First off I have a Wayne 1/3hp jet pump and 10-15 gallon tank which is nearly 20 years old. It's worked like a champ until recently. For the last few months it's been taking over 5 minutes to pump after using just 2 gallons of water. I changed the pressure switch on it and adjusted it accordingly to the tank specs. A few days ago it started letting the water flow back into the well after it's done pumping. The water is bubbling in the well and in the pipe running from the well to the pump. I noticed the pipes were corroded badly where they were submerged in the water, so I decided to replace them with PVC pipes.

After removing all the pipes I see this. Picture of pump I cleaned it all out as much as possible and installed PVC piping in place of the copper and iron I suppose you call them. The pipe from inside the well to the pump is less than 15 feet. Now the bubbling into the well is worse, the tank keeps pressure for about 5 minutes before it's empty. I can hear air leaking, sounds like from inside the tank perhaps (not sure how these work). If I add air to the tank, I still hear air leaking somewhere and the water in the well bubbles.

I think I need to just buy a new pump/tank and save myself all the hassle. Any advice will be appreciated.

 

I think you have two problems.
1. the check valve is not holding. That is why the water is flowing back into the well.
2. The pump is clogged with corrosion or mineral deposits. You might be able to clean them out with CLR or Vinegar and scraping after disassembling the pump.

 

Thanks for the help, joed. It was the foot valve stuck open in the well causing the water to drain back into it. Also, the bladder in the tank was busted, so I bought a new pump/tank since it was over 20 years old anyway. See picture.

I have a new problem now. I bought this pump/tank. I have a leak right where that pipe screws into the pump, and I'm not sure what I should do to fix it. It came pre-assembled, so I'm not sure how to tighten it, or if it even can be. While it's pumping water, it runs for 15 sec then reaches cut-off pressure, drops down within 15 seconds to cut-in...repeats until water isn't being used. It loses pressure gradually over 2 hours until the pump runs for 5 seconds to reach cut off again at 50psi. Any ideas will be appreciated.

 

Try taking the leaky connection apart and wrapping the threads with a few rounds of plumbers tape. Then reattach and try it again.

 

The only way to repair the leak is to either tighten the joint one more turn or disassemble the joint apply some pipe dope or tape and reassemble.