I am on a deep well (200 feet). When the previous owners drilled the well, they said they hit water at 60 feet, but wanted a 200 foot well, so they kept drilling. I have 38 pounds of pressure in the tank. The gauge shows 10 to 12 pounds. When I put my hand on the switch cover it feels like the pump is running. When I take the cover off and open the points, the pump stops. I believe the pump is running continuously, but I'm not sure it is pumping water. The water pressure is low in the house. Suggestions? Thanks.

Joyce (hurchin)

You say that you have 38 lbs. in the tank. How do you know that if you pressure gauge is reading shows 10-12 lbs. If you feel vibration on the pipe which stops when you open the switch you pump probably is running. But you have no way of knowing what pressure the switch is set to cut off if the gauge is defective. Nor do you know if the pump is capable of attaining that pressure. Suggest that you replace the pressure gauge. Then if the pressure at the faucet is lower, you will know that there is some kind of restriction between the tank and the faucet. If the pump cannot produce the required pressure you will know that you have a well or pump problem.

I am assuming this is a submersible pump. Any idea how old it is? If the pump is running continuously, then that is not a good thing under any circumstances. If all the water is turned off and the pump continues to run, not being able to get over 38# of pressure, then the problem is probably between the pressure tank and the pump.

You say that you have 38 lbs. in the tank. How do you know that if you pressure gauge is reading shows 10-12 lbs. If you feel vibration on the pipe which stops when you open the switch you pump probably is running. But you have no way of knowing what pressure the switch is set to cut off if the gauge is defective. Nor do you know if the pump is capable of attaining that pressure. Suggest that you replace the pressure gauge. Then if the pressure at the faucet is lower, you will know that there is some kind of restriction between the tank and the faucet. If the pump cannot produce the required pressure you will know that you have a well or pump problem.

I took a reading directly off the tank with a tire gauge and it read 38, so it looks like that bladder is holding at 38.

I am assuming this is a submersible pump. Any idea how old it is? If the pump is running continuously, then that is not a good thing under any circumstances. If all the water is turned off and the pump continues to run, not being able to get over 38# of pressure, then the problem is probably between the pressure tank and the pump.

The pump is at least 13 years old. It is a submersable. It is continuing to run, but can't get past 14 pounds of pressure showing on the pressure gauge. However, when I check the bladder with a tire pressure gauge, that reading is 38.