View Full Version : Pump pressure sticks
ainsle14
Jan 4, 2009, 10:15 AM
Hello: I have a water pump indoors with a bladder tank. I have the pressure switch set at
20 psi to 40 psi. But yesterday the pump started actioning crazy. The pump will come on as soon I turn on water and immediately drop to 30 psi and stay there. The pump will stay on as long as the water is running and the gauge sticks stays at 30 psi. I alrady checked to see if the tube from pump to pressure switch is clean. WHat is causing this? Thank you
speedball1
Jan 4, 2009, 12:01 PM
The pump will stay on as long as the water is running and the gauge sticks stays at 30 psi Whe the pump shuts down does the pressure hold or does it drop back to zero?
Replace the pressure gage and get back to us with the results. Regards, Tom
ainsle14
Jan 4, 2009, 12:34 PM
It holds at 30 psi. The pump is relatively new, so the gauge should be allright.
Thank you for your response
speedball1
Jan 4, 2009, 04:28 PM
Sounds like this might be a ruptured membrane. Let's check the bladder tank. There are several ways to check your tank. It has a air valve on top like a valve on a tire. Push it in, you should not get any water out of that valve at all. Another way is to tap the tank from the bottom up. You will hear a "clunk" on the bottom filled with water, however you should hear a "clang" near the top filled with air. If you have water up to the top the bladder has ruptured and the tank must be replaced. To set the air pressure in a bladder tank, look at the cut-in pressure on your pressure switch. Now drain the line down with the pump off. When there is no more water coming out of the hose bib that you drained the system down with set the pressure in t6he bladder tank at 2 lbs. below the cut-in pressure. Check it with a tire gage. If your pressure control is set to come on at 20 PSI and go off at 40 PSI then your gage should read 18 PSI. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply. Tom