OK, here's the deal. Back in 1959 or so, my father installed a well system at the depth of 90 ft. He used a virtical turbine with a foot valve, (he thought it would be better to keep the column full so the motor wouldn't have to work so hard), a snifter valve, a check valve, and a steel tank.
I always remember dad complaning about a "water logged tank", and he would have to drain water out of the tank and put air into it. This went on forever at about every 4 to 6 months. In 1995 my dad passed away and the well didn't get watched very good. In 1998 we had to have the motor re-wound because it cycled for too long and burt up.
Fast forward to 2011: The tank, (painted steel 800 gallon horizontal tank), is now leaking at a weld seam on the bottom. There is also alot of surface rust on it. Not sure how much longer it will last. It drips about 1 1/2 times pe second.
I purchased a good used 500 gallon vertical tank with a working "air release valve" (float style) half way up the tank.
We have a gauge on the pressure switch (tank), and a gauge on the well head. Basically one before the check valve and one after. Right now the check valve is leaking. I know this because when I close the gate valve, between the check valve and the tank, the gauge on the well head drops to "0". After it sets like this for a while with the snifter valve removed, 15-20 min., I think that air has been drawn into the column. (When the snifter valve was removed there was water present)
If air is bieng drawn into the column, then the foot valve is leaking...right? I hope it is, but is it enough?
Is there any way to introduce air into this system without pulling up the entire well pump and removing the foot valve, or adding an air compressor?
Please help us out here.
This well has given us very good water, serves 3 homes and 2 shops, and never has it been drilled deeper. The other well's around us have been drill deeper several times, one is at 350 feet now.
I always remember dad complaning about a "water logged tank", and he would have to drain water out of the tank and put air into it. This went on forever at about every 4 to 6 months. In 1995 my dad passed away and the well didn't get watched very good. In 1998 we had to have the motor re-wound because it cycled for too long and burt up.
Fast forward to 2011: The tank, (painted steel 800 gallon horizontal tank), is now leaking at a weld seam on the bottom. There is also alot of surface rust on it. Not sure how much longer it will last. It drips about 1 1/2 times pe second.
I purchased a good used 500 gallon vertical tank with a working "air release valve" (float style) half way up the tank.
We have a gauge on the pressure switch (tank), and a gauge on the well head. Basically one before the check valve and one after. Right now the check valve is leaking. I know this because when I close the gate valve, between the check valve and the tank, the gauge on the well head drops to "0". After it sets like this for a while with the snifter valve removed, 15-20 min., I think that air has been drawn into the column. (When the snifter valve was removed there was water present)
If air is bieng drawn into the column, then the foot valve is leaking...right? I hope it is, but is it enough?
Is there any way to introduce air into this system without pulling up the entire well pump and removing the foot valve, or adding an air compressor?
Please help us out here.
This well has given us very good water, serves 3 homes and 2 shops, and never has it been drilled deeper. The other well's around us have been drill deeper several times, one is at 350 feet now.