Air in well water line.

[scesnick]

I posted recently about finally getting my residential water from the creek instead of the crappy well we drilled.

I put a 3/4HP submersible pump in the creekbed with a check valve down there. then the waterline runs 500ft up to my house. I then have another check valve just before my 30/50 pressure switch.

The problem is everytime we turn the water on we get a large amount of air into the system. I am REALLY,REALLY hoping I don't have a hole in the supply line. I did dig it up once this summer to find the electrical splice. But, I didn't think I touched the pipe. (atleast i hope I didn't)

I do have the submersible pump laying on it's side under the water. It is inside a 6 inch piece of schedule 40 pipe with plenty of holes drilled into it. Could the pump be causing some type of vortex allowing air into the system? I stood there and watched while the pump ran and I didn't notice a thing.

Since I have a check valve right at the tank, The pressure in the tank wouldn't change even if the pipe was leaking underground. Atleast I wouldn't think so.

Possibly the tank is bad but it doesn't seem waterlogged.

What if I took the check valve off at the tank and then re connected the pipe. I would think if the pipe was leaking underground then, the pressure would drop and the pump would kick on even when the water is not running ...

maybe I am way off, Maybe it is in my tank or even the pressure switch ....... Any ideas. ????

 

[Army grunt]

Un hook the supply line an using a compressor pressurize the line an with a air gauge check to see if the line is holding. next look at the pump if its not getting enough water it will act as if it was getting air. also your tank might be water logged. you need to drain it an add air in the pressure fitting.
Army Grunt

 

[scesnick]

Un hook the supply line an using a compressor pressurize the line an with a air gauge check to see if the line is holding. next look at the pump if its not getting enough water it will act as if it was getting air. also your tank might be water logged. you need to drain it an add air in the pressure fitting.
Army Grunt

Thanks Army grunt.

I checked the tank the prssure seems to be on par with specs. Mybe the pump isn't getting enough water since I have it inside the shcedule 40 pipe. I am also beginning to wonder about the pump lying on its side.

 

[mrmikey]

I'm wondering if it might not be that you have two check valves instead of one. I remember when last summer I had to put a new submersable deep well pump in, they recommended against it, be darned if I remember why tho and I can't find the paperwork. It had something to do with trapping air between the two valves at pressure and not allowing them to open or some such thing. I'll keep looking.....Mike

 

[scesnick]

I'm wondering if it might not be that you have two check valves instead of one. I remember when last summer I had to put a new submersable deep well pump in, they recommended against it, be darned if I remember why tho and I can't find the paperwork. It had something to do with trapping air between the two valves at pressure and not allowing them to open or some such thing. I'll keep looking.....Mike

I can easily take the one off at the tank and see if that helps. Thanks.

 

[mrmikey]

Can't find my paperwork unfortunately but I did find this on line Submersible Pumps and multiple check valves? . It doesn't really mention your problem completely but multiple check valves seems to be a no-no....Mike

 

[Carl_NH]

If you remove the check valve at the tank and turn off the supply to the house after the tank and the pressure drops then you have a leak in the supply line. This is sort of the same thing that Army grunt suggested with air.

The pumps have a built in check valve in the top so you should not need another one above the pump. Do you have one 500' continous run of poly pipe from the pump to the tank or is there a splice? If there is a splice that would be my guess..

500' is a long run and how much lift or elevation rise do you have from the creek to the tank?

 

[DaveOmak]

Here is one article describing what is needed on a deep well. Types of check valves, velocity of water in the piping etc. There are many variables that would introduce air.
Tech Topics: Check Valves for Submersible Installations - Columns - National Driller

 

[sal64]

we had same prob, i had my well pipe lifted and put another check valve, one at the tank also, diddnt help wound up being low water table sucking air. havent had a prob since 8 yrs now.

 

[Kays Supply]

If I remember correctly the double check valve system can let polluted ground water in while the pressure is down. You want the line from the pump to the house always pressurized.