New Jet Pump...HELP!

[mshort4776]

We just recently replaced our jet pump and nothing has been going well. It does great at first, builds up to the right pressure and then shuts off. But when you use enough water to make the pump kick on it sucks only air and most of the time cannot build up enough pressure. We replaced the check valve and most of the tubbing. We are pretty sure there is no intake leaks from were the pipe comes in from outside to the pump. The pump we took out would run non-stop, and be very hot. We wanted to just rebuild it, but was affraid once we took it apart it would crumble. There is enough water in the holding tank outside. Please if you have any ideas or have had this happen before we need HELP!

 

[Gary Slusser]

If that check valve is above ground, and you have a single or two lines from the well, the check valve is probably hiding a leak, like the foot valve in the well on the j-body or drop pipe, allowing it to lose prime and suck air.

Remove the check valve and see if it loses prime. If so you need a new foot valve in the well or to fix any other leaks in the drop pipe.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Speedbump]

There is enough water in the holding tank outside.

Does this mean your pulling from a cistern not a well?

If your pump pulls air, it's a given that you have an air leak.

bob...

 

[Gary Slusser]

Or no water in that tank out side the house, that I seem to have missed...

 

[Masterpumpman]

suction leak!

If it was working OK before you replaced the pump it's a given, you have a suction leak somewhere!