low pressure from pump

We lost water pressure, water barly came out of faucets. We found out that our pressure tank was bad so we changed it. When I changed it I shut off the water line going down to the pressure tank and opened drain valve at the Tee where it goes into the tank. The pressure gauge was reading aprx 40psi and stayed right there even after I drained the water line so I replaced gauge. Gauge now reads apprx 10 psi when power is turned on to the pump. When power is turned off to the pump it reads 0 psi. Water will not go into new tank. New tank is a Flotec FP7130 220 gallon pre-charged tank. I also installed a new 40/60 pressure switch which I don't think there was anything wrong with the last one but I tried adjusting the pressure above 10 psi but it would do nothing so I wasn't sure if I messed it up so I just bought a new one that was suppose to be pre-set and it still reads only 10 psi. We seem to have more water flow from the faucets when we have the line to the pressure tank turned off. Pump runs continually, I have found no leaks inside or outside but have not checked anything inside of the well because I don't know how to. My thought is that it may be buring up even though it is still running and putting 10 psi in the lines. I am a carpenter by trade and I don't know much about eletrical or plumbing. any info would be helpful. If more is needed to determine cause of low pressure please let me know and i will try to elaborate if possible

It could be that the pipe from the pump to the tank has a big leak in it somewhere. That is especially possible if you had a deep freeze when the water was off or if you turned on the pump with the valves to the tank closed.

A leak would cause the water to be lost at low pressure, so nothing left to fill the tank.

moseswohali said:

We seem to have more water flow from the faucets when we have the line to the pressure tank turned off. Pump runs continually, ....

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What valve are you shutting off? Is it on the outlet of the tank tee, on the house side? If it is, then that valve is not opening/closing correctly. If it is a gate valve, replace it.

Otherwise it sounds as if you have a bad pump. It can only build 10 psi of water pressure. Or you have a serious leak somewhere.

If the valve you mention can't shut off all the water to the house, you can't determine on what side of the pressure tank the leak is on but if your house is not on a slab, you should be able to find a leak in the house as large as this one. So it's probably underground to the well or more likely down the well in the drop pipe. You could have a hole in the side of the pump from rubbing on the casing.

Remove your well casing cap with the pump running and listen for water spraying. If you hear it the leak is in the well and above the water level in the well. If you don't hear it, it may be below the water level.

moseswohali said:

We seem to have more water flow from the faucets when we have the line to the pressure tank turned off. Pump runs continually

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There is a valve between the pump and tank, BIG No No, take it out.

Rancher

Rancher, if there was a valve between the well and the pressure tank and they closed it, there would be no water unless the valve leaked.

I think they close the valve on the tank's outlet, and the valve is broken and allows more water through it when it is supposed to be closed than when it is supposed to be open.