Pump or Pressure switch question?

[crankshaftdan II]

Cabin well pump (drilled w/220volt sumersible) flipped on the breaker, pump started rightup ran for long time, could hear water entering old pressure tank. pump finally shut off, opened sillcock and water flowed fine for about 10 minutes, gradually slowed down to nada! pump kept running, shut off sillcock, no water pressure! The pressure tank does not leak, and has no bladder, just trapped air in dome of tank. Q?? Does this sound like a pressure switch problem or maybe low water in conjunction with the pump being to high in the casing-sometype of venting of the pressure tank? Don't use this well much and don't have much well knowledge!! Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

 

[walrus]

No pressure but was there still water at sillcock? If the pump was running I don't see how it could be a pressure switch issue. Sounds like no water in the well if the pump was running yet you had no water.

 

[Improved700]

Perhaps the screen at the bottom of the well pump is plugged with sand? Sounds like either a pump issue or a no water to the pump issue.

 

[35mastr]

Or the impeller on the pump has let go.

 

[russlaferrera]

Time to pull the pump, or no water.

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Cabin well pump (drilled w/220volt sumersible) flipped on the breaker, pump started rightup ran for long time, could hear water entering old pressure tank. pump finally shut off, opened sillcock and water flowed fine for about 10 minutes, gradually slowed down to nada! pump kept running, shut off sillcock, no water pressure! The pressure tank does not leak, and has no bladder, just trapped air in dome of tank. Q?? Does this sound like a pressure switch problem or maybe low water in conjunction with the pump being to high in the casing-sometype of venting of the pressure tank? Don't use this well much and don't have much well knowledge!! Any comments or suggestions would be appreciated.

Its a bit confusing what you say - however, try this: Disconnect piping from pump to tank (or find some other way to monitor unrestricted flow) and turn on pump by manually bypassing pressure switch to on. Let flow for 20 min or so and see what happens. This way - you indite/eliminate pump and/or switch.

 

[Mellotron]

Wow...... How about we all forget the pump and have a little moment of silence for Rinny Tin Tin's avatar picture..

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Thanks for all the good info on the well problem, I decided to call out the well driller after talking with several on the phone, will report back when the problem is corrected! Thanks Cranky Dan

 

[Walter]

I had similar symptoms in 2007. It turns out the splines on the shaft from the electric motor to the pump finally gave out. Unfortunately the part wasn't something that could be replaced and so I had to replace the pump. I think that set me back about $800-ish on a 4 1/2 inch submersible.

 

[crankshaftdan II]

That was one of the items mentioned by the well driller, plus several other possible problems! Thanks for the valuable input, will advise the outcome in a later post!

 

[Kevin54]

Check this out http://www.inspect-ny.com/water/pumprepair.htm

 

[rinny_tin_tin]

Wow...... How about we all forget the pump and have a little moment of silence for Rinny Tin Tin's avatar picture..

Little moment of silence?

Thanx

 

[johnboy94]

That was one of the items mentioned by the well driller, plus several other possible problems! Thanks for the valuable input, will advise the outcome in a later post!

If there is a possiblity that the well is running out of water ask your well guy to install a "pump saver" there are several different name brands. A pump saver monitors the pump and if there is a situation where you run out of water, over amp the pump etc....The pump saver will shut down the pump and reset after a some time. It is cheaper than replacing pumps, of course around here our wells range from 600' - 1200' so replacing a pump is pricey!

Johnboy

 

[crankshaftdan II]

Bingo!! Right on, water level must have dropped over the years, new pump replacement and clean out and drop the pump deeper, like $1500.00 job Many thanks for all the teriffic information! ,Cranky