Well Pump Diagnosis

[kevincook]

I'm having trouble with my well pump building pressure. The pump is around 70 feet down and I am having trouble with the pump building over 40psi. I've installed a new pressure gauge so I'm sure the pressure is accurate.

I believe I have a Gould pump that is about 13 years old. Is it possible for the pump to wear so that the flow seems OK but is unable to build pressure?

Any other suggetions before I actually pull the pump out of the well?

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[RonMar]

If you run the pump up to it's highest pressure and shut it off, does the system hold that pressure? Where is the check valve located in your system? If you had a leak before the checkvalve, you could be leaking water as fast as the pump is pumping it and it can only make 40PSI at the gauge. You might be able to hear a leak if you remove the cap on the well casing and listen while it pumps. Have you noticed any air in the system? Is the pump suction point below the water level? It could be that the pump is pressurizing OK, but the level in the well is dropping enough when running that it is starting to draw air/cavitate. Hows the electric getting to the pump? it takes a lot of current to pump water up to pressure. If the pump is not getting good electrical, this could limit it's output pressure. A good check for this is to measure the voltage at the last electrical connection closest to the pump(usually at the top of the well casing) with the pump running. 13 years is pretty old, it could just be it's time for a new pump, but I would check all the fittings between pump and check valve and all the electric between controller and pump.

Good luck

 

[SPIKER]

did you adjust the well pump switch? they are adjustable for on/off pressure settings

also is the well pump running all the time and only getting to 40 psi?

there neds a bit more info.

markm

 

[kevincook]

I think the check valve is either in the pump or right above the pump. When the pump is turned off the pressure is maintained so I don't think I have a leak between the check valve and the tank. I listened for leaks in the well casing and I can't hear anything there.

The pressure switch is set to 40/60psi but I can't get more than about 42psi with the pump running continuously.

I don't think there is a problem with the water level in the well versus the pump level. We measured levels for weekly for three years a while back and it didn't vary more than about 5 feet all year long. I've also been able to run the well non-stop for several weeks to water the lawn during severe drought conditions without a problem. I'm lucky, I sit right on top of an aquafier.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[gordon21]

The switch will have two adjustment screw posts. Mine came from the factory with the sticker sayng 40/60 on it. The ACTUAL settings were more like 38/45 from the factory. I had to adjust both settings to get it set up right. Look in the inside of the cover to determine which post does the high or low. It sure sounds like a pressure switch setting problem if you maintain the pressure you do build up.

Do not assume the switch is set up right. Someone at the factory could have spun the adjusting nuts on only far enough so they don't fall off in transit.

 

[Jimbrown]

believe I have a Gould pump that is about 13 years old. Is it possible for the pump to wear so that the flow seems OK but is unable to build pressure?


Yes But also if the thing has been in the ground 13 years it is quite possible that the down pipe has rust holes in it thus preventing it from building pressure. It is also possible that after that long in the water the wire has taken in some water and is shorting part of the current preventing the pump from running at full speed. You might find this good reading http://www.goulds.com/pdf/GSSINGLE.pdf

 

[_RaT_]

I'm having trouble with my well pump building pressure. The pump is around 70 feet down and I am having trouble with the pump building over 40psi. I've installed a new pressure gauge so I'm sure the pressure is accurate.

I believe I have a Gould pump that is about 13 years old. Is it possible for the pump to wear so that the flow seems OK but is unable to build pressure?

Any other suggetions before I actually pull the pump out of the well?

Thanks,
Kevin

Kevin, sounds like you know what yor doing. You know that the pump running continuosly won't develop more then about 40lbs. You know that your holding pressure so leaks are out. My first thoughts then are to check the current draw with an amp probe. A pump that has broken or worn out impellors should not draw as much current. The problem your going to have though is to get an understanding of what the pump normally draws. If you know what size the pump is, you might get a ball park idea of what kind of current you should be drawing. .

 

[kevincook]

Jim,

Thanks for that Link. I'm sure it will help tomorrow when I get into this thing.

