Submersible well pump question


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Old 06-13-13, 05:24 PM
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Submersible well pump question

Ok I replaced my submersible 268 foot well pump, control box and pressure switch. I am an industrial mechanic, so pump, pressure switch and control box, everything matches up amps, voltage, control box etc, etc. That experience sucked by the way. Anyways, I was wondering why my pressure switch sits at 30 psi. Its a 30/50 switch but only increases after a few min of running water in the house. It will shoot up to about 40-45 After I went back a few hours later to check on it, its back at 30 again. Is this normal. I thought it should always stay around 50 and gradually go down, and when it hits 30 then it turns the pump on. Am i wrong about this?
 
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Old 06-13-13, 05:29 PM
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I thought it should always stay around 50 and gradually go down, and when it hits 30 then it turns the pump on. Am i wrong about this?
You're half right. The pump starts and charges the system and then shuts off at 50 psi.. You draw water and when the pressure gets down to 30 psi the pump will start and return the pressure back to 50 psi.

At any given time.....the pressure can rest anywhere between 30 and 50 psi.
 
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Old 06-13-13, 07:06 PM
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Are you saying it drops down without using any water in the house ?
That shouldnt be, of course. It would be either leaking along the line/fittings in the well or inside the house somewhere (slow toilet leak ?).
Close the main valve to the house (and wait) to eliminate that part.
 
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Old 06-13-13, 09:44 PM
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ok i shut the water going to the house. open up the valve to drain water near the pressure tank, waited while it dropped to 28, contacts engaged on pressure switch. Gauge shot up to about 48. I waited 10 mins and it never dropped. When opened up valve to house the pressure starts to drop slowly a few psi .All i have is a faucet in the kitchen that drips a drop every 10- 15 secs. No other leaks. After 2 toilet flushes within the hour its, now on 38 psi...
 

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Old 06-14-13, 04:00 AM
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Sounds like you proved the well to house section, it didnt drop.
A dripping faucet shouldn't show a drop in pressure that you could observe (at least not in 10 mins).
Could there be a pipe leak somewhere thats draining into the ground ?

Sometimes toilet leaks are sneaky.. lift the tank lids and check the toilet valve isnt running slowly ?
Any outside faucet ?
 
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Old 06-14-13, 04:49 AM
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If you are able too, close the shut off valve for all the appliances you can (toilets, sinks, etc) and watch your pressure. If the pressure doesn't drop, your piping is good, it's an appliance.

If the piping proves good, turn on the valve for the sink that drips. If the gauge moves, your drip is worse then you think. If it doesn't move enough, close that valve and move on to the next.
I would suggest using a washable marker to mark on the pressure gauge where your needle is pointing. You would be surprised how much more accurate this is vs. trying to remember where it was.

If it's not the dripping sink, I'm putting my money on the toilets (one or both). I have three toilets that act up. They are on the list to fix, just not high up as I have higher priority fixes and time is not always available.
 
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Old 06-14-13, 11:17 AM
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Don’t forget to check any hose bibs outside. I had a slow pressure drop and it turned out somebody chewed little holes in the hose that was connected and laying on the ground. The water was a fine spray and you couldn’t tell until you got right up to the hose.
 
 

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