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Discussion Forum

low water pressure from well

redtoolbox | Posted in General Discussion on December 11, 2006 04:36am

I have had some well pressure problems lately. Here is how it is acting. First few month were fine(just bought the house) and with little variation between when the pump was activated and not. But suddenly, i have been getting a dramatic drop in pressure. It will go from a little better than a trickle to normal again and forgetaboutit if some has another faucet on or flushes a toilet.

I tapped on the diaphram tank and from my ear it still sounds like there is air in it.
Any help would be much appreciated.

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Replies

  1. DanH | Dec 11, 2006 05:04am | #1

    Sure sounds like a waterlogged tank.

    People never lie so much as before an election, during a war, or after a hunt. --Otto von Bismarck
  2. Piffin | Dec 11, 2006 05:17am | #2

    pressure switch adjustement or replacement

    or
    tank

     

     

    Welcome to the
    Taunton University of
    Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
     where ...
    Excellence is its own reward!

    1. redtoolbox | Dec 12, 2006 03:08pm | #7

      thanks for your advice. this is a great forum.
      dave

  3. user-241935 | Dec 11, 2006 05:44am | #3

    Shut off the power to the pump, then open an outside hosebib and drain the pressure tank completely.  Check the pressure in the tank with a tire gauge.  There should be a snifter valve on top of the tank.  Your pressure should be 2 psi below your cut in pressure.  Your pressure switch should have a 20 psi differential( ex. 40/60 psi). 

    Note:  after draining the tank completely, wiggle the tank and see if the tank has any water in it or not.  If there is still water in the tank , your tank was waterlogged.

    An easy way to tell if a tnk is waterlogged due to the rubber bladder leaking or bursting is that the pump will cycle off and on rapidly.  If this procedure does not solve your problem, I would check for blockage in the line such as an in line check valve that occasionally sticks open part way.  Check any filters, but, that doesn't have the erratic behaviour that you describe.

    Also make sure that your tank is at least an 86 gallon tank.  We only recommend 119 gallon tanks because they give you 33- 36 gallons of water between cycles which saves you motor wear and tear.

    hope this helps. Driller Bill

    1. Piffin | Dec 11, 2006 05:57am | #4

      There are several things that can cause a pump to cycle rapidly. 

       

      Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!

    2. redtoolbox | Dec 12, 2006 03:09pm | #8

      thanks for your help.
      dave

  4. User avater
    BillHartmann | Dec 11, 2006 07:00am | #5

    AT first I was thinking the same as the others. Pressure tank or switch.

    But you also added.

    " forgetaboutit if some has another faucet on or flushes a toilet."

    I think that you have some kind of restriction in the system.

    Look for filters, water softners or similar items. If they are clogged you will have low flow.

    But the best thing that you can do is to get a pressure guage and tie it into the piping at the tank.

    That will tell you more about what is happening in the system than 1 million words describing symptoms.

    .
    .
    Hey every group has to have one. And I have been elected to be the one. I should make that my tagline.
    1. redtoolbox | Dec 12, 2006 03:11pm | #9

      you guys are a great help. thanks

  5. curley | Dec 11, 2006 07:38am | #6

    shallow well or deep well??

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