Pressure switch/Well water question

[scesnick]

Well, I finally got my pump put into the creek to replace my crappy iron filled well water. (yes, I took all the filtering precaution)

I put the 3/4 horse deep well pump on a 30-50 pressure switch. I have plenty of pressure but when I open up a faucet for a period of time the pressure drops slowy as usual but then it will free fall straight to zero. Then the pump kicks on after about 10-20 seconds and the pressure is back up to around 27-30PSI.

I checked my pressure tank PSI which I understand is supposed to be 3 PSI lower than the cut out setting ( 50PSI on my switch) It was about 55 PSI so I set it to 47 and it still dropped to zero after a few minutes.


I do have a check valve down by the pump. It is actually right at the pump itself. Will adjusting the cut in cut out pressure solve this issue? For some reson my Lowes special pressure switch only has a single nut to adjust the whole PSI range.

Any ideas?

 

[Pete Judd]

Where is your switch located on the circuit? The switch in this case should be located after the tanks, if there is no leakage on the back flow valve.

 

[scesnick]

Where is your switch located on the circuit? The switch in this case should be located after the tanks, if there is no leakage on the back flow valve.

My system goes ( from the creek) pump-check valve -550ft of waterline to the house-pressure switch- pressure tank- 20" 5 micron filter- UV light- to the faucets.

 

[CurlyDave]

1. Check to see if your tank is waterlogged. Bladder failure can cause this rapid loss of pressure.

2. Your description is a little unclear to me. Does deep well pump mean a deep well jet pump, or does it mean a multi stage submersible centrifugal pump? The installations would be quite different.

 

[scesnick]

1. Check to see if your tank is waterlogged. Bladder failure can cause this rapid loss of pressure.

2. Your description is a little unclear to me. Does deep well pump mean a deep well jet pump, or does it mean a multi stage submersible centrifugal pump? The installations would be quite different.

Already checked and the tank doesn't seem to be waterlogged.
My pump is a submersible deep well pump. Not a jet pump. This pump has to be down in the water or it would freeze quite easily in my area in the winter. The creek does not freeze even at -10 degree temps.

I do have the pump at an pretty good angle. it is almost laying on its side so that it would beabout 2ft or so under the water at all times. . I don't see how that would make any difference though...

 

[Soundguy]

can't tell you why it's not working.. but address in the 1 nut lowes switch. that merely means it is adjusting cut in / cut out at the same time keeping the 20 psi spread ie.. 30/50.. or 20/40.. or 40/60.. etc.. depending on how you set it. IMHO.. they are alot easier to use that way.. IE.. no brainer setups.. not great if you want a different pressure spread.. but for joe average homeowner with a pump.. it keeps the water flowing..

what size ine is that 500 some odd foot run. that's a darn good run.... lotsa head...

soundguy

 

[scesnick]

it is 1" line at about 75ft of head. I know i have PLENTY of pump pressure because when I first turned it on the l;ine popped off an elbow in my basement and it was like to a fire hose !!! ( oops !!!)

 

[vwnotrunning]

It really sounds like a waterlogged tank issue. We need a few more details.

How big is you bladder tank?
When you check you bladder pressure the pump is off and all water drained from the tank?
From what I understand the bladder pressure should be 2-3 lbs. below the cut-in (pump on) pressure of the switch - not cut-out (pump off) pressure.

 

[scesnick]

It really sounds like a waterlogged tank issue. We need a few more details.

How big is you bladder tank?
When you check you bladder pressure the pump is off and all water drained from the tank?
From what I understand the bladder pressure should be 2-3 lbs. below the cut-in (pump on) pressure of the switch - not cut-out (pump off) pressure.

You may be correct on the bladder being 2-3 PSI lower than the "Cut On" pressure. I had the instructions in front of me then , I am at work now.

Not usre how big my tank is. It is just your average size. 3ft. high or so.

I really don't think it is the tank though. I also have a regular well ( although it is terrible water) and it worked just fine for years. After doing some more research, I think the stand pipe for the pressure switch could be clogged. With the iron water in my well system this could be a real possibility.

 

[hr3]

My system goes ( from the creek) pump-check valve -550ft of waterline to the house-pressure switch- pressure tank- 20" 5 micron filter- UV light- to the fauce

Just a thought,, Check the filter.. I had a new pump dropped in a few years back and when they did it it stirred up a lot of sediment,, My 5 micron filter plugged almost instantly and acted the same as you described,, I put a paper filter in for a few days and it was fine,,

Also check for something plugging the pressure switch I just noticed that the switch is before the filter,, mine is after,,