Well question

[Vern]

Was out by the well house and could hear the pressure switch kicking in and out (loud click). Opened it up and found black fibers and soot on the cover. Turned on the water and the switch was kicking the pump on and off 45 high and 30 low, this is constant while the water is running. the water surges with the pressure.

The pressure tank is probably 12 to 15 years old - could the bladder have gone bad? Any way to check?

Thanks
Vern

 

[C4Ranch]

If your bladder is bad you'll run out of pressure before your tank is emptied. If bladder is still working you will have "some" pressure until totally empty.

Could be your switch is out.

 

[troutsqueezer]

Happened to me. Those are the symptoms of a bladder that has gone south. Time for a new tank.

 

[Johnny g]

Are you sure it has a bladder? Thats how a tank without a bladder acts when low on air. if that is the case you would have to get more air in it. Tanks without a bladder would probably be galvanized.

 

[Chooglin]

If you want to check for a broken bladder ,relieve some of the air from the valve,if water comes out the valve your bladder is broken.

 

[Loadstar]

If you want to check for a broken bladder ,relieve some of the air from the valve,if water comes out the valve your bladder is broken.

This^ or tap on upper portion of tank with something metallic. Good bladder rings. Bad bladder donks. Good bladder rings because air between bladder and tank. Bad bladder donks because tank is flooded.

 

[Wagtail]

How deep is the well (what we Aussies call a 'bore') and when was the last time you checked the bottom end filter?

If it's getting clogged at the foot the pump will struggle to keep the available pressure.

 

[Clint S]

Doing something like this
short cycling pump - Bing Videos

Bladder is either short on air, leaking or or shot. They will lose air over time and like the ones on boilers should be serviced every few years. Like said above press the schrader and if water comes out it is shot. Pressure on an EMPTY tank should be 2 to 3 psi below cut in for pressure switch. For the most part the "tap test" is not a very good indicator especially if you do not know what to listen for. I have had more than one sound nice and hollow, but still be bad.

 

[Egon]

Will the pump run continuously with the outlet wide open

 

[Chooglin]

Also, is this a jet pump or a submersible ?