For the past week, the well pump has been tripping the breaker. After only a few days of this, I monitored the behavior and here's what I gleaned.
-The pump won't build pressure past 35psi
-90' well. I believe the pump is a 3/4hp, could be a 1/2. 110V on a 15A circuit. It's exactly 4 years old
-Clamping shows a low draw when it starts. It stays at about 3-4A until it runs too long. Then it rises to close to 20A at which point the breaker pops. My meter is a small, cheapo HF one so it might not be very accurate
-40/60 pressure switch
-Bladder tank is low at about 30psi
I called the local well company that replaced my pump 4 years ago. They told me that the pump should be close to 12A under load, not low as it currently is. He then dropped something from a big pill bottle into the well and put his ear to the cap. I assume he was listening for the noise of it hitting the water.
If these symptoms are right, how can the pump not be bad?
Yes, the submersible pump could be the wrong pump. But right or wrong, it's broken, unless I am missing something. I am not a pro.
Four Ringer:
1. there a pitless adapter?
2. is the well casing 4.5 inch OD steel, or what?
3. Would you be entertaining replacing the pump yourself, or would you be finding a well service service? A non-digger might be more oriented to the pump than the possibility of digging a new well.
4. Is this well your daily water supply? To work around this for now, you would adjust the pressure switch down to 10/30 and drop the precharge air pressure.