[jchretien4]

Hi - wondering if any of you guys can help me out. Bought a house in MD 6 months ago with well and septic. Was vacant for 2 years before we moved in last winter. Have a Craftsman 390.291758 Captive Air Tank in the basement with a Pumptrol switch. Specs say the Pumptrol default setting was cut-in at 30 PSI and cut-out at 50 PSI. The pressure gauge attached to the base of the tank rises sharply from 45 psi at cut-in to 80 psi at cut-out. If water is being used, the pressure drops fairly quickly and steadily from 80 to 45, when the pump cuts in again. Pump is at or in the well, I believe. Maybe a one-minute cycle or so. Holds pressure if no water is being used, as far as I can tell. I think the tank is 220 gallons, as it is about 4 feet high and 2 feet in diameter. The metal tank seems cooler in the bottom half, suggesting there is water in it. I know the last month - August - has been quite dry. Problem is low and fluctuating water pressure. Can't have two showers going in the house at the same time. Can't run a decent sprinkler.

Is this a well problem? A pump problem? A tank problem? Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.