I have a Square-D 30/50 control switch. The water has been cutting out all day, after being fine first thing this morning. The only way to turn the switch back on is to manually flip the side lever and hold it until the pressure gets up enough to keep it on, somewhere around 20. Problem is, it never gets to 50 again. It gets up to about 30 and sits, then drops back to zero. I am afraid to just keep trying to turn it back on. Am I looking at a bad switch or a bad pump or what? There is a lot of silica in my water, and just got a new pump in Feb. of last year.

The spring in the switch closes the points (on) and the pressure causes them to open (off).

If yours won't close either the switch is defective or the pressure is not being relieved at the switch as the water is used. The only reason the pressure would not be relieved would be because of a blocked port in the switch or blocked pipe. Remove the switch and clean the port of the switch and the piping it is attached to.

If that doesn't fix things, replace the switch.

Problem is, it never gets to 50 again. It gets up to about 30 and sits, then drops back to zero.

Does it do this with the pump running, or does the pump cut off and then pressure drops?

Is the pump in the well or above ground?

Even if the pump cuts off at 30, the system should still hold that pressure. If it's dropping back down to zero, then water is getting past a checkvalve somewhere. Unless, of course, it is dropping down as a result of you using water somewhere.

In addition to the check valve you cold have a leak in the water service line that's losing pressure. A good way to check would be to shut the house off at the pump. If the gage falls back to zero then the check valve's faulty and should be replaced. However if pressure holds then shut the house shut off and open the valve next to the pump. If the pressure still holds then the leak is in your house. Let me know what you find. Good luck, Tom