logan97
Gold Member
our water gauge has been going down to 0 the past few days and then takes awhile to get up to around 25. I do not know what it was set at. We are on a well system.
Low Water pressure in our cabin
- Thread starter logan97
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jpm1
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Now do you have a submersible pump (one in the well) or an external pump say in the cellar or upstairs in the cabin?
First are you sure the well has water in it? If it is capped above ground take ths cover off and shine a flashlight down a see if you can see water. Or drop a small pebble and listen for the plunk of water.
1. First thoughts, it sounds to me that the foot valve in your well is not working causing your pump to loose prime. But usually the pump will not recover.
2. Possibly there is a pressure switch problem with sediment in the diaphram. This is a cheap, easy replacement part at the local hardware store.
3. Bad gauge, a liquid filled gauge is the best but . . .expensive. probably around 25 dollars. This is not the cause but it could be a problem.
4. Do you have a "Bladder tank" or regular galvanized tank? If you have a "Bladder tank" the air might be gone. Look for the Valve stem on the tank and check the pressure with a tire gauge.It should be 2 lbs less than the cut in pressure of the pressure switch. Take the pressure switch cover off and it should tell the settings. I have a 30-50 so it starts at 30lb (+-) a pound and shuts off at 50 lbs. If you have a 30-50 switch, the air in the tank should be 28 lbs.
5. Is this a deep well or shallow well pump? Usually a deep well pump has 2 lines going to the well and shallow well pump only has one.
6. There is a possibility that your pump is worn out. Good Possibility if you are in heavy red or white shale rock. Water will have a redish orange tint to it.
It's a trail by error problem to solve looking at the simple things first. PM me with any questions. . . Good Luck, John
First are you sure the well has water in it? If it is capped above ground take ths cover off and shine a flashlight down a see if you can see water. Or drop a small pebble and listen for the plunk of water.
1. First thoughts, it sounds to me that the foot valve in your well is not working causing your pump to loose prime. But usually the pump will not recover.
2. Possibly there is a pressure switch problem with sediment in the diaphram. This is a cheap, easy replacement part at the local hardware store.
3. Bad gauge, a liquid filled gauge is the best but . . .expensive. probably around 25 dollars. This is not the cause but it could be a problem.
4. Do you have a "Bladder tank" or regular galvanized tank? If you have a "Bladder tank" the air might be gone. Look for the Valve stem on the tank and check the pressure with a tire gauge.It should be 2 lbs less than the cut in pressure of the pressure switch. Take the pressure switch cover off and it should tell the settings. I have a 30-50 so it starts at 30lb (+-) a pound and shuts off at 50 lbs. If you have a 30-50 switch, the air in the tank should be 28 lbs.
5. Is this a deep well or shallow well pump? Usually a deep well pump has 2 lines going to the well and shallow well pump only has one.
6. There is a possibility that your pump is worn out. Good Possibility if you are in heavy red or white shale rock. Water will have a redish orange tint to it.
It's a trail by error problem to solve looking at the simple things first. PM me with any questions. . . Good Luck, John
Egon
Epic Contributor
Well and pump system information would be nice.:thumbsup::thumbsup:
Egon
Epic Contributor
Well rate is 10/15 gallons per hour?
What is your pump rate and how much water do you use?
Have you checked the well water level?
How long does the pump run at one time?
What is your pump rate and how much water do you use?
Have you checked the well water level?
How long does the pump run at one time?
in the past we have had no issue. As of late, past few weeks we have had a number of folk visiting also we are in a drought.We have had some good rain in the last month or so but no rain all summer and little this fall and winter.
I don't know what the rate is or how long the pump runs at one time. I thought it ran until the bladder sensor shut it off. I also thought it had a dry shut off.
Carl_NH
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Logan - first thing in the AM do you have water? It seems your water level may be dropping below the pump during normal or accelerated use recently?
