Any advice greatly appreciated.

Equipment+= 20 gallon verticle champion tank, 1/2 horse franklin pump

Only use outside mostly for sprinkler. Normally, the system runs my sprinler head for about an hour then looses pressure. I assumed this was normal and just shut it off. Then it wouldn't put out enough water to turn the sprinkler head. I checked the air pressure at the top of the tank and it barely registered on the tire guage. So I drained the water and adjusted to 38 psi. Turned pump back on and it now quickly goes up to 60psi and shuts off. Usually just sits at 50 psi and drizzles out sprinkler head. If it finally drops to 40 psi it quickly goes back up to 60 psi again and then shuts off. But doesn't turn sprinkler head. Please help.

 

Shallow well I wood believe, correct?


Sounds like a check valve is faulty. Is there one at the pump intake? What type of well? Driven point? Casing?

Check the pressure in the tank again also and post back.

Mike NJ

 

Hey Mike,

Thanks for the help. This well was installed and ready when I purchased the house in 2007. I'll try to answer everything to the best of my ability. I did locate a check valve on this unit. My house is about 2-3 miles from the Arkansas river. A neighbor explained to me that the wells here were drilled 50-60 feet to reach the sandy aquifer. I believe that is a sand or driven point...... The casing? Would that refer to the type of piping? If so it is 4 inch PVC..... Sorry friend I'm just learning about these systems so I'm pretty ignorant. I did check the air pressure again today and is holding at 38psi. I used the well to water some plants. Pushed steady out of the hose but pump kept kicking on and off.

 

OK If the well kicks on and off rapidly when using the water it would seem to lead to the bladder in the tank.

You need to check the air with the pump off and a faucet opened to get the gauge to read 0 PSI. Then check the air in the tank.

If you release air out of the shrader valve, and any water comes out of the air valve, then the bladder in the tank is shot.

If you are not draining to check then the reading, and if the tank is shot, you are only getting a pump pressure reading.

I know you stated below that you did this, but do it again.

Also 4"???? Is the well head outside a 4" pvc pipe?

Where is the well pump?

How many lines are coming from the intake? 1 line or 2?


Mike NJ

 

No water from shrader valve. Emptied and appears to be holding the same air pressure. 35 psi after I let a little out checking for water. The pump is above ground and what I thought was 4" pvc was the housing around it. I disconnected the 1 inch line just above the pump. Water was all the way to the top so whatever type of valve at the pump appears to be holding and also I did not loose any pressure pass the check valve. After getting everything back together and turning the power back on, it pumped the tank up to 60 psi in about 10 seconds. I don't understand how it fills the 20 gallon tank back up so quickly. Is that an indicator of a tank problem?? Also, with spicket open and dropping pressure, once it hits 40 psi it drops all the way to zero and water abruptly stops running before pump kicks back on and shoots back up. Does this help? - Oh and only a single line. Thanks again for your help and patience.

 

When it hits 40 psi then drops to 0 psi means there is too much air.

There is a pump lag. The pump kicks on but the psi continues to drop. The bladder collapses on the out let and stops the flow of water for a moment until the pump starts filling the bladder again.

Let about 5 psi out of the tank and try it. It should hit 40 psi without going to 0 psi and water should be continuous.


Now that shows the tank is fine.

As far as the 10 second 60 psi thing, fix the above first. Then we can fix the other issues you may be having.

Mike NJ

 

Hey Mike,

I emptied and adjusted several times all the way to 25 psi. Still has pump lag. Go lower???

 

Try it... Your gauge could be off or when draining to check the air its not getting completely empty. What do you have to lose. You cound always fill it back up.

Could you pressure gauge be off also?????

Mike NJ

 

Ok I kept lowering until it stopped dropping to zero. So I hooked my sprinkler up and its been running for an hour ande 15 minutes strong. It appears fixed now. Is it possible I ran the bottom of the well low and it has refilled over the last three days I haven't used it??? I don't get it.

 

I dont know about running dry. But you will know from use. If you run the sprinklers and seem to have a issue post back.

Good it stoped going to zero. I had the same issue and assumed my gauge is off. What was your final psi? Mine I had to set at about 30 psi for a 40 psi on.

Mike NJ

 

20 psi. used a second tire guage to confirm. I just shut the sprinkler off. I've been running it all day no problems. Thanks again for all the help and if I need more help I know who to message. Thanks.

 

You might still have water above the bladder even though you didn't get any out the schrader... since the schrader is on top...