New 3/4 hp, jet pump with 24.5 litre stainless steel tank. The original galvanized tank requires air. Bladderless. L have primed this pump a number of times, with ease. Recently the pump loses prime regularly. The water reaches the pump, but will not sustain pressure, when power shut off, you can hear water running back in the single line back into the well. Is this the foot valve, can l get away with a check valve in proximity of the new pump

It could be a foot valve but when you can hear water dropping back in the well, it sounds like a cracked or split pipe.

Thanks ma0641, that would be the worse scenario possible, l am going to install a brass check valve at pump intake temporary, hopefully this will prevent the water from rushing back into the well. If that doesn't work, l would have to install the foot valve and investigate if the pipeline has cracks.

Thanks for your help and quick response.

Sincerely
Shane Herbert

I would bet it is the foot valve because if the pipe was cracked, you more than likely would not have a prime and would not be able to lift the water.

Yeah. That's my thinking too. Put a checkvalve on just past the wellhead. Should fix the problem.

BTW, this new tank. Are you saying that the old tank did not have a bladder but this one does? If this one does not, how are you maintaining the air charge in the new tank? Those tanks can be setup to maintain the air charge automatically, and it is, to me, a great system. But the way that system works could explain why you are hearing water run back into the well.

Might add that you have a really small tank. Any reason why?