I have a well pump on a 40 60 pressure switch. When a tap is open the pump kicks on and off every 30 seconds or so. The pressure tank is small probably 40gal? When the water is flowing you can watch the pressure gauge drop in pressure, and then watch as it moves up when the pump kick in for 20 to 30 seconds. You can also see the pressure at the tap move up and down, pretty cool but I'm sure not a good thing for the pump. I am also concerned that the pump kicks on and off when no tap is open? I haven't been standing in the baseemeht with no tap open to see when it goes on but occasionally you can hear it kick on and then off. It never runs for more than 20 seconds or so.

Do I need a new pressure tank?

How do I troube shoot the parts in the system? What are all the parts for that matter?
i.e. pump, suction valve, pressure tank, pressure switch, etc..

Thanks in advance for any help out there.

Eric

Do you have a 40 gallon galvanized pressure tank or a large bladder tank? If a pressure tank then shut the pump off and drain the tank and start the pump again. If a bladder tank then check the air valve to be sure it's holding air. Another thing to check out is the check valve. That would cause the pump to kick on when no draw's being made. Regards, Tom

It is a bladder type tank, with a valve on top. How do I check it? Where is the check valve in the system?

You check a bladder tank by opening the snifter valve on top. If water comes out replace the tank. The check valve's located in one of two spots. On the suction line going into the pump or in the well point at the bottom of the well. If you have a bad check valve in the well point a check valve may be added to the suction line above groiund. Good luck, Tom