Well Jet Pump Looses Pressure

[Luremaker]

My well jet pump looses all water pressure when ever my 40 gal bladder pressure tank empties. After approximately 10 seconds without pressure the pump will turn on and and fill my pressure tank to 65psi. The pressure switch set to turn on at 35psi and off at 65psi. I guessing the switch has gone bad. Anyone know how to test the pressure switch?

 

[Tig]

A couple thoughts;
As soon as the pressure drops below 35lbs you should here a click and the pump should start. The switch is worth about $10 change it at the first sign of trouble.
You also can have trouble if dirt gets the back of the switch where it connects to the water supply.
Also check to make sure your tank bladder is pressurized to about 33 psi, no more. That won't cause what you descibe but it will make things work less than optimal.
Do you have a gauge on the system or are you refering to the pressure settings when it was originally set up?

 

[Soundguy]

If your tank is waterlogged, then the pump will pressurize it to 65psi real quick, then shut off.. then after a few drips come out of the faucet.. it's practically at 0 psi, with the pump kicking it to provide flow while the faucet is on.. that what you seeing?

Soundguy

 

[Luremaker]

If your tank is waterlogged, then the pump will pressurize it to 65psi real quick, then shut off.. then after a few drips come out of the faucet.. it's practically at 0 psi, with the pump kicking it to provide flow while the faucet is on.. that what you seeing?

Soundguy

I am pretty sure the tank is completely empty when the pressure drops to 0 psi, I can easily rock it back and forth. There is an approximate 10 second delay before the pump turns on.

 

[Luremaker]

A couple thoughts;
As soon as the pressure drops below 35lbs you should here a click and the pump should start. The switch is worth about $10 change it at the first sign of trouble.

That seems to be the problem. No click until the pressure drops to 0 then a 10 second wait before the click and the pump turns on. I was at Canadian Tire this evening and the switch they sell was $49.00.

A couple thoughts;
You also can have trouble if dirt gets the back of the switch where it connects to the water supply.

I can't see any dirt in or around the switch There is a black plastic tube which goes from the switch to the pump. When I think about this you just might be onto something. If there is something inside the tube the pressure at the switch might not be low enough to turn on the pump for a few seconds after the water pressure has dropped to zero. I'll remove the tube and check it.

A couple thoughts;

Also check to make sure your tank bladder is pressurized to about 33 psi, no more. That won't cause what you descibe but it will make things work less than optimal.

I going to pick up a better pressure gauge tomorrow. My gauge says 30 psi but it is the type with the sliding metal rod. Not sure how accurate it really is.

A couple thoughts;
Do you have a gauge on the system or are you refering to the pressure settings when it was originally set up?

I have a pressure gauge right on the pump. So I can easily see the water pressure at any time. I installed the pump and tank back in June of this year. It worked fine up until a few days ago.

 

[Rara Avis]

Is your tank is properly sized?
http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1136?opendocument

 

[WTA]

We have a 7 1/2 horse sub pump connected to a 500 gallon galvanized steel tank in our well house. twice now I've had to pull the pressure switch off the little 3/8 steel pipe it is attached to and ream out the scale and crud that had plugged the pipe. I've had to replace the switch once now and I went with a 40-60 switch instead of the 30-45 that was on it.

What I did to keep it from getting water logged instead of relying on that automatic float valve on the tank that never works was to install a schrader valve about 2 feet down from the top of the tank. I turn off the pump and let the pressure come down then I pump air into it untill the water level is back down below the schrader valve. It works for me.

If I could just figure out a way to get the sand out of the bottom of my tank now I'd have it made. It's way too heavy to get out of there and there is no drain on the bottom to flush it.

 

[Egon]

Pressure up your tank and shut off the outlet. This will tell you if the system components are all holding.

If the pressure falls start thinking about the foot valve leaking or a leak in a downhole line or fitting.

If the pressure holds look at the pressure switch.

May the water man be on your side!

 

[Mickey_Fx]

That seems to be the problem. No click until the pressure drops to 0 then a 10 second wait before the click and the pump turns on. ....

I can't see any dirt in or around the switch There is a black plastic tube which goes from the switch to the pump. When I think about this you just might be onto something. If there is something inside the tube the pressure at the switch might not be low enough to turn on the pump for a few seconds after the water pressure has dropped to zero. I'll remove the tube and check it.

From what you've described, this would be the first thing I'd be checking. The fact that even after the tank gage says zero, there is a delay. My money is on a blockage between the switch and tank and it is taking a LONG time for pressure in the switch to drop to equal the tank pressure.

Hope it is not anything more serious that a blockage.

 

[GaryQWA]

Yes you have a blockage causing the switch to lag, it is not seeing the pressure change in real time.

That black plastic line, its fittings on both ends and the fitting on the switch, the switch itself, and on the pump where the line connects to a fitting, that fitting or the hole that fitting screws into, one or more has a blockage. Take it all off and out and clean them and you'll be back in water soon.

While you're into this, drain and then flush the pressure tank and check the air pressure to be 1-2 psi less than the cut-in switch setting. I.E. 30/50 psi switch settings gets 29-28 psi air pressure with no water in the tank. That is for a captive air bladder type tank.