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jlettieri · Jul 16, 2007, 01:35 PM

Recently, about 6 months ago I had installed a new Pump on our well, as well as a new Pressure tank. Yesterday the pressure dropped and I am not sure as to why. I checked my Square D automatic thing with the wire that go to it. Anyway I am thinking that maybe I need to replace it. When I cut off the water directly going to the house the pressure does not get any better. When I open the hose bib at the pump in between the Square d and the pressure tank nothing happens ( still very low pressure) any clues?? I am hoping that I don't have to pull the well AGAIN! :confused:

SUZZIE · Jul 16, 2007, 01:47 PM

Originally Posted by jlettieri

Recently, about 6 months ago I had installed a new Pump on our well, as well as a new Pressure tank. Yesterday the pressure dropped and I am not sure as to why. I checked my Square D automatic thing with the wire taht go to it. Anyways I am thinking that maybe I need to repalce it. when I cut off the water directly going to the house the pressure does not get any better. when I open the hose bib at the pump in between the Square d and the pressure tank nothing happens ( still very low pressure) any clues??? I am hoping that I dont have to pull the well AGAIN!!:confused:

Change the pressure switch

jlettieri · Jul 17, 2007, 06:12 AM

Well I changed the Square D pressure switch and still have no pressure. Wwide open the pump only has 15 to 17 pounds of pressure not eve enough to automatically turn on the pump. I think there is a problem down in the well at the pump. What would cause the Pump to stop pushing water? The pump is a Grundfus 23 stage all staneless, not plastic, pump? Any suggestions before I go pull the pump?

jlisenbe · Jul 17, 2007, 06:54 AM

Originally Posted by jlettieri

Recently, about 6 months ago I had installed a new Pump on our well, as well as a new Pressure tank. Yesterday the pressure dropped and I am not sure as to why. I checked my Square D automatic thing with the wire taht go to it. Anyways I am thinking that maybe I need to repalce it. when I cut off the water directly going to the house the pressure does not get any better. when I open the hose bib at the pump in between the Square d and the pressure tank nothing happens ( still very low pressure) any clues??? I am hoping that I dont have to pull the well AGAIN!!:confused:

Is the pump cutting on? If so, then at what point (pressure) does the switch cut the pump off?

jlettieri · Jul 17, 2007, 07:04 AM

Originally Posted by jlisenbe

Is the pump cutting on? If so, then at what point (pressure) does the switch cut the pump off?

The pump will not cut on or off for that matter unless I manually do it with the lever on the Pressure switch on the Square D. If I Hold the lever in the Start Position I can get the pump to start pumping but even so there is no real "flow" of water. Also when the pump does not pump it seems like the pump is sucking air back down the pipe. I have installed an inline one way valve and as far as I know it is working. It is in the middle of the line half way down the well.

jlisenbe · Jul 17, 2007, 10:50 AM

If you cannot get the pump to cut on other than with the override switch, then it sounds like the switch is bad. By using the manual lever, you should be able to get the pump to fill the pressure tank to 40 pounds or so within a few minutes. If it will not do that, then your problem might be with the pump (unlikely since it is new) or a falling water table which is not supplying the pump with sufficient water. I have also seen galvanized well pipe so filled with rust and corrosion that you could not have stuck a pencil through it. At any rate, the cheapest fix is the switch so you would want to start there, especially since that seems to be the only part that is not new.

Another thought. It sounds like you had new well pipe installed since the one-way valve is half way down the well. Is it possible you have a leak somewhere in the pipe? That would explain the lack of flow from the pump and also explain why you seem to here air entering the pipe from above.

jlettieri · Jul 17, 2007, 02:57 PM

The Switch is new and the pipe as well. I am using 1" PVC the pump is down 180' the air I here is only when the switch it turned off. Not when it is on it does not seem to be sucking air. We have had little rain this year and I guess it could be a pobbibility that the well is drying up (I Hope NOT) Also when the manual override to allow the pump to fill the pressure never even goes above 20 pounds.

jlisenbe · Jul 17, 2007, 03:22 PM

Sure sounds like the water table is down. When that happens, the pump can push air and water since it "cavitates" with the water low around it. That might explain the air you hear in the pipes. I have no experience with checking water table level, but there have been some posts on this site in the past that discussed it. You might search for them or Speedball might have some advice on that. You county extension service might be able to help you as well. However, it still concerns me that the switch, even though it is new, will not turn the pump on unless you manually trip it.