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-   -   Pressure drops when pump kicks on (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=311258)

  • Jan 31, 2009, 05:52 PM
    lar-bob
    Pressure drops when pump kicks on
    I have an older well with a two year old pressure tank. It worked fine all summer, even watering my lawn. Lately the pressure in the house seems to drop after a few minutes of use and cannot build back up unless you turn off the faucet or shower. My switch shuts off at 56 and kicks on at 40. When it kicks on it immediately drops to 10 and will not get any higher until I shut everything off in house. The pressure in the tank after draining is 38psi.
    Any ideas.

    Thanks
  • Jan 31, 2009, 06:37 PM
    mygirlsdad77

    Very interesting. Wish I could be there to test it. Only thing I can think of is that maybe the well is running dry. Please let me know how things work out, I'm very interested to know what the problem is. Let me sleep on this, and I will hopefully have productive dreams.
  • Feb 1, 2009, 07:32 AM
    jlisenbe

    Is this pump submerged or above ground? Also, do you know where your checkvalve(s) are located?
  • Feb 1, 2009, 08:18 AM
    mikedem7

    Need more info is the new tank a bladder tank do you have a submersable pump, did you have a different style presser tank before
  • Feb 1, 2009, 09:04 AM
    lar-bob
    Yes the tank is a bladder tank. The old tank was also a bladder but smaller. I do not know where the check valves are. There is no above ground pump. The pipe goes into the ground in the well pit. Just two wires going into the cap
  • Feb 2, 2009, 03:37 PM
    lar-bob
    I'm having a well company come out tomorrow. They think there might be a hole in the draw pipe which is sucking air or possibly the pump going bad. I'll respond when I get the diagnosis
  • Feb 2, 2009, 04:49 PM
    mygirlsdad77

    Thanks, would love to hear what the problem is .
  • Feb 2, 2009, 08:07 PM
    jlisenbe

    YOu have a submerged pump so there is no draw pipe. The curious thing here is the pressure dropping so much when the pump cuts in. However, it sure sounds like the pump just has no volume to speak of, which would seem to point to pump failure. Still, it's strange that the pressure seems to hold until the pump cuts on.
  • Feb 4, 2009, 05:32 PM
    lar-bob
    The pump man came and seemed to really know his stuff. He checked amps, gallons etc. only to find the hydro charger (part of the iron filter system was nearly plugged. He opened the screw on top of the charger and the water started to flow like a river. We eliminated the charger and all is fine again. Pressure has never been better. Last year we installed a new soft water system and eliminated the iron filter which means there was no need for the hydro charger. Thanks again for all your ideas.

    Larry
  • Feb 5, 2009, 04:39 PM
    mygirlsdad77

    Glad you got it fixed. Take care.

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