[Kathie711]

When taking a shower or doing dishes the water stops flowing and after about a minute or longer it comes back on. It does this a lot sometimes 3 times during a shower sometimes only once. While having some electrical work done... the breakers were repeatedly flipped on and off while the pump was running. We do have well water. Its seems like it is a pressure problem but we changed out the pressure switch and this did not fix the problem. I don't know if there is air that needs to be bled out. Any ideas? They did split a breaker in the box... to 2 small 20amp switches. Is the pump supposed to be on a 20 or 15amp? The well was redone about 6 years ago and this has been a problem for the past 6 months, since the same time they were doing electrical work. At this point I don't know if I should call an electrician or a plumber.

[creahands]

Check the pressure tank. Should have air pressure 2 PSI lower then turn on pressure of pressure switch.

There is an air valve on top of tank. When pressed if you get water , tank needs to be replaced.

Tank should be part way fill of water , not to top.

Chuck

[Kathie711]

Check the pressure tank. Should have air pressure 2 PSI lower then turn on pressure of pressure switch.

There is an air valve on top of tank. When pressed if you get water , tank needs to be replaced.

Tank should be part way fill of water , not to top.

Chuck

Chuck,

The tank sounds like it is not full and my son said no water is coming out of the air valve on top of the tank. Any other ideas?

[hkstroud]

The key thing in Chuck's question is the air pressure and the pump switch cut on setting.

The pre-charge pressure, the air pressure in the tank when it is empty of all water, has to be two pounds less than the pressure that switch comes on. That makes the pump come on just before you run out of water in the tank.

Remove the cover on the pump switch so you can see (and hear) when the switch closes and starts the pump.

Open a faucet, watch the pump switch, when it clicks and moves, look at the pressure gauge. You will then know what the cut on pressure is. Most of the time people set their pumps to cut on at 30 lbs and off at 50 lbs or to cut on at 40 and off at 60 lbs. When you set the cut on pressure, the cut off pressure is automatically set.

Now turn off the breakers and drain the tank of all water. You should have a drain valve close to the tank.

Check the air pressure with a tire gauge, just like you would if you were checking your tires. If you cut on pressure was 30 your tire gauge should read 28 lbs.

Add or let out air as necessary.

Sounds like your pre-charge pressure is to high and that is making you pump not come on until you have completely run out of water.