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Handyman2007 · Aug 7, 2011, 05:10 AM

hkstroud... I just answer questions that are on the pages that come up... maybe someone should get Ask Me to delete all posts that are a year old.

speedball1 · Aug 20, 2011, 09:31 AM

You guys are in a 7 year old thread but the advice is still the same, Replace that gage with one that reads 100 PSI.
Then go back and see how to set the control box to give you more pressure. Good luck, Tom

George.W · Jan 21, 2012, 01:42 PM

Just a very unscientific thought here, if you are running a set of 20/40 points at 40/60 they will burn up quicker. You used to be able to buy 40/60 points and maybe you still can. Pump life is shortened by higher pressures so most of your well service men prefer the 20/40 points. I suggest you keep a spare set of points on hand. They do not cost a whole lot. I have been living on well water all my life and you can bet that they will burn out about a half hour after the only hardware store closes for the weekend, usually a long holiday weekend.

jlisenbe · Jan 21, 2012, 02:35 PM

Why do you believe the points will burn up faster at 40/60?

George.W · Jan 21, 2012, 03:12 PM

No special reason, just what I have seen in 50 years of well utilization. I have had jet pumps, submersible pumps and air lift pumps from 125' to 375' and the pressure pumps all have had this in common. Perhaps it has something to do with decreasing the space between them. I have seen several sets of points burn out and it was always points that I had tinkered with to increase pressure. The well man and the electrician in the family always advised me against this practice but I did it anyway. The points would get real hot and weld right shut. If they are just blackened you can clean them with fine sand paper or crocus cloth. Adjusting them will work but it is a good idea to have a set on hand for when the occasion when they are needed.
Several years back you could buy just the little silver points for about $4.50 and pull the little cotter keys out to replace just the actual points. I have not seen points on the shelf in many years now. This forces you to buy the whole unit. The last one I bought was about $29. This is cheaper than the gas to make a special trip to town. Country insurance I call it.

speedball1 · Jan 21, 2012, 05:26 PM

if you are running a set of 20/40 points at 40/60 they will burn up quicker.

This just isn't so. The points don't require more amperage at 20/40 then they do at 30/50 or 40/60.

Perhaps it has something to do with decreasing the space between them

SAy WHAT?? Increasing or decreasing the pressure doesn't move the points just the pressure needed to close them. I'm amazed that in 50 years you haven't learned that.
Something else you haven't learned and that's to check the date of the first post in the upper left hand corner. You're responding to a 8 year old dead thread thread. Regards, Tom

George.W · Jan 21, 2012, 05:44 PM

LOL LOL my goodness, and you have not learned what "Perhaps" means?
I made the comment based on running quite a few wells of different types over a period of 5 decades.
I ignored the advice of professionals, and might do the same again, BUT I did notice that when I did so the points burnt out sooner, and not to put Murphy out of business they did so at the worst possible moment.
As I still have well water, I still keep a few spare parts on hand.
Y'all have a great day now, bless your heart!

speedball1 · Jan 22, 2012, 05:50 AM

Plumbing.

I made the comment based on running quite a few wells of different types over a period of 5 decades

And I base mine on 7 decades of plumbing experience

I ignored the advice of professionals,

Hey! That's not too swift. You pay us for advice and then ignore it? But any way you want to slice it. Contact points do not burn out because of the pressure setting. And you have yourself a fantastic week. Tom

vnovno · Jan 30, 2012, 07:21 AM

I'd like it increase my pressure also. My pump is in the house and only has one spring loaded nut.

jlisenbe · Jan 30, 2012, 06:53 PM

Originally Posted by vnovno

I'd like it increase my pressure also. My pump is in the house and only has one spring loaded nut.

Refer to your first post.

