[mpz17315]

I’m having issues with my well. When I manually hold the switch the PSI’s go up to 50 and hold. The pressure is good for few minutes but the PSI’s drop to 0 and the pump will not get back on unless, I manually hold the switch. I changed the filter and I put on new pressure switch. The tank isn’t spurting water (I released a little air to check.) I can’t figure out what he problem is. The well is deep (100+) and when we replaced the pump, last year, it hit water at about 50 feet.

1 year old ½ hp Grundfos pump
The wiring from the pump to the top of the well is new (replaced with the pump)
New switch 30/50 PSI
The tank is older but it seems to be holding pressure

I’m not sure what to do next. Please help.

[Studs ad]

Either pressure switch isn't seeing the change in pressure due to whatever reason, such as plugged line, or the switch has the wrong cut in and cut out pressure set points. Did you replace the pressure switch with one that is for your range? Have you messed with the cut in and cut out adjustments on the new pressure switch? If the pressure at the switch drops below the cut in pressure the switch should close and pump until it hits the cut out pressure. (two springs with bolts and nuts on top to adjust). See the inside cover of the pressure switch cap for instructions. You may have purchased the wrong pressure switch too.
If the pump will pump when you manually turn it on, and you get water, then the pump and the well shouldn't be the issue. If it were the pressure tank, the pump would probably cycle, but not correctly, so that basically leaves the pressure switch as the culprit as the main suspect component.

[mpz17315]

Thanks, I adjusted the switch, same problem, manually holding the switch it gets up to 50 PSI's the pressure is good for a few minutes and than dies off, check the tank and the pressure dips to 0 PSI's and doesn't turn back on unless I manually hold it down. You brought up a possibility of a plug, that filter in the picture is the new one it got that dirty after a few minutes, could that be a sign of a clog/plug?

Either pressure switch isn't seeing the change in pressure due to whatever reason, such as plugged line, or the switch has the wrong cut in and cut out pressure set points. Did you replace the pressure switch with one that is for your range? Have you messed with the cut in and cut out adjustments on the new pressure switch? If the pressure at the switch drops below the cut in pressure the switch should close and pump until it hits the cut out pressure. (two springs with bolts and nuts on top to adjust). See the inside cover of the pressure switch cap for instructions. You may have purchased the wrong pressure switch too.
If the pump will pump when you manually turn it on, and you get water, then the pump and the well shouldn't be the issue. If it were the pressure tank, the pump would probably cycle, but not correctly, so that basically leaves the pressure switch as the culprit as the main suspect component.

[jlisenbe]

The pressure is good for few minutes but the PSI's drop to 0

Is that when water is being used or when no water is being used?

When you replaced the switch, did you check to make sure the little pipe leading to it was clear?

When pressure hits thirty, you should hear an audible "click" as the switch engages. Do you hear that click?

Once pressure gets below 20 or so, the switch has a safety feature that basically turns everything off. It is "assuming" that the well has run out of water. That's why you have to push the reset lever everytime. So it becomes an issue of trying to figure out why the pump is not turning on once pressure gets to thirty. Listen for that click, or you can remove the cover and just watch the points. They should close and produce that click at around 30 pounds.

[mpz17315]

Thanks, it holds at 50 PSI's when I manually turn it on it stays at 50 PSI's till I run the water once that pressure is gone it never turns back on. I installed a new pipe with the switch.

Is that when water is being used or when no water is being used?

When you replaced the switch, did you check to make sure the little pipe leading to it was clear?

When pressure hits thirty, you should hear an audible "click" as the switch engages. Do you hear that click?

Once pressure gets below 20 or so, the switch has a safety feature that basically turns everything off. It is "assuming" that the well has run out of water. That's why you have to push the reset lever everytime. So it becomes an issue of trying to figure out why the pump is not turning on once pressure gets to thirty. Listen for that click, or you can remove the cover and just watch the points. They should close and produce that click at around 30 pounds.

I put on another switch one without a shut off lever and it seems to working good.

[speedball1]

Thanks for the update. Always nice to hear back, Good luck, Tom

[mpz17315]

Thanks Tom. Works good now for about 1/2 hour, I think it might be the tank.

Thanks for the update. Always nice to hear back, Good luck, Tom

Everything works good in house now however when I use the hose it works good for 10 minutes or so and loose pressure. It's a 150 foot hose.

