Water In Spurts.... Only When Pressure Switch On Start!?!?

[gswanjr1]

Hello.... I have recently had an issue with my well water coming into my home. I noticed that when I opened any of the faucets no water came out. So I went to the pressure switch and turned it from auto to start and water came rushing in. I would hold it on start until it filled up and the pressure was back to normal and things were fine. Well it would happen again almost minutes later & I would have to do this over and over again. Now & then I would turn it to start and get nothing, but most of the time it filled up with water. I noticed no leaks. But that if I continued to go and turn the pressure switch from auto to start, water normally comes in for as long as I hold start. I went out to the well to measure water levels with a string and weight attached to the bottom. I believe, the well from top of cap to bottom was 21ft (though not 100% sure- I never did it before), and that it was filled up to 10ft with water, and the other 11 ft were empty. I am not sure how far down the pump is... but I really need some help trying to troubleshoot and figure out what to do to get water to my wife and 2 children without getting a plumber I really dont have money for. But ANY help would be much appreciated , and thank you in advance!

[speedbump]

If you did need help you wouldn't call a Plumber, you would call a Well Driller or a Pump Repairman.

I think you have a low pressure cut off switch. It is designed to turn the pump off if the pressure gets to a certain point which is usually around 10 lbs less than your cut in pressure. You may have a waterlogged tank or your pump isn't doing as good as it once did. You could put in a standard switch and see if that cures the problem, but remember that switch may have been put there for a reason. Like a poorly performing well.

bob...

[gswanjr1]

Well Driller or Pump Repairman sounds even more expensive! But if I put a standard pressure switch... could that hurt anything (pump, tank, etc.)? But I have heard from others (here and there) how the wells have not performed well since a near highway was built....? Again, thanks.

[speedbump]

Well Driller or Pump Repairman sounds even more expensive!

That reminds me of an old joke:

A man calls a Plumber out to fix his toilet. The Plumber installed a new toilet, gave the man a bill for $1500.00. The guy says "Damn, that's a lot of money to install a toilet, what do you think you are a Doctor charging rates like that?" The guy says "I was a Doctor until I discovered Plumbers made more money."

Changing the Pressure Switch cold damage the pump if the Low Pressure Switch was installed because the well can't keep up with the pump.

bob...