Well again! What else can it be? FRUSTRATED!

[Western]

One idea to try and see if the well is running low on water. Connect a short garden hose as close to the tank/well head as possible and run the water back into the well casing. Basically replenishing the supply. The pump should continue to run the water in a "loop" re-supplying itself. If it still cuts off you may have an overheating pump.

Just a few ideas.

 

[Dr Dave]

First you need to find out if it is electrical or a water system problem. You may have bad contacts on you pressure switch (dont refer to it as a regulator, you are confusing people). This should have been replaced with the pump IMO. It could be intermitent if the contact points are burnt. This can be checked with a meter. But I would replace at this time, get a 40/60 psi pressure switch, also install cable clamps for your wire, that goes in and out the pressure switch. Set air pressure in tank to 38PSI, with no water pressure in the tank. From what you have said, I beleave you have a defective pressure switch.

Dave

 

[KYErik]

One idea to try and see if the well is running low on water. Connect a short garden hose as close to the tank/well head as possible and run the water back into the well casing. Basically replenishing the supply. The pump should continue to run the water in a "loop" re-supplying itself. If it still cuts off you may have an overheating pump.

Just a few ideas.

This is a great idea.

Also- override the pressure switch and see if the pump continues to run/pressure returns. As someone else mentioned, that 1/4 inch tube going to the pressure switch could be mostly clogged with rust or sediment and causing the pressure switch to "see" pressure when there really is no pressure in the main line.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks all. Either I am not smart enough to figure this out or something else is wrong. Now I cannot get the pump to come on at all. There is 20psi in the tank right now. I have a new regulator one it now but it does not have the little switch on the side. After I installed it and cut the power on the pump came on and pressurized. I then had the wife turn the water on and let it run. After 5 minutes or so the pressyre started dropping the pump never came on and the pressure dropped to 0. Now no matter what I do nothing makes the pump turn on. I lowered the tank pressure to 20 and then started adjusting the kick in screw in to raise out to lower I essentially went full length in and out and I have nothing.

With the new switch there is no lever to turn on and off. I am about ready to say call a plumber and pay him whatever to come and fix what ever simple thing I have screwed up.

Any ideas on how I can get the pump to turn back on???

Ok guys I think that the issue is not with the tank or the switch. A friend came over that is an electrician and he jhas replaced all of this himself st one point. When he got here he manually kicked the pump on at the reg. The pressure shot to 50 psi and cut off. The wife turned the faucet on and the pressure held steady for a minute or so and then slowly started going down. At around 32 psi the reg tripped for the pump to come on. The pressure raised about 2 psi and then started falling until it hist 0. The pump was still on but pumping nothing to the tanks or to the well head. I am not a well guy as I have figured out the last week or so.Wade

First you need to find out if it is electrical or a water system problem. You may have bad contacts on you pressure switch (dont refer to it as a regulator, you are confusing people). This should have been replaced with the pump IMO. It could be intermitent if the contact points are burnt. This can be checked with a meter. But I would replace at this time, get a 40/60 psi pressure switch, also install cable clamps for your wire, that goes in and out the pressure switch. Set air pressure in tank to 38PSI, with no water pressure in the tank . From what you have said, I beleave you have a defective pressure switch.

Dave

Im with you on nomenclature. But hes got a new pressure [sensing] switch and an electrician friend. Giving credence to the friend points toward a well problem, or pressure preload setup problem. You covered setup.:thumbsup: If it doesnt work its pump or well.
larry

 

[mbohuntr]

It wouldn't hurt to put a clamp on ammeter on the pump leads and fire it up....

 

[Dr Dave]

woops I missed that one, thanks Larry, sounds like a water/pump problem. If you can isolate the house from the system, and run pump, build pressure, then watch to see if the pressure drops= leak between the pump and the guage. Is the pipe in the well plastic or galvanized. Around here many people have had to drop there well pumps or points 10' to 20' do to the dry conditions and extensive irrigation. He did the opposite by removing a section of pipe, may try adding more pipe. Have any neighbors had issues.

Dave

 

[SPYDERLK]

Yeah, I as thinking that about him having raised the pump but was waiting on confirmation of "dry" pump condition before recommending. There are just too many gray areas at this point. We need some answers in systematic fashion before throwing that out [flush well and lower the pump] as an action. OP is not in answer mode right now. :confused3:

 

[Mickey_Fx]

From the last few posts blackrat has made, it sounds to me like the new pump is pumping faster than the water flow in the well can keep up with. After well has set for a while everything works OK. Then water flow slows and then stops. This is exactly how a well would act if water into the well was restricted.

If this is the case it's time for a well guy to take over and determine what is needed to regain water flow. Will have to wait and see what blackrat's next post says.

 

[clovergamecock]

Thanks all. No matter how much I hate to, I GIVE!!! A couple more questions. If I extend the line by 10' can I just use a connection to add to it? If I do extend the pipe by the 10' would that or could that give it the additional time to recover?

Wade

 

[SPYDERLK]

Thanks all. No matter how much I hate to, I GIVE!!! A couple more questions. If I extend the line by 10' can I just use a connection to add to it? If I do extend the pipe by the 10' would that or could that give it the additional time to recover?

Wade

First, have you seen any milky looking water that quickly turns clear. Tiny bubbles should be there when you get dry pumping. ... Second, IF what you are experiencing is due to dry pumping then yes, extending the pipe by any secure method to deepen pump placement will help. I believe you mentioned sediment in well. You may end up pumping sediment for awhile. Depending on the nature of the sediment this can be a risk to the pump. Best to have the well professionally pumped out to bottom then set your pump 5' above bottom.