As the subject line suggests we are occationally experiencing a total loss of water pressure. This is a sudden loss with little or no gradual pressure drop.

We are currently using a deep well pump system. The pump itself was replaced in February along with the check valve and pitless adapter. For the first few months the pump performed as expected. As we approached summer this problem started to develop and usually only occurred when mulitiple demands were placed on the system. As time has progressed the problem has worsened. Currently it will fail 4 to 6 times during a normal 10-15 minute shower (which is very irritating!).

I have checked for power leading to the pump during these failures (it does have the proper voltage leading to it from the switch). I have also listened to the pipes in an attempt to determine if the pump is running (I believe it is).

Before I tear into the system I would like to be sure that I am approaching this problem from the right angle. Is it possible that the pump is not submerged deep enough into the water table? If this is the case, and assuming the well is deep enough, can I just add a few feet of piping to lower the pump? Or are there other possible causes/factors that I need to consider first?

Thanks for your help...

 

Did you have this same problem with the old pump? Did you install the new pump yourself or was it done by someone with a long & good reputation or by the cheapest person? Do you know how deep your pump is (how much pipe)?

Most modern wells have a data plate on them that states the depth of the well and the static (not being pumped) water level. Compare those numbers with the depth of your pump.

I would also look at the pressure tank and switch, but it sounds like you might be right about the pump sucking air.

 

Thanks for your reply.

After spending a great deal of time working on this well today. I still have the problem, but am more able to answer your questions and to be a bit more specific as to what is going on.

Before I get into too much detail I should state that this well actually belongs to my mother and that I assisted my step father in February when the pump was replaced. To the best of my knowledge that pump simply quit working.

Step by step, this is what I did today in an attempt to fix this problem:

1. Before I went to the trouble of pulling the pump, I checked out the pressure switch, bladder tank, and pressure gauge. I had been aware that the pressure was running high so I attempted to lower it. The switch did not respond to adjusting at all. So long story short I replaced the pressure switch and gauge before proceeding any further. Both are in good working order now.

Next was the task of checking the pressure in the bladder tank. I was a touch discouraged when I found a plug instead of a stem on the top of the tank. The stickers on the tank claim that it is precharged at the factory. To the best of my knowledge it is not adjustable. However, the "switching" aspect of this assembly seems to work fine.

2. Having eliminated the easier stuff, I decided it was time to troubleshoot the pump itself. I again checked for proper voltage to the pump during one of its "episodes". The voltage was fine.

Next I pulled the cap from the well and opened an outside spigot. Once the water quit I went to the well and realized that the pump is in fact stopping. Which led me to believe that the pump is overheating and kicking the thermal protect.

Having no other choice, I decided to pull it. As soon as it was clear of the casing I removed the pitless adapter to determine if the check valve is working properly. It is. Once up, I checked the filter screen on the pump. No blockage. Everything concerning the pump seemed to be as it should.

My next approach was to determine the actual depth of the well to see if adding pipe was an option. With a good rope and about a 2 pound weight (very small diameter), I slowly lowered the weight until it hit bottom. It measured 26' deep (from pitless port to bottom). I then measured the sections of pipe and the pump and came up with 23'. I also noted that the waterline on the pipe showed that the pump was submersed approximately 8 feet. While scratching my head I decided to go ahead and add the extra 2 feet of pipe. During reassembly I "rang out" the wires from the house to the well to check for shorts and also replaced the wire from top to bottom of the well.

As I have stated, the problem is still here. The pump is apparently overheating. Which I guess means that it will need to be replaced again (good thing the well is only 26' deep

I do have yet another question though. When we replaced the pump back in February, we got a lot of black silt for the first few days. After a bit it did seem to disappear. I am getting this same nasty stuff again this time (more or less, I cannot remember). Is it possible that the pump is submerged too far and that it is sitting in this sludge which is causing it to overheat?

Is it possible that raising it instead of lowering it may resolve the issue of overheating?

Thanks again...

 

I have never seen a deep well pump used on such a shallow well. I've got about 140 feet of water above my pump. I'd say it's a definite possibility you are pumping the well down so the pump is out of the water and overheating.

Since you are using a deep well pump (4" diameter) I assume you have a bored 4" diameter well and not a large diameter hand dug well. I hope my math is correct but a 4" diameter well with 8' of water above the pump works out to about 5 gallons. You pump probably can put out 10 gal/minute and each fixture in your house probably flows 2.5 gal/minute. So, running your shower for two minutes could draw down the well. If two fixtures in the house are open or if you have an old non-water saver fixture you could draw it down even faster. Water will flow into the well when you pump from it so the draw down time will be longer depending on how fast your well recharges.

If you want to do some math:
1 cubic foot = 1728 cubic inches = 7.48 gallons
3.14 x radius squared = area of a circle