[kmb2113]

I replaced my well pump a week ago because it wasn't getting over 30psi. I replaced with a Flotec from Home Depot set at 30-50psi. It worked fine for a week until yesterday morning. After the morning showers it kept running and wouldn't get over 40psi. This problem persists every time I turn the pump on. The pressure in the tank is 28-30psi, there doesn't appear to be any leaks, and I cleaned the venturi nozzle. Now I am lost, could the pump be bad after a week?

[jlisenbe]

HOw many lines go into the well, one or two? If one, then how far down to water is it?

[speedball1]

When you shut the pump off does the gage drop to zero? Back to you, Tom

[kmb2113]

Gauge stays at 40psi when the pump is turned off and will stay there overnight. There is one line, shallow well, 12.5' - 14' to water and 25' to bottom of well. The one problem I have is the line comes in the basement about 3' off the floor and the pump is about 2' off the floor... which means it creates a high point. Once the pump is primed I wouldn't think this would be a problem though, and it worked this way for at least a year for me and who knows how long for the previous homeowner.

[speedball1]

When the pump's off and the pressure's bled off what's the reading on the bladder tanbk?The reading should be 38 PSI.
I can see no problem with the height of the service line. Cheers, Tom

[kmb2113]

Well, I have since replaced my line from the well to the house, installed a new foot valve and the problem is now worse. I can't get the pump over 20psi. I put 10psi of air on my suction piping and held for half hour, so I know there aren't any leaks. Discharge piping stays at whatever psi it was at when the pump was turned off, so there are no leaks there either. It is 12' from grade to water, and 21' from grade to foot valve. 25' tape doesn't hit the bottom of the well. After running pump for half hour water level only drops 2'. So I have plenty of water, no leaks in the suction line, and a pump that won't pump to capacity. It acts as if the system is starved for water and I can hear water running back in the pipes after pump is turned off. The tank is a non issue at this point because I can't get the discharge piping to pressurize with the tank isolated from the system. At this point I am starting to think my pump doesn't have the capacity to pull from the well. I don't want to buy another new pump if this is the case and how do I prove to Flotec it's faulty? I checked the foot valve tonight, it wasn't plugged or stuck.

[speedball1]

I am starting to think my pump doesn't have the capacity to pull from the well.

We're both thinking along the same lines. You've checked everything up to the pump and everything checks OK. It time to give the pump a good hard look. I'm thinking a faulty impeller would give you the problem you now have. Can you have the pump looked at? Back to you, Tom

[kmb2113]

I forgot to mention that I rebuilt the pump already. Replaced all the gaskets, seals, and impeller. Existing impeller had chunks of debris from the old galvanized piping so I thought for sure it was going to fix the problem, but when I put the pump back together it didn't change a thing. I even checked the voltage going to the pump to make sure I wasn't getting a huge voltage drop and that checked out OK. I have a new lead I am going to try tonight. Removing a possible air bubble from high point in the piping. I'm going to flip my down pipe upside down and fill from the foot valve. This should give me enough head pressure to push out any air bubbles that could be in the system. I will check back to let you know how this goes.

[kmb2113]

I tried repriming the pump probably about 15-20 times with no success. I cut in a tee at the high point in the crawl space and would fill from there. I would get to a point where the whole system was full of water and as soon as I would use some water I would be right back where I started with air in the lines. Had a local plumber come out with a new Goulds pump... problem solved. Flotec and Home Depot will be hearing from me. Never purchase a Flotec model FP4112 pump unless you want headaches. It has been working fine for 3 days now, still sounds like there's some air in the pump though. I will probably try repriming from in the crawl space because they just filled with water at the pump when we changed it out.

[speedball1]

I tried repriming the pump probably about 15-20 times with no success. I cut in a tee at the high point in the crawl space and would fill from there. I would get to a point where the whole system was full of water and as soon as I would use some water I would be right back where I started with air in the lines. Had a local plumber come out with a new Goulds pump...problem solved. Flotec and Home Depot will be hearing from me. Never purchase a Flotec model FP4112 pump unless you want headaches. It has been working fine for 3 days now, still sounds like there's some air in the pump though. I will probably try repriming from in the crawl space because they just filled with water at the pump when we changed it out.

Wow! What a story . My bet was on a faulty impeller but you shot that down when you rebuilt the pump. Thanks for the update. Did you ever nail down the source of the problem? Regards,Tom

[jlisenbe]

I really don't see how you prime at the pump when the pump is a foot lower than the incoming pipe from the well. Like you, I would think you'd have to put in a T or some other means of priming directly into the pipe.

Glad you got it going. Nice to have water.

[kmb2113]

Not really, I just assume the pump didn't have the capacity to do the job. Whether it was a faulty motor or something else, I am not sure. What I do know is Home Depot took the pump back so I at least recouped those costs. Thanks for the help!