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JHATCH_VT · May 1, 2010, 06:44 AM

We're having problems with our water. Last weekend we drained our artesian well. Within two days the water came back and for 3 days the water was fine. We still have water in the well, I've done a static test and it's about 30 feet down in a 400 ft well. We can't get the pressure to go over 20 PSI. We've changed the pressure switch thinking that might be the problem and no luck. Any ideas? Both the pump in the well and the expansion tank were replaced 3 years ago when the pump was struck by lightning. Pump is a Goulds submersible and the expansion tank is a Well X Trol WX202

speedball1 · May 1, 2010, 07:02 AM

We can't get the pressure to go over 20 PSI. We've changed the pressure switch thinking that might be the problem and no luck. Any ideas?

Does the pump just keeps running and never shuts off? Does it pump to 20PSI and stop?
With the pump off does it hold pressure or does it fall off? What's the setting on the bladder tank? Can you fill out the details for me? Regards, Tom

JHATCH_VT · May 1, 2010, 07:21 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

Does the pump just keeps running and never shuts off? Does it pump to 20PSI and stop?
With the pump off does it hold pressure or does it fall off?
Can you fill out the details? regards, Tom

We shut the breaker to the water pump off last night as we couldn't get the pressure to hold. If we turn the breaker on and manually turn on the pressure switch, it will go up to 20 PSI, but no higher. When I shut the breaker off again and turn off the pressure switch, it will hold at 20 PSI.

jlisenbe · May 1, 2010, 09:49 AM

JHatch, Speedball's point, I think, is this. If the pump gets up to 20# and then keeps running, but can't get over 20#, then your switch is doing its job. The problem would then seem to center around the pump or the well pipe. If it gets to 20# and then the pump cuts off, then your problem is more likely the switch. It sounds like you are saying it is the first option. If that's the case, then I'm wondering about how you drained your well... with the pump? How far down is the pump? Did you replace the well pipe three years ago?

Also, you say this is an artesian well. Technically, artesian wells flow out of the ground with no need for a pump. Is that the case here?

JHATCH_VT · May 1, 2010, 10:36 AM

It's definitely not the switch, we've already replaced that. We still are not 100% sure how we drained the well. We pressure washed the house for 3 1/2 hours last week and then no water. I did a static test then and never heard anything hit water. We thought we were going to have to hydrofrac it, but then the next day, the water was back and only 30 feet down. Maybe it's not an artesian, but it's a 4 inch diameter tube that goes about 400 feet down and the goulds submersible pump is about 300 feet down. When we replaced the pump 3 years ago we never replaced the lines, as that wasn't the issue. The pump was struck by lightning. We were not having any issues until we used all the water last week. I'm wondering if sediment somehow is clogging something and preventing water from getting through? If I leave the pump on and manually turn on the pressure switch I am able to run the water in the house, but it never goes above 20 PSI. My husband is going to change the check valve and see if that might be the issue. Any ideas how to check and see if it's the expansion tank needs to be replaced before we go about pulling up the pump and line that's 300 feet in the ground? Thanks!

jlisenbe · May 1, 2010, 02:30 PM

The pump, and only the pump, generates pressure. The tank only stores water under pressure generated by... the pump. It won't hurt to check your tank. This site has a good discussion of pressure tanks:

How the Well Tank Affects Building Water Pressure & Flow

Pressure tanks usually develop problems with short cycling, meaning the pump runs a couple of seconds, shuts off, turns on, and so forth. This is due to the air reservoir at the top of the tank being gone.

You have a strange setup. Water is only thirty feet down, but the pump is three hundred feet down. That's sort of different. At any rate, I'm still thinking pump or well pipe. Won't hurt to replace the checkvalve, but I don't think that will solve your problem. That's why speedball asked if your system will hold pressure. If it does, and you stated it does, then your checkvalve is doing its job. I'm just wondering if you ran your well dry and damaged the pump when it ran dry.

JHATCH_VT · May 1, 2010, 06:22 PM

We checked the tank on the top using the tire valve looking thing and it was holding the correct amount of pressure. No water came out. We replaced the check valve and as you expected, that wasn't it. My husband is going to pull the pump tomorrow. When we get the pump out, and I'm not expecting this to be an easy task, can we tell once we have it out if it's the pump or the water line in the well?

jlisenbe · May 1, 2010, 06:41 PM

Pulling the pump is not for the faint of heart. Worst case scenario... you lose it and it drops down the well. I'd call in a pro, especially for a 300 foot pull. If your wellpipe is galvanized, keep an eye out for a leaking pipe.

Hatch, do us a favor and let us know how this gets resolved.

JHATCH_VT · May 1, 2010, 06:44 PM

Thanks for all the info. I'll let you know how it goes.

OH, the well pipe isn't galvanized. It's black plyethylene pipe. Will this make the pull easier??

creahands · May 2, 2010, 01:36 AM

I agree with jlisenbe about getting a pro to pull pump.

The pipe is in 20 foot sections. If u don't have a crane, u will have to support pipe every few feet until u get to a coup link. When u get about 23feet out, u will have to support the pipe below coup link and remove upper pipe which will be standing pretty straight up.

With a crane, a clamp is hooked to pipe and pulled up to reveal next pipe down. A support is hooked on lower pipe and upper pipe is removed and lower to ground.

This repeated until u reach pump. U also have the electric wire to contend with, that will have to be coiled as pulling.

strongly suggest u get a pro to do this.

Good luck

Chuck

JHATCH_VT · May 2, 2010, 05:08 AM

Our pipe is just the black water line, it's not galvanized. The last time we pulled it, my husbands company came with a well pump pulling machine and they coudlnt use it because of the clamps, so 3 guys pulled it by hand.

speedball1 · May 2, 2010, 05:49 AM

Look for a damaged impeller. I agree with the other experts. Have the pump brought up by a pro. Good luck, Tom

jlisenbe · May 2, 2010, 06:15 AM

The fact that it is poly helps with the pull, since it is likely a one piece pipe. There might be some splices, but even then you can pull the pipe and simply let it lay over on the ground as it comes up. But then you have to make a decision on what is the problem. Since this is a submersible pump, there won't be a suction line. You will want to look hard at the wellpipe for leaks. Checking out the pump is a different story, but at the least you could take it to a pump pro and let him make the call.

This is why I long for the day when my wife and I can get on community water!

JHATCH_VT · May 2, 2010, 03:45 PM

Here's the verdict... took 3 guys an hour to pull. No holes in the 370 feet of line, they got to the pump and found that the last guys that replaced it did not use proper clamps so the pump was BARELY hanging on... we replaced all clamps, got the pump properly secured and all is well! THANKS for all your input and advice!

creahands · May 3, 2010, 01:31 AM

Thanks for the update. Doesn't happen often

Chuck

jlisenbe · May 3, 2010, 05:27 AM

Hooray! Glad it went well for you. Thanks for letting us know how it worked out.