Sweetlobes · May 22, 2012, 08:13 PM

All the electrical devices is all staying engage but the pump is turning off and on

speedball1 · May 23, 2012, 06:03 AM

Originally Posted by Sweetlobes

all the electrical devices is all staying engage but the pump is turning off and on

You've piggybacked on a 8 year old thread. Look for the date before you post. Thanks.
It sounds like your pump has a faulty foot/check valve. Look at the pressure gage. When the pump pumps up to the cut out point and shuts off. If the gage falls and the pump turns back on then there's no doubt. Replace the foot/check valve. Good luck, Tom

olebomb1956 · Jun 27, 2012, 03:09 PM

Hi
I have a submersible pump in a well on land where I built a home.
Can I just access the water with a 110 or 220 current and pump into a water tank to use for watering the yard and other uses,or should I have additional equipment to use.
I just wanted to dig down to the water line and tie into it with pipe or hose to pump the water from the well. Will this hurt the pump if used for 100-200 gallons at a time?
Thanks
Calvin

speedball1 · Jul 26, 2012, 07:21 AM

Play nice children!! No pulling hair or calling names.
Gimmie5, Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com. I'm looking for a specific question in your post. If you're asking about your fathers well we need more details.
Depth of well and type of pump. Has this issue been ongoing or did it just start? How old is his house and what material are the water pipes? In short, if you want answers we need information to work with. Would you care to repost? Back to you, nTom

Gimmie5 · Jul 30, 2012, 05:50 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

Play nice children!! No pulling hair or calling names.
Gimmie5, Welcome to The Plumbing Page. at AskMeHelpDesk.com. I'm looking for a specific question in your post. If you're asking about your fathers well we need more details.
Depth of well and type of pump. Has this issue been ongoing or did it just start? How old is his house and what material are the water pipes? In short, if you want answers we need information to work with. Would you care to repost? Back to you, nTom

Thanks. The specific question is the same as the original post, how to increase water pressure from well? In my father's case and in response to your questions:
- Issue present for many years
- 25' depth (he's not 100% sure, though it is shallow)
- submerged pump
- copper piping
- reading 25 psi
- house age, 40+ years

I guess what I'm after is a systematic approach to troubleshooting the issue. We'd rather not just swap out parts on a trial-and-error basis. I suspect there is a series of common checks that can be done to diagnose the issue, perhaps not? Thanks again...

speedball1 · Jul 30, 2012, 06:19 AM

Your question was answered 8 years ago in my first post, If you've read the original post you must have also read my solution. It went like this. "First locate the pressure control box. This will be a small 1 1/2" by 2 1/12" gray box the pump wires connect to.
I'm going to assume that you have a "square D pumptrol and that it has a 20 PSI cut in and a 40 PSI cut off setting, First turnoff the power at the breaker box, then pull the cover off the pressure switch and you will see two spring loaded bolts secured with nylon nuts. One tall, one short. To increase the cut in pressure, turn the nut on the tall bolt down. To increase the cut out pressure,(that's the one that will give you more pressure) turn the nut on the short bolt down. This should give you the additional preesure you desire. Good luck, Tom"

jlisenbe · Jul 30, 2012, 06:49 AM

Speedball is 100% on it. The pressure switch controls the points at which the pump cuts on and off. Assuming your gauge is accurate, it sounds like the switch is cutting the pump off at 25#, which is low. Follow the directions above and let us know what happens.

Franklin123 · Aug 18, 2012, 01:43 PM

Hi. I am reading about low water pressure and have a question. I have water pumped from a well about 100 to 200 feet down. Recently, I had no water coming in. I called my plumber and electrician and they both felt it was the pressure control box. My plumber replaced it and I got water back, however, it is less pressure than before.
My plumber turned the screw to 62. It is hardly any better. I am unsure of what ot do next. A friend told me to buy a water pressure booster for my shower but, even if that worked, I have low pressure everywhere else.

speedball1 · Aug 18, 2012, 02:16 PM

When the pump shuts off what does the gage read? How old is your house and what material are the pipes? Back to you, Tom

mmarnin · Jan 21, 2013, 07:35 PM

I have a well with pressuer tank. When I turn on the shower when the washer is going or flush toilet I have very little pressure . When I opened the valve at the bottom of the pressure tank to drain it it had good pressure