Does my 3/4 hp jet pump for a shallow well need a bladder tank?
We just installed a Utilitech 3/4hp Jet Pump for our shallow well of about 30 feet. We installed it with a Union just in case we had to remove it in the future and the Check Valve (Foot Valve) is above ground next to the well. It seems to be acting crazy! You have to turn it off at the main breaker every time we use it and the pressure gauge fluctuates really fast when building pressure or if you turn the valve off. I was hoping it would be easy just go out and turn a valve on and the well would work. We are just using it for irrigation with sprinklers but you have to prime it each time which takes about 20 minutes then you have to clean the algae out of the sprinkler for it to work? Would a bladder tank help this problem? Thanks for any input! :)
Comment on jlisenbe's post
That was my biggest concern too; priming it each time! What a pain. Yesterday I got desperate and bought a 2 gallon bladder tank. It's not perfect yet but it is holding prime now and the answer to your question is 60 lbs watering grass. Is that too high?
Comment on epine47's post
This is a well from the 70's down in the ground and I am not positive there is a foot valve down there. The pipe was small (like 1"1/4) and we were hoping there was a foot valve already down there; that is why we put the check valve above ground. Not sure yet but I did buy a 2 gallon bladder tank yesterday and it seems to be holding prime although the pressure is not set just right yet. I feel the bladder tank might be the secret.
Comment on jlisenbe's post
I was hoping a bladder tank wasn't needed but got desperate yesterday and bought a 2 gallon one. Doing a lot better. I only have one sprinkler so far (haven't done the dream irrigation yet). It's running at 60 pounds which might be too high? Yeah, I guess I mean check valve. I sure hope there is a foot valve in the bottom of that hole! If not, maybe that is why it was not pulling water up? And, the adjustment on the side of the pump for the pressure seems kind of complicated to use. I believe they are set to 20 and 40 from the factory but we messed with it so much (during it's crazy cycling) that need to adjust it back now. Our sprinkler does keep getting clogged and using the standard horizontal 12". Maybe should get a single hole sprinkler?
Comment on jlisenbe's post
Seems I have another problem now, seems the pressure adjustment is messing up. We adjusted it and now it seems to be causing it to cut off? Any tricks?
Comment on jlisenbe's post
Thanks for the referral to the sight! Well, back in business now as far as pump turning on and not cutting off due to the pressure adjustments. Not I can't seem to get it to prime lol; (when I do finally get this project working I'll be celebrating! :) I dumped tons of water in it today and couldn't get it to hold pressure. It kept losing it as soon as it was close. Maybe something isn't sealed just right or not sure what else. I gave up for the day and will try again tomorrow.