[JeanDIY]

I've had a little air in my system since I moved into this house(1986). It hasn't been that big of an agitation so Iet it go. In the past several months I've had excessive amounts of air in the system, but the pump always performed OK. Now I have a situation where the pump draws water, then a lot of air comes in, and a mixture enters the bladder tank. I replaced the switch already hoping the diaphragm was the culprit, but the new switch doesn't remedy the problem. I can release all the water from the tank and watch the pressure gauge go to '0' and the pump doesn't make a whimper. I took the time to time the cut-in last night and at 30 minutes the pump came on again. I don't have a schematic of the inner layout of the pump/waterline so I'm only making wild guesses now, and my background is in TelCo lines, not plumbing lines. All I can figure is air is trapped in the line to the switch although it does not register on the pressure gauge. Is that at all likely? I already fiddled around with the switch to increase the cut-in pressure(and cut-out as well, naturally) so it now goes up to 60(30/50 switch), but still drops to '0' and nothing. I find it hard to believe my well might be running dry, but can't fathom another explanation(and surely HOPE my well isn't running dry because it's the best water in this area--a shallow well 4 miles from the Atlantic coast). I dread calling someone I do not know to come make his best guess, as I quite realize that Experience and history is the best solution and don't know of anyone around here who would fit that description. And I don't feel like paying $400 let alone $4000 for nothing. Any ideas you'd suggest I'd quite appreciate.

[hkstroud]

While you were waiting and timeing how log it took for the pump to come on did you look to see if the points of the switch were closed?
Is the switch mounted on the well piping or do you have a small copper tube from the tank to the switch.

Is this a submersible pump?

[jlisenbe]

Good advice. Check those points for sure. If they are closed, then the switch is doing it's job. If they are open, then either the switch, or something affecting the switch, is the place to look.