OK, my wife and I bought our first house... we knew it needed a pump, we bought a new 1/2hp pump and tank and check valve. I can't get pressure over 25psi. I have tried everything. The pipes had been winterized prior to us buying the house. I have tried everything.. . but can't seem to build pressure over 25psi. If I open up the main valve to the house I get about 10psi steady... if I close it back off the pressure nevers rises again until I turn the pump off then on again. I'm so lost please help.

A few details:
1. Is this pump above ground or in the well?
2. If above ground, how many pipes go into the well, one or two?
3. When shut off, does it hold prime OK?
4. You mentioned a checkvalve. If I assume this is a simple jet pump with one pipe going into the well, then the footvalve is the only CV you need. So when you mentioned a CV, did you mean to say a new footvalve?
5. Once you get the system working right you will want to adjust the pressure in your new tank, but don't worry about that right now. The tank is not the problem.

1. Above ground
2 one
3. yes
4 yes a new foot valve
5. pressure switch on pump is a 20/40 so I set the tank @18psi IAw the manual that came with the new pump. Pump is a utilitech 1/2 hp jet shallow well from Lowe's.

You have a shallow well jetpump. It is sensitive to water depth. Won't work at all at much past 25'. Do you know how deep the water is in the well?

If it's holding prime, then that would indicate there are no leaks in the well pipe, at least not to amount to anything.

Sorry to be so slow in responding. Can't do much until I get home from work.