danielrhall
New Member
I need some help and advice with troubleshooting a water supply problem.
Background: approximately 270 foot drilled well. Submersible pump replaced about eight years ago. Original pump was about 25 years old. We have a standard submersible well pump system including new pressure switch with low-pressure cutoff, 20-gallon pressure tank, and check valve inside house. Not sure of the brand or details of the submersible pump or if there are other check valves in the system. Pump is wired for 240V. Location is New Hampshire.
Starting about a month ago, we started to lose water supply. Initial troubleshooting was hampered by a failed pressure gauge, so the gauge was replaced and, because it was an inexpensive first step and the age and condition of the original was unknown, the pressure switch was also replaced.
Here is what's happening: when using water, the system will draw down to the 30 PSI cut-on setting and the pump will start. However, before reaching the 50 PSI cut-off, the pump will stop pumping (it runs for about 40 seconds). After about two minutes, the pump will start again and will usually reach the cut-off pressure. Sometimes it takes multiple cycles like this to reach cut-off if there's been a large demand for water, like to fill the washing machine. With each subsequent cycle, the pump runs for a little less time and stays off a little longer.
It sounds to me like a failing pump but I'd like other opinions before I replace it. Could something else be failing? If it's the pump, why has it not failed completely? I've cannot find any other descriptions of a similar failure scenario online.
I've made my situation a bit more troublesome by installing a pressure switch with a low pressure cutoff. Now it's possible for the system to occasionally draw down to the point that the switch needs to be reset.
Any opinions or advice are welcome. Since we're not totally without domestic water, I'm waiting for the weather to warm up a bit before I consider pulling up the pump myself just to see what I can see and get some more details about the existing pump.
Thanks for reading.
-Dan Hall
Background: approximately 270 foot drilled well. Submersible pump replaced about eight years ago. Original pump was about 25 years old. We have a standard submersible well pump system including new pressure switch with low-pressure cutoff, 20-gallon pressure tank, and check valve inside house. Not sure of the brand or details of the submersible pump or if there are other check valves in the system. Pump is wired for 240V. Location is New Hampshire.
Starting about a month ago, we started to lose water supply. Initial troubleshooting was hampered by a failed pressure gauge, so the gauge was replaced and, because it was an inexpensive first step and the age and condition of the original was unknown, the pressure switch was also replaced.
Here is what's happening: when using water, the system will draw down to the 30 PSI cut-on setting and the pump will start. However, before reaching the 50 PSI cut-off, the pump will stop pumping (it runs for about 40 seconds). After about two minutes, the pump will start again and will usually reach the cut-off pressure. Sometimes it takes multiple cycles like this to reach cut-off if there's been a large demand for water, like to fill the washing machine. With each subsequent cycle, the pump runs for a little less time and stays off a little longer.
It sounds to me like a failing pump but I'd like other opinions before I replace it. Could something else be failing? If it's the pump, why has it not failed completely? I've cannot find any other descriptions of a similar failure scenario online.
I've made my situation a bit more troublesome by installing a pressure switch with a low pressure cutoff. Now it's possible for the system to occasionally draw down to the point that the switch needs to be reset.
Any opinions or advice are welcome. Since we're not totally without domestic water, I'm waiting for the weather to warm up a bit before I consider pulling up the pump myself just to see what I can see and get some more details about the existing pump.
Thanks for reading.
-Dan Hall