Rat,

Thanks for the suggestions. I'll do some testing tomorrow.

I checked the water level this evening and it is 48' down which is right in line with what I have always had so there is no shortage of water down there.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[kossetx]

At about 10 years my galvanized pipe formed holes in it from electrelosis. As time went on pressure kept dropping from more holes. The pump was running but the water just recirced through the holes. I replaced it with sch80 pvc about 10 years ago. OK so far.

I've built a lot of stuff with that rusty pipe.

 

[Steve_Miller]

I'm having trouble with my well pump building pressure. The pump is around 70 feet down and I am having trouble with the pump building over 40psi. I've installed a new pressure gauge so I'm sure the pressure is accurate.

I believe I have a Gould pump that is about 13 years old. Is it possible for the pump to wear so that the flow seems OK but is unable to build pressure?

Any other suggetions before I actually pull the pump out of the well?

Thanks,
Kevin

To further on Rat's input, which were all the things I was going to suggest, has this problem (pressure dropping) been getting worse by day or has it just happened all of a sudden? If it's been all of a sudden then there could be a hole just before the check valve (as someone mentioned already) as this would cause the pump to be able to produce some pressure (depending on the size of the hole) and not lose any pressure when the pump shuts off as the hole is before the check. If there is any sediment in the well, this could cause premature wear of the impeller and pump housing. My two cents.

Steve

Steve

 

[Egon]

Whatever the cause it sounds like the pump will have to pulled for inspection of all the components and installing replacement parts required.

 

[honeycutt]

Have you checked out the tank. I had a simular problem. Over time sand had built up inside the tank and ruptured the bladder. I replaced the tank and added an inline filter.

 

[Kaliburz]

Have you checked out the tank. I had a simular problem. Over time sand had built up inside the tank and ruptured the bladder. I replaced the tank and added an inline filter.

I'll second that. The pressure tank plays a lot into having "water pressure". Our system would run and run and it turned out to be the pressure tank bladder- wasn't any capacity. There is suppose to be a certain PSI in the bladder.... sometimes it's listed on the tank.

 

[_RaT_]

I'll second that. The pressure tank plays a lot into having "water pressure". Our system would run and run and it turned out to be the pressure tank bladder- wasn't any capacity. There is suppose to be a certain PSI in the bladder.... sometimes it's listed on the tank.

Your correct, but I don't think that is the problem here. The pressure tank has a precharge pressure that is important. A ruptured bladder may cause the pump to cycle considerably, but if it is not leaking, you should still get to maximum cutout pressure unless: A. your loosing water fast enough that you cannot keep ahead of the loss or B. you have a set of worn impellars or even broken impellars. The possiblity of loosing water between the pump and check valve is a very likely source of the problem if the pump is in OK condition.

 

[kevincook]

Thanks for the help everyone. I didn't get to this over the weekend but took the afternoon off yesterday to work on it.

I pulled the pump expecting to find a leak between the pump and check valve but there was none. I called the well company that installed the pump and asked if they had a replacement pump available that I could come pick up. The owner suggested that although pumps can wear and not build pressure that it is very rare and that it was much more likely that I had a leak between the house and well. He suggested that I pull off the pitless adaptor from the pipe and cap it off with a pressure gauge and check to see if the pump would build pressure. I ran to the store to pick up the fittings that I needed and as I was ready to test the pump he called back and said he finished his prior job and could swing by in 10 minutes if I wanted help.

I told him to swing by and asked him to bring a pump just in case. It turns out that the pump is just worn out so I bought a new pump from the guys that originally put in the well. He only charged me $500 for the pump and $20 for the fittings. He helped me hook the new pump up and then didn't even charge me any labor. I had checked on the internet and the best price I could find anywhere for the pump was $510 delivered. I was thrilled with the outstanding service from these guys.

So there it is......worn pump and $520 dollars later everything is as good as new.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[Egon]

Sounds good.