Well pump or pressure tank?
#1
10-07-15, 08:34 AM
Join Date: Oct 2015
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Well pump or pressure tank?
Issue started with fluctuation of water pressure in shower head. When checking the Pressure switch I notice the pump would cut on at 30 and off at 50, problem was as soon as it would fill up it would drain out. I checked pressure tank and it had air, no water coming from tank pressure nipple. Being this happen in the morning before work I cut the power off to the pump. When checking that afternoon, the tank had no water coming from the spout, but when shaking it, it sounded like it was full of water. I checked the psi and it was set at 20 psi. I turned power back on and the well pumped water but when it reached 50 it started draining back out, now this is with the main cut to house off. I turned power off and open drain valve to pressure tank and I could hear air siphoning back to the pump, but pressure was still in tank. I replace the pump and switch two year ago but not the tank.
#2
10-07-15, 09:03 AM
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Be very specific when providing details. Half way through your paragraph you say you checked the psi and it was set at 20. Does that mean your pressure switch is set at 20? Your water pressure was 20? Or was the air pressure in the pressure tank 20?
Twice you've said that "it would drain". I assume you mean that when you are using no water in the house and the well pump turns off your water pressure drops to zero. In that case you either have a leaking foot valve (a check valve) or a leak somewhere.
What type of well pump do you have?
Twice you've said that "it would drain". I assume you mean that when you are using no water in the house and the well pump turns off your water pressure drops to zero. In that case you either have a leaking foot valve (a check valve) or a leak somewhere.
What type of well pump do you have?
#3
10-07-15, 09:39 AM
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Sorry, I was trying to put down everything I had did.
The pressure tank is set at 20 psi. When checking the pressure tank with no water it is 20, the gauge that is not attached to the tank had 0.
You assume correct on draining. The Well pump I use is Utilitech 0.75-HP Stainless Steel Submersible Well Pump that I bought from Lowes.
The pressure tank is set at 20 psi. When checking the pressure tank with no water it is 20, the gauge that is not attached to the tank had 0.
You assume correct on draining. The Well pump I use is Utilitech 0.75-HP Stainless Steel Submersible Well Pump that I bought from Lowes.
#4
10-07-15, 10:22 AM
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Your pressure tank is a little low. It should be around 28psi when there is no water in the system but regardless of what the pressure is that is not your problem.
The problem is as Dane mentioned..... leak from tank to pump or an issue with the foot valve at the pump.
The problem is as Dane mentioned..... leak from tank to pump or an issue with the foot valve at the pump.
#5
10-08-15, 10:14 AM
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I recorded what I have going on with the well.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdDF97waDag This is what is sounds like after all the water is out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU3fFBiEP44
Thank you for you input.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdDF97waDag This is what is sounds like after all the water is out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DU3fFBiEP44
Thank you for you input.
#6
10-08-15, 10:40 AM
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I only watched the first half of the video (limited attention span 
). If nothing in the house is using water (no toilets filling, no washing machine filling, no faucets open...) then you have a leak somewhere. Now the fun begins... finding it. The two main possibilities are a leaking pipe/fitting or the foot valve on your pump.
). If nothing in the house is using water (no toilets filling, no washing machine filling, no faucets open...) then you have a leak somewhere. Now the fun begins... finding it. The two main possibilities are a leaking pipe/fitting or the foot valve on your pump.
#7
10-08-15, 11:11 AM
Group Moderator
I have to agree with Dane.
The leak could be in the well shaft but my guess is the footvalve at the pump is not sealing properly.
It is definitely not a tank related problem. You could take the tank out and the pressure would still drop.
The leak could be in the well shaft but my guess is the footvalve at the pump is not sealing properly.
It is definitely not a tank related problem. You could take the tank out and the pressure would still drop.
#8
10-13-15, 10:01 PM
cherokee0629, did you find the likely leak?
One thing the well man asked of me, was to put a check valve after pitless adapter (I just put it before it enters T - essentially the same thing, just 8ft away from pitless). That way, water cannot drain back down into well if pump valve craps out. It also masks leaks, but at least my pump won't cycle endlessly, if that scenario presents itself. It would be a quick fix, until you find the problem.
As someone said, a leak at valve on pump sounds reasonable (I know very little).
A pressure tank problem would show up as no (0) pressure once you drained all the water out of system.
I also augmented my pump with another check valve, as the one on pump was rather flaky looking.
One thing the well man asked of me, was to put a check valve after pitless adapter (I just put it before it enters T - essentially the same thing, just 8ft away from pitless). That way, water cannot drain back down into well if pump valve craps out. It also masks leaks, but at least my pump won't cycle endlessly, if that scenario presents itself. It would be a quick fix, until you find the problem.
As someone said, a leak at valve on pump sounds reasonable (I know very little).
A pressure tank problem would show up as no (0) pressure once you drained all the water out of system.
I also augmented my pump with another check valve, as the one on pump was rather flaky looking.
