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DCLcabinowner · Apr 18, 2011, 06:50 PM

I bought a vacation cabin with a well and submersible pump. When I turn on the breaker for the pump, water flows from my garden hose for about 10 minutes then stops even though the pump continues to run. I should also add the water is really cloudy. Any suggestions?

ballengerb1 · Apr 18, 2011, 06:59 PM

Could be many things, none of which are good. The foot could be clogged or the well simply does not have enough water anymore. Do you know the depth and age of the well. Was there any warranty on the property when you bought it and has this just started to be a problem?

DCLcabinowner · Apr 19, 2011, 03:39 AM

Thanks for your answer? What is the "foot" that you are referring to? With all the sediment I'm seeing I was thinking a filter or something could be clogged. I don't know the depth or age of the well. The house was bought as-is so this is my problem.

parttime · Apr 19, 2011, 04:03 AM

DCL, you will need to know the depth of the well and detrime water level.

Your problem may be as simple as the pump to close to the bottom and sucking up debri and stopping up. So more info is needed, just post back. Good luck

DCLcabinowner · Jun 19, 2011, 07:39 AM

I pulled the pump yesterday and here is what I found. The well is about 85' deep and the best I could tell, the pump was either touching bottom or within a foot of bottom. The water level in the well was between 25 and 35 feet from the bottom. I raised the pump by 10'. From my estimate I should have at least 15' of water above the pump. When I turned on the pump, it started filling the water tank and I was watching the pressure dial. I was surprised when the pump suddenly turned off at 40 psi. I have a 40 on, 60 off pressure switch. When I turned on the water, the pressure maintained 40 psi for several seconds then suddenly plunged to zero as the water stopped flowing from my hose. I turned off the water valve and waited. After a few seconds the pump turned on again and stopped at 40 psi. I continued to wait and observed that the pump cycled on and off a few more times until the pressure eventually hit 60 psi. I replaced the pressure switch with no change in behavior

parttime · Jun 19, 2011, 11:09 AM

DCL, what's the pressure in the bladder tank? On yours it should be set to 38 psi. What size tank do you have?

jlisenbe · Jun 19, 2011, 12:30 PM

I don't think your tank is causing this problem, though you should follow parttime's advise. Just bear in mind that the system must be off and pressure drained to zero when you set the tank pressure.

Submersible pumps often have a feature that turns the pump off when the water level drops below the level of the pump. Once the level comes back up, the pump pumps again. I'm wondering if perhaps that is happening to you.