Water Well Pump Monitor???

[SPYDERLK]

Well, the chances are its leaking at the same rate. Check your active storage volume now and periodically to gauge your next re up before it gets critical.

 

[Xfaxman]

Well, the chances are its leaking at the same rate. Check your active storage volume now and periodically to gauge your next re up before it gets critical.

I can tell it has more storage volume now, because after I flush the toilet, it takes longer for the light to come on. :thumbsup:

 

[SPIKER]

I sure am glad that I rigged up the "pump on" light, last year. I got in the habit of looking at it every time that I washed my hands in the bathroom sink. Last night I noticed a problem, the pump would run for 2 seconds, off 4 seconds, on 2 seconds, off 4 seconds, and do that until I turned off the faucet.

Without the light, I never would have known there was a problem until the pump would have died.

The guy that installed the system many years ago came out and pulled the pressure tank. It had lost pressure down to 12 pounds. Raised it back to 42 pounds and everything is working right again! When the light is on the pump is running. :thumbsup:

For the non-believers, here is the in the casing pressure tank.

So you Pressure Tank is the Large Dia part of the pipe?

Interesting seems like a real "Pain" all of the ones I have seen are like 30~80 gallon above ground round tanks setting inside home in utilities closet/basement or laundry type room... Next time might want to install one of them for about same cost as what U were charged to pull and re-charge the one shown...

Mark

 

[Xfaxman]

So you Pressure Tank is the Large Dia part of the pipe? Yep, that is it. In-Well Technologies - Who We Are

Interesting seems like a real "Pain" all of the ones I have seen are like 30~80 gallon above ground round tanks setting inside home in utilities closet/basement or laundry type room... Next time might want to install one of them for about same cost as what U were charged to pull and re-charge the one shown...

Mark

The water well was installed in 2005, the house was built in 2006, we bought it in 2011, there is no easy way to put a pressure tank in the house and don't want to build a heated well house at the well.

I like the way the cycle stop valve works and with the light, I know if water is running or leaking anywhere in the system, especially in the out buildings.

Cycle Stop Constant Pressure Control Valves
Cycle Stop Valves, Inc.

 

[Xfaxman]

---But maybe almost as good would be a pressure gauge in the house that you could monitor.
larry

An inside pressure indicator would work to ("make sure the pump was running") it should also let you keep an eye on the cut in and cut out settings...

---

Thanks, I did think of that after I answered your post. The water heater would be the best place.
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Thanks to everyone for your ideas.

Watch a gauge while you run water slowly. That gives you pump ON/OFF pressure and an idea of makup time. Run water variously. Note if you can stall or reverse pressure rise. After that when you glance at the gauge you will see whether it is w/i pressure and whether rising/falling/static. Rising may or may not be during water usage. Static could be pump OFF no usage or pump ON at full capacity usage. Not likely to see it balance so close that you dont see a pressure creep. A bit of experimentation and you will be able to know a lot about the state of the system and know how to check it when in doubt by observing pressure while using water or not to get it to go on or to favor it going off.

I should have updated this thread a couple of months ago, I finally installed a pressure gauge at the water heater.

The gauge shows ON = 32, OFF = 50. Since it is a constant pressure system, when water is running somewhere, the pressure will slowly drop as water leaves the pressure tank, at 32 PSI the pump turns on.

The gauge rises to 40 PSI, stays there as long as water is running. When the flow stops the pressure rises as the pressure tank fills. The pump cuts off at 50 PSI, and the gauge stays there until water is used somewhere.

With 5 outdoor hydrants and a wash stall in the horse barn, it is very good to see no pressure drop when nothing is on, that means no leaks.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Youve really got a 'handle' on it now! Thanks for the update.

 

[Xfaxman]

Youve really got a 'handle' on it now! Thanks for the update.

Thanks for your ideas, maybe this thread will help someone in the future.

About a week ago, when I flushed the toilet, the monitor light came on normal, but went off about halfway through the cycle, then on after 10 seconds, off after 10 and repeated this pattern until the flow stopped.

I watched the gauge when water was being used anywhere in the system and could see the same pattern, the pressure was not constant, while water was flowing. I figured the In-Well pressure tank was loosing the pre-charge again.

I called tech support at Cycle Stop Valves, he said I could add a pressure tank in the water line to restore normal operation. So I started digging.

The valve box for the outbuildings cutoff valve was full of rainwater.

Got the PVC and PEX cleaned off ready to add a Tee.

 

[Xfaxman]

Since we don't want a heated pressure tank house, I ordered the pside Kick system and teed in that pressure tank.

It is temporarily above ground until I can find a waterproof container with an access lid, to bury it and the new cycle stop valve in. Then we will remove the old valve and pressure tank from the casing.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Wow. How fortuitous to catch these things quickly. ... That tank should probably be installed upright to prevent accumulation of any sediment in the bladder.

 

[Xfaxman]

I measured the pipe today, it sure looks bigger.

It is definitely a six inch casing.

The pressure switch has a vinyl tube on it, so you can pull it up easily.