[Moonman910]

I have a Flotec 30/50psi Shallow well pump w/15gallon bladder tank installed under our cabin (2 years old). We pump water from the springhouse in the warm months. The pump won't reach 50psi & sometimes won't shut off. It kicks on at 20psi and shuts off at 35psi. It struggles to get to 35psi. It runs for 3-5 minutes before shutting off. I drained the pump & water lines, emptied the tank, recharged it to 28psi. Re-primed the pump and get the same results. I have been playing with the pressure switch settings and it's so frustrating. Do you have any clue of what I should do?

[jlisenbe]

Moon, you evidently have a 30/50 pressure switch that has been adjusted down to 20/35. As you stated, the pump struggling to reach 35 would explain why the pump continues to run so much. Your tank should be set at 18# since you stated the pump cuts on at 20#. The tank should be set 2# below the cut in pressure with the system drained to zero pressure.

However, that is not your problem. A few questions:

1. Has it ever, in your experience, worked properly?
2. If so, has anything changed that would cause this, such as work on the pump?
3. Have you checked the wellpipe to be sure there are no leaks?
4. How old is the pump?

[Moonman910]

The pump is 2 years old. It never operated at 30/50. Always 20/30. There are no leaks because it holds it's pressure when it shuts off. It just doesn't go any higher than 35psi. This is so frustrating. My next step is to kidnap my Master Plumber buddy and take him to the mountain cabin for a weekend! I was hoping I could fix it... Question: I have been doing some research and do all shallow well pumps have a 'control valve'? It says here that it should remian open on shallow well pumps. I never found or adjusted a 'control valve'.

[jlisenbe]

http://www1.agric.gov.ab.ca/$department/deptdocs.nsf/all/agdex1143

Looking on the above site, it appears the control valve is just an on/off valve to keep the pump from pumping to the tank, for whatever reason.

It might be that your pump is doing about all that can be expected. You probably have one pipe from the pump going to your water source. As the site above states, jet pumps lose efficiency as the amount of lift increases. If that is the case with you, you might be able to simply move the pump closer to the water supply and thus decrease the amount of lift. The pump will have no problem pumping uphill as opposed to trying to draw water from downhill.

[Moonman910]

Thank you for your reply. The springhouse is located approx. 30 yards from the cabin and the line runs uphill to the pump located under the cabin. You think the reason we do not get 30/50psi is because of the distance the pump is pulling the water and would be better 'pushing' it to the cabin?

[jlisenbe]

It's not so much distance as it is elevation. I'm having to speculate here some since I'm not there at your site, but generally speaking jet pumps don't like elevation and won't work at all once you get past 25 feet or so. It seems your system has never worked the way you want it to, so that could point to a problem with elevation. I am assuming, by the way, that you have one line running from the springhouse to the pump, not two. That does make a difference.

It would probably be a relatively simple undertaking to just try moving the pump closer, even on a temporary basis, and see if your problem improves.

[Moonman910]

Problem solved! I visited a local Well Drilling & Pump Sales & Service business on my last trip to the cabin. The owner gave me 2 things to check that I hadn't checked before. The problem ended up being a clog in the venturi/nozzle inside the main housing of the pump. The owner's manual addressed some troubleshooting items but never explained 'how' to clean the venturi/nozzle. I removed the upper plug at the front of the pump (where the main water line comes in from the springhouse. I took a wire coat hanger and worked in into the housing. I hit something hard, which ended up being silt & dirt that had built up over the past 2 years. I was able to break the clog and when I replaced the plug, primed the pump and ran it a few times, it reached 45 psi and shut off in 15 seconds or less each time. Cleaning the venturi is now going to become part of our tearly 'routine' when we turn the water on & prime the pump each Spring. Thank you for your assistance on this matter. I hope this helps anyone else experiencing a similar problem. The problem is solved and my frustration has ended! :)

[jlisenbe]

Glad you got it fixed, and thanks for letting us know the resolution of the problem.