WELL PUMP QUESTION

[lonewolf5348]

I have a well for general washing or watering the lawn,I have noticed the pump works but when I open the water value the pressure drops and will not rebuild.I have about 65 lbs at the pump gauge and 45 lbs at the water value ,I wonder if the bladder is saying good buy and needs replacement.I have a small clear line from the pump body to the pressure switch (man what presser the pump buts out to the switch,anyone have any ideas what to look for or needs replacement.The pump was installed in 1998
 

[Oldshooter]

best guess is the pressure switch, if you can manually make it come on then thats what it is in my humble opinion

[D Fischer]

If you open a water line, something has to happen, normally the pressure lowers. Check the gal per min it pumps. You want more pressure run the water through smaller lines.

[Oldshooter]

I have about 65 lbs at the pump gauge and 45 lbs at the water value

maaybe I missunderstood your problem. Like the previous poster said some pressure decrease is expected unless the pump is actually running, then there may be some pressure reduction at the valve.
 
 I thought at first that pressure was not rebuilding, Sorry if I jumped the gun there.

[tom548]

Some times your tank will lose the air pressure above the bladder. If there is a valve stem check it when the tank is full and then run water till you start to loose pressure and  check it again. Also 65 PSI is quite high most run 40 to 45 PSI.

[FPH]

Some times your tank will lose the air pressure above the bladder. If there is a valve stem check it when the tank is full and then run water till you start to loose pressure and  check it again. Also 65 PSI is quite high most run 40 to 45 PSI.

x2

[Gaz-52]

          Usually , to check the pressure in the bladder at the valve stem. first switch off the power to the pump and open the tap (faucet) closest to the pump to release the pressure on the outside of the bladder . Now you can inflate the bladder to the recommended pressure . Go and make yourself a cup of coffee , a beer or weed the garden . After a while recheck the pressure in the bladder . If the bladder is punctured you are in luck . if not, the next place I would be looking would be the pressure switch   . Keep us posted how you get on.
   Gaz

[lonewolf5348]

any idea wht PSI go in  the  bladder at the valve stem?

[Gaz-52]

             Hi , it will vary depending on the maker , but usually between 7 to 14 Psi .. Can you check back with the company that made the pump?
 If you set the bladder pressure too high the more the possibility it will bust .

[Oldshooter]

Personal experience with pressure tanks was that when the bladder was bad or just had no pressure we called it waterlogged. and when it was the pump would kick on and off since it could not compress water.

[oldandslow]

The inflation pressure for your tank should be printed somewhere on the tank. If I remember correctly mine is 28 psi. The tank should be drained when checking. As Oldshooter said, if the bladder is bad the tank will waterlog and the pump will cycle on and off quickly. This will shorten your pump's life and pumps are expensive. I know as I had to replace mine last summer. It wasn't from abuse like cycling. Just been in the well a very long time.

If your pump is pretty old or has to pump some sand the impellers could be worn to the point where it simply can't pump enough water to build pressure with an open line.

[lonewolf5348]

well here goes :I did pump about 25 lbs of air into the bleeder value on top of the bladder;I did empty all the water out of the system .I then turned on the well pump seem the pressure did hold at about 40 lbs with the water value open at full open position.I do notice my pump motor the pump will cycle on and never shut off is this normally or what need to adjusted so the pump will shut at max pressure in the system? or is it normally for the pump to just run?

[Oldshooter]

IT should stop when the pressure switch hits the top unless you have a leak somewhere and then it would stop momentarily anyway.

[oldandslow]

It sounds like your switch is set for a higher shutoff pressure than 40# and your pump isn't capable of pumping enough water to reach that pressure with a full open valve. Shut the valve and see what pressure the pump shuts down at. If it's over 40# then the pump is operating normally. If you want it to shut off at 40# you will need to adjust your pressure switch to a lower shutoff pressure.

If it used to cycle on and off when pumping with a completely open valve your pump is probably worn to some extent or you've sprung a leak in your pipe down hole.

[lonewolf5348]

I will check it out and get back on my results