Hello everyone-

I have a 2" 3 year old well pipe that was never used. I have finally hooked up a 1hp above ground pump to it and it pumps water great. I have a 30 gallon bladder tank and a water softner hooked up to it as well.

Question: Pump came set at 30-50 psi in and out so I filled the bladder tank to 30. For some reason the bladder tank does not fill up more than the very bottom maybe several inches high and my pump will not turn off. The pressure gauge seem unable to reach 50. Does anyone have any ideas why the tank will not fill and the pump will not shut off.

Maybe the pump you bought doesn't build 30 psi. Look at the spec sheet. Some pumps are made to pump a lot of water at lower psi, but won't build a lot of pressure. These are typically irrigation pumps that are made to pump a lot of water at about 25psi, but won't build above 40 or so.

Also, if the pump pressure switch is set at 30/50, your bladder tank air pressure should be 28.
Al

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Originally Posted by albinfla

Maybe the pump you bought doesn't build 30 psi. Look at the spec sheet. Some pumps are made to pump a lot of water at lower psi, but won't build a lot of pressure. These are typically irrigation pumps that are made to pump a lot of water at about 25psi, but won't build above 40 or so.

Also, if the pump pressure switch is set at 30/50, your bladder tank air pressure should be 28.
Al

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The pump came preset at 30/50 I had to adjust since it would not shut off so now the cut out is about 36 or so. Why won't it hot 50 and also any idea why the bladder tank will not fill more than a couple inches up.

How deep s your well? I would double check the air pressure in the bladder
Tank. Al a had a great quiestion. Look on the pump specs. And tell us what you have. Brand name and model number. Regards, Tom

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Originally Posted by speedball1

How deep s your well? I would double check the air pressure in the bladder
tank. Al a had a great quiestion. Look on the pump specs. and tell us what you have. Brand name and model number. Regards, Tom

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WaterAce RC10 1hp 21gpm pump.
Convertible deep well jet pump.

My well is only at 30 feet however my water table is only 5 to 6 feet down. The pump is a deep well up to 90 feet or shallow up to 25. I had to buy a venturi also as that is the design of the pump.

Did you get the one specified for the pump.

The manual doesn't have a pressure curve, so I couldn't tell much about it. It shows gallons per minute for a 20/40 psi setting. A 1hp shallow-well jet pump should definitely produce up to about 55-62 psi on the top end. Especially since it only has 5-6 feet of lift.

Do as Harold said first and check to see if you got the venturi ejector for the 1hp pump. Then, if that is correct, check for something in the ejector. There could be a piece of rust, pipe, or something clogging the little hole in the center of the ejector.

Al

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Originally Posted by albinfla

The manual doesn't have a pressure curve, so I couldn't tell much about it. It shows gallons per minute for a 20/40 psi setting. A 1hp shallow-well jet pump should definitely produce up to about 55-62 psi on the top end. Especially since it only has 5-6 feet of lift.

Do as Harold said first and check to see if you got the venturi ejector for the 1hp pump. Then, if that is correct, check for something in the ejector. There could be a piece of rust, pipe, or something clogging the little hole in the center of the ejector.

Al

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I will check the Venturi to see if it is clogged. I did purchase the correct one. Also any idea why the bladder tank will not fill more than the very bottom of the tank? The way the pump came it was set to 30/50 and I filled the bladder up to 28. Everything starts filling however the bladder tank will ju fill several inches along the bottom. Then the pump stays on fluttering around 35 to 40 but won't go above or hit 50. As it stays on longer the pumps starts to get hot and it seems the pump is only recycleing the water inside itself. So hot it melted the pvc fitting.

If you have the correct venturia and its not clogged or blocked you may have a defective pump. Open faucet and let pump run. If pump produces water for extend period replace venturi. If that doesn't solve problem return pump.

The reason the bladder tank only fills the bottom is that is the design of the tank. There is a diaphragm in the tank that encapsulates air above the diaphragm. Or it has a bladder, which is like a balloon. Water presses inside of the bladder, or up against the diaphragm and the head of air encapsulating it. If you get water on the air side of the diaphragm/ bladder, you have a tear in the diaphragm/ bladder.

It sounds like the tank is good. That is not the problem. The pump is the problem. Once it reaches the pressure ceiling, it just boils the water in the pump, since it can't move the water down the line.

