Possible pump intake leak?

[michaelrudy89]

We are currently pumping water from a shallow well made from 4' diameter concrete rings. There is a platform in the well where the pump and pressure tank is mounted. On the intake side of the pump there is a brass check valve and then the pipe turns 90 and goes down into to water, no foot valve.
Lately in the morning we will have a bit of water come out the faucet at regular pressure but then go to a slow trickle. After a minute or so it will come rushing back on. I can hear the pump running the whole time so I'm assuming it's not a pressure switch issue.
I'm wondering if I have a leak below the check valve on the intake side. Overnight the water drops down in the intake, I get some water pressure from what's left in the pressure tank and then the pressure goes down well the water pump fights to prime itself again? Does this make sense?
Thanks

 

[Reach4]

Makes sense to me.

Have you considered using a submersible pump? You have to run electricity down the well, but there is no priming needed. You would not be able to hear your pump.

A 3-inch Grundfos SQ pump with a flow inducer should fit down your well nicely.

"I'm wondering if I have a leak below the check valve on the intake side"
Usually the check valve in a 4-inch shallow well system would be part of foot valve at the bottom of the drop pipe, rather than an above-ground check valve..

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Valveman]

Yeah, moving the check valve to the bottom of the suction pipe would work much better. But so would a submersible.