Ask Me Help Desk - Well Water Pump not pumping

Well Water Pump not pumping

I have a 3/4 hp, shallow well water pump, craftsman. It is above ground near the tank. Yesterday i noticed there was no water. when i went to check the pump, there was a hose that is on the pressure switch that had come off, and the pump had shut off. the pump was hot. i assumed it had over heated and shut itself off. it would not come back on. today after waiting over night, when i went to check on it, i had to clean it a bit (it looked like it was clogged), so i took it apart and it came on while it was apart. then i put it back together and poured water into it and started to try to prime it. pump would not come on. i cleaned on it some more, and then it would come on. so i tried to prime some more and it will hold the water and run. it does not seem to be building pressure, and the water that is being used for priming gets hot, but the pump does not seem too.
Also, the insert that fits into the tank body has a gasket. it appears to be messed up, would that cause it to not build pressure? there dont appear to be any leaks. please help....thanks

If the pump's running hot I would have the motor windings checked before I went any farther. Regards, tom

Technically the pump is not hot... the water was.
Would the air pressure in the tank have an effect? How do you check it and how do I put air in it?

Quote:

Originally Posted by catrains

technically the pump is not hot...the water was.
would the air pressure in the tank have an effect? how do you check it and how do i put air in it?

Well the water got hot from somewhere and the closet thing that heats up is the motor. To set the air pressure in a bladder tank, look at the cut-in pressure on your pressure switch. Now drain the line down with the pump off. When there is no more water coming out of the hose bib that you drained the system down with set the pressure in t6he bladder tank at 2 lbs. below the cut-in pressure. Check it with a tire gage. If your pressure control is set to come on at 20 PSI and go off at 40 PSI then your gage should read 18 PSI. Hope this helps and thank you for rating my reply.Tom

Thanks for your response... can you please tell me where to find the hose bib? I am not sure I know what you are referring too.. this is my first water pump repair.

Also, how can I determine what the pressure switch is set for? Mine does not have any numbers... thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by catrains

thanks for your response... can you please tell me where to find the hose bib? I am not sure I know what you are referring too.. this is my first water pump repair.

Also, how can I determine what the pressure switch is set for? Mine does not have any numbers... thanks

The hose bib on the outside of the house ,(see image) Is the valve you attach your hose to.

Quote:

how can I determine what the pressure switch is set for?

You watch the pressure gauge. When the pump turns on, that's your "cut in point" and when the pump pumps up to pressure and stops is your "cut out point". Good luck, Tom

Thanks for the illustration... In the last couple of days we have been working on the pump, trying to come up with ideas...
This is what is going on now...
The pump seems to be pumping, because when it is primed, the water in the priming spout is pumping and the level is dropping... however, it isn't building pressure. The gauge that reads the pressure, stays at 30 psi... not sure if it is broken. It wasn't broken before... when the pressure builds you can hear it when the motor kicks on, but now it just runs, and doesn't kick on, so we are pretty sure it isn't building pressure... but like I said, it seems to be pumping...
We are spinning our wheels here... can you please help... I am so ready for water!
Thanks

Quote:

Originally Posted by catrains

Thanks for the illustration... In the last couple of days we have been working on the pump, trying to come up with ideas...
This is what is going on now...
The pump seems to be pumping, because when it is primed, the water in the priming spout is pumping and the level is dropping....however, it isnt building pressure. the gauge that reads the pressure, stays at 30 psi...not sure if it is broken. it wasnt broken before....when the pressure builds you can hear it when the motor kicks on, but now it just runs, and doesnt kick on, so we are pretty sure it isnt building pressure....but like i said, it seems to be pumping...
we are spinning our wheels here...can you please help...i am so ready for water!
thanks

When a pump runs dry for long enough to heat the windings to the point of the overload to kick in it's a pretty safe bet your pump seals are shot. If that's the case the the pump may pump up to pressure but it can't contain it, and so it just keeps on pumping.
Your options are:
1) replace the pump seals **or*
2)replace the pump.
Good luck and thanks for rating my reply. Tom