[tjshan68]

I have a new to me house with a well that I was told is about 8-10 years old. The well is some 50' deep, and has a submersible pump in it 9dont know what kind) in the garage is a large (55 gal drum size) frp tank and on the bottom of the tank is a square D pumptrol regularot. 16 months now and no problems with the water supply until tonight, when we had no water pressure. I cycled the regulator on and off, it seemed to hold for a few minutes, then tripped again. Does this sound like it could be the regulator? If I cycle it, it it seems to take a few times to catch and I can see the pressure go up, but then if I watch the contacts they slowly open and the pressure goes down.

Thanks for any help.

Tom

[speedball1]

I cycled the regulator on and off, it seemed to hold for a few minutes, then tripped again.

By "regulator" do you mean the breakers? Are you blowing/tripping the breaker? Let's hear back from you. Regards, Tom

[tjshan68]

Hi,

No I meant the pumptrol pressure regulator. I replaced the regulator today with a brand new one... and represurrized the FRP bladder tank. Now I get a similar problem, though not exactly the same.

The pump runs and brings the pressure up to 50#, the top limit of the new pressure regulator, the as pressure bleeds off (open a faucet) right at 30# ( which is the lower limit of the pressure regulator) the regulator contacts will close, then snap open again. When this happens, the line pressure immediately drops to zero.

I must admit... I am confused, very confused. Please help

Tom

[speedball1]

When the pump is up to 50 PSI and shuts off does the pressure hold or does it bleed off until the pump starts again.

[tjshan68]

It seems to hold, I don't know for how long but the 50# holds for at least 10-15 min or so.

Are you thinking it could be the check valve at the pump? The well is some 200' deep so pulling it would be a real job I think.

Not sure what the deal is with the pressure tank, I pressurized it to 30 psi when I changed the regulator before I turned the fuses back on. When I checked it while the pump was holding 50#, the air pressure was 50# so that seems right.

One other piece of information my wife just told me I do not know if it relevant or not. I shocked the well with 2 gallons of chlorine about two months ago. The water was super for about a month after that, then we had a horrendiouse rainstorm and right after the rainstorm she says the water got very brown and had a lot of sediment in it. I was away so I did not know, but she says she changed the filter we have twice in that time frame.

Thanks for helping, I am at a loss

[tjshan68]

Speedball,

One other piece of information, when filling the pressure tank with air I got some water out of the schrader valve, so I guess the bladder is ruptured. It is a WellMate tank... does it make sense to try to replace the bladder or is it better to just change the whole tank... I have read some things online that changing a bladder is like giving yourself open heart surgery.

[speedball1]

does it make sense to try to replace the bladder or is it better to just change the whole tank...

On smaller tanks the cost of replacing a bladder may exceed the cost of replacing the tank. Replace the tank and let us know how itworks out for you. Good luck, Tom