Hi there, I have an old aqudare deep well pump. We had a power cut during the night and the pump switch shut off and the pressure got used up. Now the pump has lost it's prime. I closed the valve at the head of the pump. Opened the pressure gauge to pour in water. There is an air sound and water keep's flowing out of the top. When I start the pump the needle jump's for a second then drop's. Any suggestion's ?

I closed the valve at the head of the pump. Opened the pressure gauge to pour in water. Heads of the pump? That would be on the house side. Right?

There is an air sound and water keep's flowing out of the top. Is the air coming out or sucking back in? Water keeps flowing out of the top of the impeller cage where the gage threads in? And all this with the pump shut off? Will the pump hold prime when you pour water in the hole or does it drain away. Can you furnish more details? Back to you, Tom

Hi tom, The head, meaning a valve leading from the top of the pump itself going to the pressure tank. The air is gurgling up the pipe as water run's down, there is no air coming out or sucking in. The water kept flowing out the of the top of the impeller cage where the gauge thread's in with the pump shut off. Now it dos'nt do that anymore, I pour water in a little at a time and run the pump but it dos'nt build pressure of any kind. When I pour water in it hold's until I run the pump then it goes down

Pour in water until it won't hold anymore (full). At that point, the water level in the pump should hold steady. Replace the pressure gauge and turn the pump on. You should be in business. Open the valve to the tank before you turn on the pump.

Pour in water until it won't hold anymore (full). At that point, the water level in the pump should hold steady. Replace the pressure gauge and turn the pump on. You should be in business. Open the valve to the tank before you turn on the pump.

Hi there, normally that would work. Unfortunately I spent the day doing just that. I've come to the conclusion that I've either got a problem in the foot valve or a leak in the pipe somewhere, I will have a search tomorrow in the daylight. Thank's anyway.

Hi there & thank's to everyone who replied with help. I got it fixed. It was a foot valve problem. I kept priming the pump while shaking the pipes going down into the well as the pump was running. I eventually got a slight bit of pressure then primed again getting a slight rise in pressure each time. I repeated this quite a few times until I got the pump running properly. Boy was I a happy camper.

Congrats. Always nice to get that water up and going again.

Congrats. Always nice to get that water up and going again.

You bet.

Just curious. Is your wellpipe plastic or galvanized?

Just curious. Is your wellpipe plastic or galvanized?

Neither. Good old rusty steel, put down in the mid 1960's, original pump too.

" I kept priming the pump while shaking the pipes going down into the well as the pump was running. I eventually got a slight bit of pressure then primed again getting a slight rise in pressure each time."

Could be that old pipe is getting rusted up at some points. When you shook the pipe, it allowed air/water to get by each other. Normally, with wide open pipes, that's no problem. 50 years out of steel pipe is a long time. But as long as it works, no problem.

Could be that old pipe is getting rusted up at some points. When you shook the pipe, it allowed air/water to get by each other. Normally, with wide open pipes, that's no problem. 50 years out of steel pipe is a long time. But as long as it works, no problem.

Sorry, I didn't explain well enough or didn't pick up on the question right. I thought that you were referring to the lining of the well. The actual water pipe's are plastic.

We're glade you located and repaired the problem. Thanks for the update, Tom

OK. Well, so much for my theory. Glad you got if working!