The house is about 3yrs. Old with a 425 ft. well with a 6 gal. min. recovery.
The builder put in a 20 gal. Well-Mate pressure tank and a Square D Pumptrol
30psi-50psi switch. I have never had a well before, but the pressure does not
Seem all that good. We have a 2000sq. ft. ranch with 3 baths.
The cycles of the draw only take about a minute. The pressure meter
Shows that the pump cuts off at 50psi ( I did that. It was 48psi). As draw
Occurrs, the needle falls slowly to about 36psi and then free falls to 30psi
And the pump kicks on. Is that normal? And, is that pressure tank a little
Small considering a 1 minute cycle. Also, can I increase the pressure on
The pressure swtch and have it still work correctly and safely.

Thanks, Pete

Hey Pete,

As draw occurrs, the needle falls slowly to about 36psi and then free falls to 30psiand the pump kicks on. Is that normal?
No it's not. Sounds as though you may have a faulty check/foot valve allowing you to lose pressure.


Also, can I increase the pressure on the pressure switch and have it still work correctly and safely.
You have plenty of pressure in your system. Too much puts a strain on pipe joints, valves and faccets. Your problem's keeping pressure, not building it higher. Short of a leak on the pressure side a check/foot valve is about the only thintg that could be at fault. Good luck, Tom

As draw occurrs, the needle falls slowly to about 36psi and then free falls to 30psi and the pump kicks on.

I guess I'm reading that a little different than Tom. Because the free fall occurs during the draw, I would say that the pressure gauge has some inaccuracies in it in the 30 to 36 lb range.

To check for leaking check valve I suggest turning of the pump for a short period, don't use any water, and observe the pressure gauge.

I would have two thoughts:

1. A 20 gallon tank for a 400 foot well strikes me as small, especially when your drawdown/cycle is only one minute. Your pump has to develop around 160# of pressure just to get the water to the surface, so I would want my cycles as long as possible.

2. You have readjusted the switch. Did you also change the pressure at the top of your tank? It should be 2# below the cut in point for the switch. If cutin is 30, the pressure at the top of the tank should be 28#. This needs to be done with the system off and the tank drained through an outdoor spigot. Set your pressure, then turn your system back on.

I agree with jlisenbe.

I believe in large tanks and long pump life. I didn't address that question but I think I would do some testing to see just how much the well can produce before going dry and put in the largest tank I could. If I could pump 30 gallons before going dry I put in a 60 gallon bladder tank, 50 gallons a 100 gallon tank.