pump.
Then with all them off including the house, shut the pump off.
Then go to one of the hydrants and open it.
If there is a rush of air into that hydrant then odds are that there is not a foot valve at the pump as the main line is emptying rapidly.
Many systems have a bypass around the check valve so check if you have one.
This allows you to empty the system including the house.
Some care must be taken when doing this.
My neighbor at the lake opened the line at the lake without opening a tap in the cottage. The suction from the water emptying turned his old copper water heater into an hour glass.
Also something to be aware of is that many pressure switches for submersible pumps have a mechanism that shuts the pump off if the pressure falls below a certain point.
This prevents the pump from running continuously if the pump comes loose from the pipe.
They have a lever on the side that manually closes the pump relay contacts so you can get the pump goin.
#6
06-20-20, 02:16 PM
If the faucets are connected directly to the pump, maybe there's a switch somewhere that overrides the pressure switch to turn on these hydrants. Does your son have contact info for the old owners? Maybe they can shed some light on how they are supposed to work.
There are always quirks with 'new' houses... good luck figuring it out!
There are always quirks with 'new' houses... good luck figuring it out!
#7
06-20-20, 03:25 PM
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Previous owners deceased. House has been vacant for a year. Family is on the eastceast we are in Montana.
I have been looking for some type of switch, but so far no luck. 500 ft well so don't want to pull pump if we don't have to. Original owner was a retired plumber so I would hope he knew what he was doing. Going to try to test it per the previous reply.
I have been looking for some type of switch, but so far no luck. 500 ft well so don't want to pull pump if we don't have to. Original owner was a retired plumber so I would hope he knew what he was doing. Going to try to test it per the previous reply.
#8
06-20-20, 03:42 PM
Group Moderator
Our problem is we cannot use the outside faucets unless the pump is running.
As long as there is a check valve in the house..... the hydrants aren't going to work unless you manually turn the pump on.
#9
06-21-20, 06:22 AM
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Thanks for all the responses. Very helpful. One last question, it was mentioned about a switch to run the pump. If that was done wouldn't that possibly cause a problem with overpressuring the water tank?
#10
06-21-20, 08:12 AM
If you are referring to my post it is not a switch per se.
It is a lever on the side of the pressure switch which forces the contacts closed.
You have to manually hold it down (I think) to force the pump on.
Again this is only on pressure switches with a low pressure safety.
It is a lever on the side of the pressure switch which forces the contacts closed.
You have to manually hold it down (I think) to force the pump on.
Again this is only on pressure switches with a low pressure safety.
#11
06-21-20, 09:02 AM
it was mentioned about a switch to run the pump
Original owner was a retired plumber
#12
06-21-20, 10:29 AM
Group Moderator
If that was done wouldn't that possibly cause a problem with overpressuring the water tank?
#13
06-21-20, 01:26 PM
Group Moderator
If the water system is working properly the lawn hydrants will work without resorting to a override switch. I would first try to fix the problem that caused the check valve was installed. Maybe it's as simple as replacing the foot valve or it's leather.
