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Glenn Bob · Nov 7, 2012, 07:41 PM

Over the past few years the water flow from the well to our house has been decreasing. The well is not a deep well and has plastic pipe from the well almost to the house where is goes to galvanized pipe and then up into our garage to the pressure switch and tank. Before I look at digging and replacing the pipe because of suspected crud build up in the pipe is there any other problem that might cause the issue?

The pump kicks on then off every ~20 seconds. The pressure builds quickly at the switch and falls off quickly when water is used. Switch is set for 40 - 60 psi. Could something be wrong with the bladder in the tank?

creahands · Nov 8, 2012, 12:27 AM

Welcome to AMHD,glen bob

Does the pump turn on without the use of water?

Is pressure gauge dropping to 40 psi before pump goes on and up to 60psi when it goes off.

Chuck

1speedbump · Nov 8, 2012, 06:51 AM

When you say the pump comes on for 20 seconds then turns off and back on again. Does this happen when your using water or not?

What kind and brand of pump and tank do you have?

What do you know about the well? Do you know if it's screened or a rock well?

speedball1 · Nov 8, 2012, 07:32 AM

The fitting I'd be giving a hard look would be the check/foot valve. Good luck, Tom

Glenn Bob · Nov 11, 2012, 12:16 PM

Originally Posted by creahands

Welcome to AMHD,glen bob

Does the pump turn on without the use of water?

Is pressure gauge dropping to 40 psi before pump goes on and up to 60psi when it goes off.

Chuck

The pump does not kick on without water being used. And, yes, the pressure gauge is behaving correctly.

Glenn Bob · Nov 11, 2012, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by 1speedbump

When you say the pump comes on for 20 seconds then turns off and back on again. Does this happen when your using water or not?

What kind and brand of pump and tank do you have?

What do you know about the well? Do you know if it's screened or a rock well?

We just added air pressure to the holding tank and that has helped a little. Don't know what type of tank - it has been here since we moved in 25 years ago. The pump is a Teel deep well submersible pump. The well is not that deep. I do not know if it is screened or a rock well.

Glenn Bob · Nov 11, 2012, 12:24 PM

Originally Posted by speedball1

The fitting I'd be giving a hard look would be the check/foot valve. Good luck, Tom

Where would that be? We solved the problem with the pump kicking on and off all the time by adding air pressure to the holding tank. Pressure is still not as high as it should be.

jlisenbe · Nov 11, 2012, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by ;

The pump kicks on then off every ~20 seconds. The pressure builds quickly at the switch and falls off quickly when water is used.

Glenn, I'd say you have a waterlogged tank. The symptoms sure fit it. That's the reason your problem lessened when you added some air to the tank. Try this. Turn off the breaker and completely drain the tank through a low level faucet. Use a compressor to put 10# or so of pressure in the tank in the air valve on top. Turn the breaker back on. I would guess your short-cycling problem will be gone. If it is, then your tank is bad.

Now you have to decide what kind of tank it is. Is it painted or galvanized? If it is painted, it is almost certainly a bladder tank. If so, then the bladder is ruptured, which is not surprising considering how old it is. It will need replacing. Thankfully, that is not difficult.