Hey all, my house water pressure seems to dip too low before the well pump kicks on, then it comes up and stays up til it gradually drops too low again. The well pump isn’t cycling fast like the tank diaphragm is leaking.
I guess I oughta get a decent guage on the line first, as the one there is pretty hammered and barely readable, but aside from being able to state the actual pressure-it seems fine after the pump turns off, just that maybe the turn on point is too low.
Any ideas?
Mike
Replies
Any ideas?
just that maybe the turn on point is too low.
SamT
"Law reflects, but in no sense determines the moral worth of a society.... The better the society, the less law there will be. In Heaven, there will be no law, and the lion will lie down with the lamb.... The worse the society, the more law there will be. In Hell, there will be nothing but law, and due process will be meticulously observed."
Grant Gilmore, The Ages of American Law (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1977), pp. 110-111.
From 32866.117
LOL
Mike,
Is this a recent problem or perhaps a new house to you or have things operated differently in the past?
It sounds like a pressure switch problem and it may be that the switch requires adjustment at this point or perhaps it's fatigued and in need of replacement. You don't have much to lose by trying an adjustment, but you'd best have a readable gauge installed prior to such efforts.
The three most common pressure switches are sold with ranges of 20/40, 30/50 and 40/60. As you can, see the differential between the cut-in and cut-out comes from the factory with a 20 pound range. The switches are adjustable and there's a chance here that yours has vibrated out of its previous setting.
The switches come in two styles; a single screw adjustment model and a two-screw adjustment model. In a single screw model, adjusting the screw will vary the range of both settings up and down together maintaining the 20 lb difference. In the two-screw model, the one screw will do the same while adjusting the other screw will change the top end only. Therefore you can vary the differential and the range.
You're indicating that you have or think you have a bladder type tank. Be aware that if you do, the bladder pressure as measured with the tank devoid of water should have a pressure of approx. 2 psi less than the lowest setting of the pressure switch's cut-in pressure. This situation requires awareness, monitoring and possible adjustment of the bladder pressure as you change things to achieve your desired performance.
None of this is very tough to do, just be careful what you touch with that screwdriver if you're doing this "live" (which I always do).
Heads up and good luck.
Thanks for the advice, I suppose it's been doing this since I moved in(about 4yrs), but it's either gotten slightly worse in the last coupla months or it's just bugging me more.
Tonight I'll take a better look at the situation and see what needs/can be done.
Mike
check tank by bleeding air fill valve slightly , if water comes out bladder is ruptured
if gauge is accurate (stainless liquid filled the best) pressure control probbaly shot
Mike
You SHOULD HAVE AN ACCURATE PRESSURE GUAGE in your business. Bring home a tire pressure guage.
In addition to the switch the pressure in your tank might be low.
Turn off the pump and open a valve to release the water pressure. Check the pressure in the tank. It should be able 2 psi below the cut in point on the pressure switch. While adjustable pressure switch come in 20-40, 30-50, and 40-60 psi version.
You SHOULD HAVE AN ACCURATE PRESSURE GUAGE in your business.
An accurate air guage yes, but I need to install a new water line pressure guage, I'm not sacrificing either a $300 fuel or $200 trans pressure guage set!
Unless yer saying I can take the water pressure off the tank air valve? It makes sense, just never dawned on me.
Mike
I was think of a tire pressure guage.
And yes you can take it off the tank.
When the pressure is relieved you need it to read the air pressure in the bladder. And when the tank is filled that pressure will be the same as the line pressure.
But spend the 3 bucks and get a new pressure guage. But you still want to use the tire pressure guage to check the tank.
But spend the 3 bucks and get a new pressure guage.
Oh yeah, I was gonna change it anyway, but at least now I know I can do a quick reading of line pressure with just the tire guage in the meantime.
Thanks Bill,
Mike