[jlisenbe]

Did you remove the cover and check to see if the switch points are closing when the pressure gets down to 30#? That should be a slow, gradual drop over several minutes going from 50 to 30, not quick. If the points are closing (click!), then the switch has done its job. It might be that the pump is cutting on, but the well is not supplying enough water and so pressure just keeps falling. But you need to find out if the switch points are closing properly.

I don't think you have a problem with your tank.

[mpz17315]

I think it has something to do with the hose running so far away from the house.

Did you remove the cover and check to see if the switch points are closing when the pressure gets down to 30#? That should be a slow, gradual drop over several minutes going from 50 to 30, not quick. If the points are closing (click!), then the switch has done its job. It might be that the pump is cutting on, but the well is not supplying enough water and so pressure just keeps falling. But you need to find out if the switch points are closing properly.

I don't think you have a problem with your tank.

[jlisenbe]

I think it has something to do with the fact that water goes through an outside water hose at a greater volume than through a shower head or indoor faucet. Harder for the pump to keep up with.

Check the points!!

[Studs ad]

Missed a couple of conversations. Was the pressure problem you are experiencing just start or was it that way before you had the other problem?

[mpz17315]

The new switch doesn’t have a cut off lever. Everything is working good except when I run the hose for more than 10 minutes, it slows to a drop. The hose is a 150 foot long and the outlet is on the back of the house furthest from the pump. My guess is that the pump can’t keep with the pressure needed to pump the water that far. I got a pool but had and I need to top it off a couple inches (I had a truck deliver most of the water) all I needed to do was top it off a couple of inches. Hopefully we’ll get a few down pours to help with that in the future.

[Studs ad]

I am going to assume that you have adequate pressure for a while and then it drops off.
Did this just start happening when you replaced the switch or was it that way before?

3 Scenarios that I see:
1)pump is pumping long enough to draw water table down to the bottom of the pump. You get good flow for about 10 minutes and the water table drops and the pump just is able to pick up small amounts of water in spurts as the water table tries to recover to its original height. I assume that if you keep the water off for a while, then the process can be repeated again. Water table fills- pumps till water table drops, then little or no water. I don't know how active your water table is(how fast it replenishes itself)
2)Improper air pressure setting on pressure tank, not likely, but could assist in balancing the issue a little better and giving you more reserve.
3)Cut in pressure too low on pressure switch to start pump. Pump starts too late and simply can't catch up or doesn't start at all. I doubt this is the case, but a combination of things can make matters worse.

I can help you test each of these if you want to. The first one and most likely one given the information I have can only be mitigated by lowering your pump further down in the well if possible- That is like giving it a larger reservoir of water to work from before it runs out.
The other two are adjustment procedures that you can check and do.
Let me know from here. Good luck!
Note: you may never encounter this problem when you aren't using an open hose, household usage is not the same as running an open hose. Even running a sprinkler will probably not use the GPM that the open hose does. Try a short hose and let it run open for awhile and see if the same thing happens. Let us know what you find!

[mpz17315]

Pretty sure its 1)pump is pumping long enough to draw water table down to the bottom of the pump. You get good flow for about 10 minutes and the water table drops and the pump just is able to pick up small amounts of water in spurts as the water table tries to recover to its original height. I assume that if you keep the water off for a while, then the process can be repeated again. Water table fills- pumps till water table drops, then little or no water. I don't know how active your water table is(how fast it replenishes itself)

[Studs ad]

Pretty sure its 1)pump is pumping long enough to draw water table down to the bottom of the pump. You get good flow for about 10 minutes and the water table drops and the pump just is able to pick up small amounts of water in spurts as the water table tries to recover to its original height. I assume that if you keep the water off for a while, then the process can be repeated again. Water table fills- pumps till water table drops, then little or no water. I don't know how active your water table is(how fast it replenishes itself)

Thanks for the heads up. Glad to know what it ended up being.

[jlisenbe]

Pretty sure its 1)pump is pumping long enough to draw water table down to the bottom of the pump. You get good flow for about 10 minutes and the water table drops and the pump just is able to pick up small amounts of water in spurts as the water table tries to recover to its original height. I assume that if you keep the water off for a while, then the process can be repeated again. Water table fills- pumps till water table drops, then little or no water. I don't know how active your water table is(how fast it replenishes itself)

I found his reply to be a little confusing. Almost sounds like he is talking about someone else's system ("I don't know how active your water table is...").