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Gambler40 · Jul 29, 2010, 04:42 PM

I have a well but haven't used it since last year. Went to use it and the sprinkler starts great but only last a few minutes then no pressure or hardly any water. Checked pressure tank and added 8 lbs of air pressure when tank was empty. This did not make a difference. The pump is running as I can hear it in the well casing. I can see water in the bottom of the casing but can't tell how much. The well is about 35 feet deep. Last year I could run 4 sprinklers strong at the same time. Any suggestions?

speedball1 · Jul 29, 2010, 04:56 PM

Is this a surface or a submersible pump?

checked pressure tank and added 8 lbs of air pressure when tank was empty.

Let's recharge the bladder tank with the correct setting.
Your air setting on the tank should be 2 pounds UNDER the cut in point in the pressure control box. If your pressure control has a 20 PSI cut in and 40 PSI cut out the tank pressure should read 18 PSI. The bladder tank setting MUST be made with the pump off and the system bled down by opening a cold water faucet after you shut the system down at the breaker box.
As for your loss of pressure. If you wait for a hour or so and try again do you have pressure and it's good and then peters out?
Let me know, Tom

Gambler40 · Jul 29, 2010, 05:02 PM

It is a 30/50 tank and it is set at 28. I did drain the tank with lines blead. Even with the well pump on the hose at the pressure tank (I have it running over to my sump pit) puts out a lot of water at first but the pressure continues to drop until it reaches 20 then it drops immediately to zero. The hose at that time still has a slow stream of water coming out.

When I let it set awhile the tank will get pressurized again and there will be water pressure but only for a few minutes.

I believe it is a submersible pump.

speedball1 · Jul 29, 2010, 10:34 PM

Sounds like you're pulling your water table down until the pump can no longer function.
As the table builds back up the pump starts operating again only to pull the table down again. That's just my take on it so I'd get a well guy out there to check. Good luck, Tom

jlisenbe · Jul 30, 2010, 04:38 AM

"the hose at that time still has a slow stream of water coming out."

Speedball sounds right. That slow stream of water is about all your pump is giving you, so that tells you something. Need to be careful. Running a pump when its dry or semi-dry can burn it up. You might be able to drop that pump a few feet further down the well shaft, but as SB said, it would be good to bring in a pro and see what he thinks.

Gambler40 · Jul 30, 2010, 06:56 AM

Originally Posted by speedball1

Sounds like you're pulling your water table down until the pump can no longer function.
As the table builds back up the pump starts operating again only to pull the table down again. That's just my take on it so I'd get a well guy out there to check. Good luck, Tom

Thanks for your help.

speedball1 · Jul 30, 2010, 07:47 AM

Please keep us informed of further developers. Tom