bugs11
New Member
How does one tell if a shallow well pump is worn out (needs replaced)?
My current set-up; a 13 year old 1/3 h.p. AY McDonald model 8310 cast iron pump sitting on top of a large pressure tank, 3’ of 1 ¼” pipe, new brass check valve, two new 4’ sections of 1 ¼ galv. connected to a new 48” 1 ¼” Johnson stainless steel sand point. So from the pump to the tip of the sand point is 15’. The sand point is in 100% sand and in the water table. The new stainless steel sand point gives at least 30% more surface area than the old 36” brass sand point. The pressure switch with the old point was set at 30/45.
Here’s my story. Yesterday morning I woke up to the pump running and no pressure. I immediately went down and shut off the pump. The pump housing was warm to the touch but not hot. I called a friend who is a pipe fitter and he advised I go purchase a 36” or 42” stainless steel sand point, which I did (42" Johnson SS). Early in the afternoon he came over, we pulled the old point and put in the new one. The pressure gauge on top of the pump was clogged up, so he installed a used one he had on hand. We also verified that water was getting to the pressure switch. Now the pump will only pump at most 28 p.s.i. Also when I turn off the pump, close the valve to the house, and open the pressure tank drain little or no water comes out. The pressure tank has 32 p.s.i. of air in it. If I turn on the pump, good water gushes out of the pressure tank drain valve. My pipe fitter friend was of the mind that pump might be damaged. Right now I’m just trying to determine what’s going on. If the roads are passable tomorrow (blizzard going on outside at the moment) I’ll get to a big box and pick up a new pressure gauge. I don’t think this used one is giving accurate readings; the pump is running and the gauge shows 12 p.s.i., I manually activate the pressure switch on and off, then the gauge will show 28 p.s.i.
Finally, I know what finally caused the old sand point to give out. The hallway bathroom toilet tank fill valve failed, the toilet tank was slowly continually filling. The hallway bathroom is the one the kids use and I’m sure they didn’t notice it. I only found it when I saw the pump gauge lose pressure and I knew every faucet in the house was closed. Process of elimination, it was the toilet.
My current set-up; a 13 year old 1/3 h.p. AY McDonald model 8310 cast iron pump sitting on top of a large pressure tank, 3’ of 1 ¼” pipe, new brass check valve, two new 4’ sections of 1 ¼ galv. connected to a new 48” 1 ¼” Johnson stainless steel sand point. So from the pump to the tip of the sand point is 15’. The sand point is in 100% sand and in the water table. The new stainless steel sand point gives at least 30% more surface area than the old 36” brass sand point. The pressure switch with the old point was set at 30/45.
Here’s my story. Yesterday morning I woke up to the pump running and no pressure. I immediately went down and shut off the pump. The pump housing was warm to the touch but not hot. I called a friend who is a pipe fitter and he advised I go purchase a 36” or 42” stainless steel sand point, which I did (42" Johnson SS). Early in the afternoon he came over, we pulled the old point and put in the new one. The pressure gauge on top of the pump was clogged up, so he installed a used one he had on hand. We also verified that water was getting to the pressure switch. Now the pump will only pump at most 28 p.s.i. Also when I turn off the pump, close the valve to the house, and open the pressure tank drain little or no water comes out. The pressure tank has 32 p.s.i. of air in it. If I turn on the pump, good water gushes out of the pressure tank drain valve. My pipe fitter friend was of the mind that pump might be damaged. Right now I’m just trying to determine what’s going on. If the roads are passable tomorrow (blizzard going on outside at the moment) I’ll get to a big box and pick up a new pressure gauge. I don’t think this used one is giving accurate readings; the pump is running and the gauge shows 12 p.s.i., I manually activate the pressure switch on and off, then the gauge will show 28 p.s.i.
Finally, I know what finally caused the old sand point to give out. The hallway bathroom toilet tank fill valve failed, the toilet tank was slowly continually filling. The hallway bathroom is the one the kids use and I’m sure they didn’t notice it. I only found it when I saw the pump gauge lose pressure and I knew every faucet in the house was closed. Process of elimination, it was the toilet.
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