HELP!

A few days ago I started having my water cut off on me for long periods. I am on a deep well that is also low producing. The well guy told me I needed a new pump. The water in the well would go down to 1/3 or half full (My well is 536 feet and the level would be around 200 to 250 feet down from the top... judging by dropping in a pebble and counting.)

As best as I could tell, once the level in the WELL droppped that low, tHe pressure in the TANK would drop quickly to below the cut off pressure . Then, the well would have to fill all the way uo, or close to it, before I could get water again. The well guy put in a new pump. I told him to PLEASE make sure it was the pump first, as I didn't have the money for a new one, but he said he was sure "because what else would it be?" H

Long story short, I have a new pump and it is doing the same thing with the new pump.

He is coming out this afternoon, his theory being that maybe the pump (brand new in box and expensive) was faulty. I feel strongly that since the problem is still exactly the same, it must be something else. (if the pump was faulty it seems like it wouldn't work at all, it doesn't seem logical that it would be acting up in exactly the same way as my old pump... both would be working just fine until that drop in water pressure.)

The water starts to sputter and the pressure in the house drops before the pressure switch actually kicks in. But once it cuts off it can be a half day or more before it will build up enough pressure to come back on.

It is an electronic switch. (Set to cut off at 20 psi and come back on in an hour, if the pressure is still not there it will cut off again, etc.. ) My pump was 6 years old, the tank about 8 and the switch one year old.

ANy immediate help would be appreciated!! I can't sleep for trying to figure out my next course of action, since I am losing confidence in him. Have invested a lot at this point, don't know if I can afford to scrap him and get someone else.

I'm not a big deep well pump guy. Most in my area are shallow well sprinkler pumps but it didn't sound like your old pump was faulty. Rather it sounded like the water table has fallen and when it replenishes the level the pump picks it up again. I think your plumber was grasping at straws when he replaced the pump and I'll bet the farm there's nothing wrong with the new pump he installed. Have you had a well man out to look at it? Good luck, Tom

I think SB has hit the nail on the head. You might want to ask this guy about the possibility of putting the pump farther down in the well. If this is truly a well pro, then he can go into the possibility of doing that. He should also have equipment to tell you how far down in the well you go before you hit water.

Not too sure about the pebble thing. How are you calculating that? I can tell you that the math is not simple.

He is my well guy... not really a plumber. But I think you guys did hit the nail on the head that the pump most likely wasn't bad. He came out today and replaced the pressure switch with a manual one and it is working great. (Knock on wood!) So the problem, as I see it now, was a 100.00 switch and I put in a 1200.00 pump! But the job is so labor intensive that I am keeping the pump, with my old one in reserve, because I can't think of anything else to do. (except find a new well guy.)

As far as the pump depth, it sits practically on the bottom, which is why it needs to be a fairly powerful pump. The water clearly was way above the pump, which is what had me stumped.

Thanks for your reply.

Orange, it's not as bad as it might look. $1200 for a new pump is a good deal (assuming that includes installation). And, you don't have to be concerned about a pump for probably fifteen years or more.

You are right, and that's the way I am looking at it! Thanks again for all your help, and the rest of you guys too! This is such a great forum.