Well question

Looking4new · Feb 27, 2014

C4Ranch said:
Air volume control: How to Find & Repair, Replace, or Remove the Water Tank Air Volume Control

Thanks for the link.
That is a great site, found very useful info on my septic system.

speedbump · Feb 27, 2014

I do this for a living and have been for over 45 years. You have a galvanized tank with an air making system. Either your schrader valve is plugged up or your bleeder which is in your well in the drop pipe is plugged. The air control you have lets air out. It doesn't put air in. The first thing to try is replacing the schrader valve or cleaning the old one so it can allow air into the pipe once the pump shuts off. Once you clean or replace it, put a drop of water on top of the schrader valve and cycle the pump. When it shuts off, the drop of water should disappear as the schrader draws air. If it doesn't you will either have to pull the drop pipe up and clean the bleeder or change to a good bladder tank. Never put a cap on the schrader unless you are going to a bladder tank.

Vern · Feb 27, 2014

I am pretty sure the shrader valve has a cover on it. I had to take it off to get to the vale to make sure it would squirt water.
Do I need to empty the tankl to get ait back into the system?

speedbump · Feb 27, 2014

Pulling the cap off may fix the problem. Did it squirt water? The schrader squirting water others were talking about is for bladder tanks. Try the water on the schrader test. It would be a very good idea to drain the tank as soon as possible. Cycling the motor like that is not a good thing.

Vern · Feb 27, 2014

Speedbump
It squirted water when I depressed the valve with a thumb nail, will it fill with air on its own or should I add air with the commpressor?

crackerjack222 · Feb 27, 2014

Vern said:
Speedbump
It squirted water when I depressed the valve with a thumb nail, will it fill with air on its own or should I add air with the commpressor?

It should only squirt water if the pump is running. When the pump shuts off, it should allow air to enter the pipe going to the well. Adding air with a compressor is only temporary fix. Replace the Shrader (snifter) valve.
Draining the tank and restarting will also put air in the tank.

speedbump · Feb 27, 2014

In that case, if your galvanized tank is waterlogged, your bleeder is plugged. There are rubber, brass and stainless bleeders. They look like this:

They are generally about 10 to 20' down from the top of the well. If it squirted water while the pump was running the schrader is fine. If it squirted water with the pump off the bleeder is definitely plugged.

Yes, add air as soon as possible.

Vern · Feb 27, 2014

When I got home I turned the power to the pump off and took the Shrader valve cap off, I could here a short his of air. Pushed the valve down with my thumb nail and hear air. Opened the outside hose bib and filled with air from compressor until it quit bubbling. Left the valve open and turned on the breaker. Instead of 20 seconds between the switch kicking on and off their is probably a more than a minute with the hose bib open. Switch is not sounding like it is hitting so hard when it engages. Water drop on the Shrader valve disappears when pump stops. water pressure at he kitchen sink is steady, does not surge like it was. I will keep an eye on it and see what happens. Thanks for everyone's help

speedbump · Feb 28, 2014

Sounds like you have it figured out. And your not the first guy to put a cap on the schrader valve. With it off, the tank should air up even more than what it had with your compressor. Eventually you will hear air hissing out of the air release (air control) valve just before the pump kicks on.