If you are able to, I would return the pump to Lowe's or wherever you got it and exchange it. If it has gotten that hot to melt the PVC, you have probably damaged the impeller and it will never build pressure. It sounds like it might have been defective from the beginning anyway. Did you follow priming instructions at start-up? You really can't let them run over a minute un-primed.
Al

Quote:

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Originally Posted by albinfla

The reason the bladder tank only fills the bottom is that is the design of the tank. There is a diaphragm in the tank that encapsulates air above the diaphragm. Or it has a bladder, which is like a balloon. Water presses inside of the bladder, or up against the diaphragm and the head of air encapsulating it. If you get water on the air side of the diaphragm/ bladder, you have a tear in the diaphragm/ bladder.

It sounds like the tank is good. That is not the problem. The pump is the problem. Once it reaches the pressure ceiling, it just boils the water in the pump, since it can't move the water down the line.

If you are able to, I would return the pump to Lowes or wherever you got it and exchange it. If it has gotten that hot to melt the PVC, you have probably damaged the impeller and it will never build pressure. It sounds like it might have been defective from the beginning anyway. Did you follow priming instructions at start-up? You really can't let them run over a minute un-primed.
Al

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I have replaced the pump several times for various reasons. I am on brand new 1 day old pump number 3.

When turning the faucet on or any other device there is good pressure and the preassure maintains when the pump kicks on. I cleaned the dirt out of the venturi and am able to get a 24/40 cut in and out. I lowered the air preassure in the tank to 22 psi and now a lot more wateris able to fit into the tank, probably about 1/3 of the tank where as before was maybe 1/8 only. When water is in the tank it reads 40 psi not sure if that is good or bad since that is also what the pump is cutting out at now. Any other ideas to get to 30/50

Sorry for all the problems.

Good. That is why the bladder tank has to be set to correct pressure.

I'm thinking that the well may not be producing enough water to supply the 1 hp pump. I would suggest that you run it for a week or 2 at the current setting. It may open up the well a little more down at the bottom. You can try it again then.

When water is in the tank it is going to read whatever your water pressure gauge reads. That is why you have to totally empty the tank to check the air pressure.

Glad we were able to help!
Al

"When turning the faucet on or any other device there is good pressure and the pressure maintains when the pump kicks on."

If you have good pressure, why do you want to increase to 50?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by albinfla

The reason the bladder tank only fills the bottom is that is the design of the tank. There is a diaphragm in the tank that encapsulates air above the diaphragm. Or it has a bladder, which is like a balloon. Water presses inside of the bladder, or up against the diaphragm and the head of air encapsulating it. If you get water on the air side of the diaphragm/ bladder, you have a tear in the diaphragm/ bladder.

It sounds like the tank is good. That is not the problem. The pump is the problem. Once it reaches the pressure ceiling, it just boils the water in the pump, since it can't move the water down the line.

If you are able to, I would return the pump to Lowes or wherever you got it and exchange it. If it has gotten that hot to melt the PVC, you have probably damaged the impeller and it will never build pressure. It sounds like it might have been defective from the beginning anyway. Did you follow priming instructions at start-up? You really can't let them run over a minute un-primed.
Al

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Well another problem. I had everything working to a decent oint 24 cut in 40 to 41 cut out. I tested the pum several times by draining water and making sure pump cuts on and of correctly. There seemed to be no problem however when I woke up this morning I noticed the pum was on and when going to touch the pipe once again it was hotter than heck. I resealed everything and have it cuting out at 34 to 36 now. Any ideas? Also my water softner culligan gold series will not fill the brine tank with water. The culligan man stated he thinks it is due to me not having enough water pressure. He stated he thinks it needs to be at 60 to 65 however I have good water coming from faucets.

First, Culligan man is feeding you a line of garbage. If I had to rely on 60 psi or better for my softener installations, probably 1/2 of my customers with wells couldn't have a softener. These softener salesmen are amazing... they always want to do city water, and really don't know how to do well water.

He should be able to change the brine refill control to a larger one, so that it will fill the tank. If you don't want to call him back, get me some pictures of your system, both distance and close-up. I can probably get you the parts and tell you how to do it. It's pretty easy. But, if we can resolve this pressure issue, your softener will probably start working again. Is the softener still under warranty?

Now back to your pressure issue... I am just wondering if the well isn't producing enough water. One 2" well-point is not a lot of water depending on how well it was jetted during installation. Did you get the pump at Lowe's, because that's about the only place I know of that you can get that brand. If so, take it back and exchange it. I would go down to a 3/4hp pump. You should check the label on the box and see if it will pump at 30/50. It probably won't do 40/60. I just check Water Ace site, and Lowe's site. Neither have specs.

Make sure the pump you are getting is a shallow-well pump. I believe it is a convertible for deep or shallow. Then, get the correct shallow well jet assembly.

Can you post several pics of your setup? I can maybe point out some things that may help. One thing that comes to mind is where is your check valve, and what type?

I assumed that this is a jetted well-point, please verify.
Al