By the way the "stone drop method" has lots of caveats from what I have learned here - BUT 20-25' per second is an estimate so @ 7 sec your water level is 140-180' - marginal in my opinion with your pump set at 180'.
So first thing in the AM if you have water, turn the spigot on at the tank, until the switch turns the pump on then turn off the spigot it should shut off in 2-3 minutes most (with no water use in the house).
If this works OK then you may need to lower your pump and possibly install a larger grundfos pump lower in the well say 250-300' to gain the extra storage for your needs. Each foot of depth in a 6" well adds 1.5 gpm of storage roughly - so going another 100' in depth will get about 150 gal of water to use.
By the way the "stone drop method" has lots of caveats from what I have learned here - BUT 20-25' per second is an estimate so @ 7 sec your water level is 140-180' - marginal in my opinion with your pump set at 180'.
So first thing in the AM if you have water, turn the spigot on at the tank, until the switch turns the pump on then turn off the spigot it should shut off in 2-3 minutes most (with no water use in the house).
If this works OK then you may need to lower your pump and possibly install a larger grundfos pump lower in the well say 250-300' to gain the extra storage for your needs. Each foot of depth in a 6" well adds 1.5 gpm of storage roughly - so going another 100' in depth will get about 150 gal of water to use.
turnkey4099
Elite Member
Step by step.
1. determine if you have a captive bladder tank - they have the shrader valve t apply air on the top of the tank.
2. Check what the cutin/out pressures are (they should be 20psi apart, e.g, 30-50 or 40-60). Done by watching the gauge as pump runs/shuts off. Now check the pre-charge with the tank empty, or empty as far as it is possible. Turn off power and open a drain valve at the lowest point in the system and anothe one higher up to allow air in (tank won't drain well without that). Check air pressure: As someone else said needs to be 2 psi below cut-in pressure.
If teh pump cycles but the differenttial between cut/out is significantly other than 20psi you need to adjust the pressure switch (or replace it, cheap part, quick replacement and it will already be set for either 30-50 or 40-60)
3. close valves and turn power back on. Watch the gauge it should show a slow climb until it shuts off. Probably take a couple minutes if you have a fair size tank.
4. If pump doesn't shut off you have either a bad pump or well is running out of water. BUT there is an odd problem than can cause it. Plugged up little bitty riser pipe the pressure switch sets on. Happened to me. Pull the switch, pull the pipe and ream it out. I had to use a drill bit. Symptom of that is pressure very slow to build up and then going to overpressure and pressure dropping to very low before pump starting.
A sparepressure switch is a nice thing to have in the middle of a blizzard. Ask how I know.
Harry K
1. determine if you have a captive bladder tank - they have the shrader valve t apply air on the top of the tank.
2. Check what the cutin/out pressures are (they should be 20psi apart, e.g, 30-50 or 40-60). Done by watching the gauge as pump runs/shuts off. Now check the pre-charge with the tank empty, or empty as far as it is possible. Turn off power and open a drain valve at the lowest point in the system and anothe one higher up to allow air in (tank won't drain well without that). Check air pressure: As someone else said needs to be 2 psi below cut-in pressure.
If teh pump cycles but the differenttial between cut/out is significantly other than 20psi you need to adjust the pressure switch (or replace it, cheap part, quick replacement and it will already be set for either 30-50 or 40-60)
3. close valves and turn power back on. Watch the gauge it should show a slow climb until it shuts off. Probably take a couple minutes if you have a fair size tank.
4. If pump doesn't shut off you have either a bad pump or well is running out of water. BUT there is an odd problem than can cause it. Plugged up little bitty riser pipe the pressure switch sets on. Happened to me. Pull the switch, pull the pipe and ream it out. I had to use a drill bit. Symptom of that is pressure very slow to build up and then going to overpressure and pressure dropping to very low before pump starting.
A sparepressure switch is a nice thing to have in the middle of a blizzard. Ask how I know.
Harry K
murphy1244
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