Well pressure switch with/without automatic cutoff?

[Rob8888]

Hi all,

Well water system was stable until we lost power. We are renting on Airbnb and it's a hassle to manually re pressurize the system every time this was to happen. I currently use a pressure switch with low pressure cut of lever.

I was told by a friend that I should install a pressure switch without the low pressure cut off lever as then the pressure would reset itself after power returned and pump automatically kicked in.

Does anyone have any input as to how to best fix this problem? Should I install a new pressure switch? Please let me know the make and type if possible.

Thanks in advance.

Rob

 

[Bannerman]

Not certain what you are referring to by "re pressurize the system"?

If your pump is submersible (down within the well casing), it will immediately repressurize the piping and pressure tank once the pump operation is restored.

If your pump is an above ground jet pump which obtains water from a drilled well, there should be a foot valve at the bottom of the suction pipe which will prevent the pump from loosing prime. If a jet pump is drawing water from a driven sand-point well, then there should be an inline check valve to prevent the pump from loosing prime. As long as prime has not been lost, restoring power to the pump should immediately repressurize the system.

A low pressure cutoff switch is usually only utilized when there is risk the well will run out of water as it will shut off the pump when the pump is not delivering sufficient water to maintain the desired minimum system pressure. If there is no risk your well will run short of water, then a regular pressure switch without a low pressure shut-off such as offered by Square-D is typically utilized.

If there is any potential that your well will run short of water, then there are better methods to protect the pump such as the Cycle Stop Valve Cycle Saver controller.

A Cycle Saver will shut off power to the pump when it senses the pump is drawing fewer amps (will occur when the pump is drawing air). The Cycle Saver is equipped with a timer that will automatically restore power to the pump after x number of minutes which you can program as appropriate.

https://cyclestopvalves.com/pages/cycle-sensor-pump-monitor

 

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[LLigetfa]

A low pressure cutoff switch is usually only utilized when there is risk the well will run out of water as it will shut off the pump when the pump is not delivering sufficient water to maintain the desired minimum system pressure.

It is a false sense of security as it is possible that the well runs dry after the water use has ceased and the pump is trying to refill the pressure tank. This can result in the pump losing prime and melting down as the low cutoff will never engage.

Being frugal, I simply lobotomized the low cutoff element from an existing switch rather than purchase a replacement.

https://terrylove.com/forums/index.php?threads/frugality-at-its-finest.82903/

 

[Bannerman]

This can result in the pump losing prime and melting down as the low cutoff will never engage.

This is part of the reason why a Cycle Sensor will offer better protection.