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susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 05:27 PM

I have a 2 pump above-ground system. Both pumps are working (I think). Water is coming from well and reservoir tank is filling, but no water is pumping to house. Replaced pressure switch on well side, bladder tank on house side, and 2 leaking pipes. Thought we could do make this a DIY project after paying plumber $125 to replace switch the last time.
Any ideas what else I can try? Thanks!

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 07:24 PM

Are you saying that you have a well, and a well pump that fills a holding tank?

And are you saying that the well pump is keeping the holding tank filled?

And are you saying that you have a second pump that fills a bladder tank from the holding tank?

If so, and the second pump is running, you should be able to confirm that by sound and by feeling the pump, then the most likely problem would be that the second pump has lost its prime. That is assuming that the second pump is at a higher elevation than the holding tank.

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 07:41 PM

Yes. I'm pretty sure that's the way it works. Both pumps are appear to be cutting on an running correctly. I'm not sure how to prime the second pump as the small bladder tank sits on top of it.

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 07:44 PM

Can you show a picture of tank and pump?

Also are you saying that both pumps are running?

How do you know that water is being pumped to the holding tank?

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 08:39 PM

http://images1.americanlisted.com/nl...a_25423855.jpg

Looks like this one minus the pressure gauge. And, of course, picture is sideways.

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 08:51 PM

Could you try another link, that pic doesn't come through.

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 08:53 PM

I ask again, how do you know that water is getting to holding tank?

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 09:14 PM

I can hear/see water coming from well. Saw reservoir filling up. The second pump/tank set up is a pressure booster system?

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 09:23 PM

OK
Just trying to understand your system. If you can see the reservoir tank fill it must be an open holding tank and well pump must be controlled by a float switch. I am assuming that the well pump comes on and off like it is supposed to. Also assuming the houses pump runs all the time.

I can pull up the link you provided but there is a big blank space in the middle so I can't really see the pump. Can only see the top of pump.

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 09:27 PM

I'm trying to find another link. It's a 5gallon diaphragm tank screwed into a pipe on top of the 2nd pump.
I apologize for the vague answers... this is my first time ever dealing with wells or pumps.

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 09:35 PM

http://www.thetankssource.com/sandie...d=0&Itemid=817

Maybe you can pull this one up. Mine doesn't have any controls or gauges, just the tank on top of the pump.

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 09:40 PM

"I am assuming that the well pump comes on and off like it is supposed to. Also assuming the houses pump runs all the time."
Your assumptions are correct.

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 09:56 PM

Not at all familiar with this system so take my comments with a grain of salt.

Does this look like the pump you have?

And you have no pressure gauge?

And this sits on top of a bladder tank?

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 10:09 PM

Looks pretty close to mine. There's a small bolt like that in the side that I guess could be the port. It's the only likely spot I can see.

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 10:22 PM

That might be the place to prime but it looks pretty small to me.

How far is the well and reservoir from the house? Is the reservoir at the same level as the house or below or above the house?

Does the well pump periodically come on and go off?

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 10:32 PM

I thought it looked small, too. The one on the other pump is on top of a pvc pipe and is much larger. The well itself is probably 100yds from the pump-works. The pumps and reservoir are right by the house. Reservoir is at same level of the house.

The well pump does go on and off periodically (though I have both pumps are unplugged now). Replaced the switch on the well pump. It ran "normally," cycling ever 2 to 3 minutes, for about 2 days until water stopped being pumped into the house.

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 10:38 PM

The well pump should not "normally" cycle every 2 or 3 minutes. The booster pump might if you were using water but not the well pump. Why did you replace the switch? Is there a pressure gauge on the reservoir?

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 10:48 PM

No pressure gauge anywhere in the works. The switch on the well pump had a broken contact and was not running at all. After that was replaced a leaking pipe was found at the 2nd pump.
Could it be possible that the way to fill the booster pump is to remove the bladder tank and fill the pipe leading to the pump?

susan_6518 · Jan 10, 2013, 10:49 PM

I've just been using a tire gauge and the gauge on the air compressor for diagnostics.

hkstroud · Jan 10, 2013, 10:57 PM

No that bladder tank is just that. It has a rubber bladder inside. When water is pumped into the tank it goes into the bladder. The bladder expands and compresses the air in the tank. That is where the pressure comes from. From the compressed air.
The pressure reading from the tank valve should be two pounds less than the pressure that the pump is set to come on.

You have not let air out or added air have you?

Do I understand correctly that prior to this problem, the well pump came on every two or three minutes? How big is the reservoir tank?