[s573331]

Hi,
I have a deep well that supplies water to the whole house and in the basement, I have a bladder type water pump. I drained the pump the other day to fix a leak at the pressure gauge and the pipe that it is connected to. After I finished, I ran the water tpo test and the pressure was good and still is. The only thing is I want to know if it is normal that while water is running, the pressure goes from max of 60psi then I hear a click, then down to about 30psi and I hear another click and it goes back up again and so on. This pressure loss happens in about a minute's time. Is this normal? I read somewhere that if it cycles too often it could consume the pump motor quicker and it reduces the life of the pump. Please advise. Thanks.

[hkstroud]

Assuming you meant a bladder type tank not pump, did you pressurize the tank?

With your apparent pump pressure settings, the tank should be pressurized to 28lbs when empty.

[jlisenbe]

You need to be able to get at least five or six gallons during that progression from 60 to 30 pounds. Let it get to 60 and cut off, then run water from an outdoor faucet only into a five gallon bucket. You should be able to at least fill the bucket once before you hear the switch click at 30 to turn the pump on. I'm saying that with no idea of how large your tank is, but that's a pretty good rule of thumb. A larger tank will, of course, give more than five gallons.

HK is correct about your tank pressure. Just make sure you turn off the system and run water until the pressure gauge goes to zero, then set the pressure to 28 at the top of the tank.

[s573331]

Thank you HK. Sorry, this is what I meant a bladder tank. How do I pressurize the tank? I didn't do anything after draining other thatn letting the water run for about 10 minutes out of all faucets in the house until the pressure was good again. The pressure started very weak but then gradually increased on its own while I ran the water. Is this why it cycles often?

Thank you jlisenbe. How to set the pressure to 28, is it by pumping air at the top. I thought that a bladder type tank does not need pumping as it maintains the air in the bladder unless there is a leak. Thanks guys.

[jlisenbe]

The tank will have a little tire valve at or near the top. Use an air gauge (like used on a car tire) to check the pressure with power off and system drained of water. Add, or release, air until you get 28#. It is a "set it and forget it" kind of thing. Do it once.

Be sure to check the volume you are getting between cycles as described above.

It is possible the bladder in your tank is ruptured. That will result in shorter and shorter pump cycles between turning the pump off and on. But if that is the case, you will likely not get 5 or more gallons of water in your volume test.

Do you know how large your tank is?

[s573331]

Hi jlisenbe, I have been busy the last couple of days. My tank is 20 gallons and I checked the pressure and its 50 psi.

[s573331]

Its 20 gallons tank and pressure at the top is 50 psi

[jlisenbe]

OK. Do the volume test and set the tank pressure as described above. The volume test (getting at least 5 gallons) will tell you a lot.

A 20 gallon tank is a little on the small side, so your pump will cycle more frequently.

[jlisenbe]

I might add that your tank should get 5 gallons of volume between cycles, but not much more. See this site: http://www.aquascience.net/wellmate-...dex.cfm?id=514

[s573331]

I am getting 7 gallons per cycle. Are you saying I should deflate the pressure down to 28 psi?

[jlisenbe]

Your tank pressure should be set at 2# below the point at which your pump turns on. So, in your case, that point being 30#, you would set your pressure at 28#. Do this with the breaker off and pressure drained down to zero by opening an outside faucet.

BTW, 7 gallons for a 20 gallon tank is pretty good. If the shorter cycle bothers you, then you can go to a larger tank or simply connect a second 20 gallon tank.

[s573331]

Thank you very much everyone, I really appreciate all your help.