Pressure too high

[yellowdog5]

I think it's a 3 horse pump, 60/40 pressure switch. It shuts off at 60 pounds but keeps building pressure to about 100 after switch goes off. water is running out the relief valve I think it is open all the time now. This well is for an irrigation line, most of the line is at a little higher elevation than the well. It does have pressure tanks which say don't go over 125#. Advice?

 

[Bannerman]

It shuts off at 60 pounds but keeps building pressure to about 100 after switch goes off.

A pump that is shut off, cannot continue to build additional pressure.

most of the line is at a little higher elevation than the well.

Define what is meant by "a little higher elevation".

It does have pressure tanks which say don't go over 125#

You said TANKS, plural.

How many pressure tanks? What size is each?

Are the tanks located together, or is there distance between them?

What is the type and diameter of the supply piping between the tanks?

Where is the pressure switch located in comparison to each pressure tank?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[yellowdog5]

"a little higher" means a Very Gradual barely noticeable slope for about 400 or 500 feet of distance, probably less than 10 feet above the well location at the highest point, without measuring that is a guess, but it's not much.
2 pressure tanks close together with 2 inch galvanized pipe between tanks, the rest of the system is 2 inch pvc. The pressure switch is close to the tanks, maybe 3 feet from one and 4 or 5 feet from the other, it is right on top of the well. Not sure of the exact volume of the tanks, they are alike and around 50 or 60 gallons each. They were very low on air I brought them up to 38 pounds each.
I thought the switch was faulty so I got a new one, didn't seem to change anything. There is a very audible "click" when it reaches 60 pounds but it keeps building to right around 100. A couple of days ago I noticed water outside the well house that 's when I found what I think is the relief valve running water. Not hard, but a gentle steady stream. I shut all the power off until I figure out what is going on.

 

[LLigetfa]

How is the pressure switch sense line connected and have you confirmed that it is not blocked? Where is the pressure gauge in relation to the pressure switch sense line?

 

[Fitter30]

You can see the contacts of the pressure switch they separate 3/16.

 

[yellowdog5]

I checked everything, the switch is definitely opening and the pump is shutting off at 60, pressure continues to build to 103, somewhere above 70 or 80 pressure relief starts opening slowly pressure gradually reducesafter it reaches 103, A storm came so I didn't get a chance to see what the pressure was when it quit running water.. I was wrong about the pipe size from the well to the pressure tanks it is 1 1/2 inch not 2. the rest of the system is 2 inches. Nipple on the pressure switch is new I'm quite sure there is not a blockage. Might be wrong about the elevation, could be 10 feet or more in 500 or so feet from the well to the upper end of the system, it is a very gradual slop, almost looks flat.. Hard to take pictures because of close quarters, here are a couple.

Edit: After a little more research I think I should remove the switch and make sure there is not a clog in those adapters you see in the pictures, I'll do that tomorrow and let you know what happens.

 

[John Gayewski]

Not sure how it's possible to build pressure without the pump running. Isolate the well pump from your house and see if it's the water heater causing pressure to build.

 

[LLigetfa]

My guess is that there is a significant constriction in the piping between the tanks and the pressure switch sense line. The tank's pressure gets much higher than cutoff due to a high pumping GPM and then equalizes at a slower rate than the pump's GPM. I had a similar situation but the pressure rise after the pump stopped was not as high since the internal restriction was less than what I guess yours is.

 

[Fitter30]

That pvc line first pic is that pump side or irrigation? Have you shut it off after pump stops.

 

[Reach4]

What is that smaller pipe connecting thru the well seal at the side opposite of the electrical connection?

 

[yellowdog5]

What is that smaller pipe connecting thru the well seal at the side opposite of the electrical connection?

It is an overflow

 

[Valveman]

Sometimes a waterlogged tank will act like that, but rarely. I have had this happen before and found an old pressure tank that had been buried at the well. After the pump shut off the high pressure from the old tank would overpressure the new tank.

 

[Fitter30]

Post 6 This doesn't make any sense. What is the relief valve setting? There normally isn't more than 10lbs from a steady drip to wide open and they don't stop flowing from a higher pressure.
"pump is shutting off at 60, pressure continues to build to 103, somewhere above 70 or 80 pressure relief starts opening slowly pressure gradually reduces after it reaches 103"

 

[yellowdog5]

Post 6 This doesn't make any sense. What is the relief valve setting? There normally isn't more than 10lbs from a steady drip to wide open and they don't stop flowing from a higher pressure.
"pump is shutting off at 60, pressure continues to build to 103, somewhere above 70 or 80 pressure relief starts opening slowly pressure gradually reduces after it reaches 103"

I don't know the pressure setting, but after watching it a few more times I think the valve is operating normally.

 

[yellowdog5]

My guess is that there is a significant constriction in the piping between the tanks and the pressure switch sense line. The tank's pressure gets much higher than cutoff due to a high pumping GPM and then equalizes at a slower rate than the pump's GPM. I had a similar situation but the pressure rise after the pump stopped was not as high since the internal restriction was less than what I guess yours is.

I drained the system and removed the switch with the tanks still full (pressure gauge was at 0). water shot upwards through the pipe when I removed the switch, a really strong stream so I thought that would remove any blockage, but I put it back together and the pressure still builds after shutoff. Not sure what to do next. There are no tanks buried at this well, it didn't have pressure tanks before, it was turned on and off manually and we installed the pressure system so I know what is there. Any suggestions?

That pvc line first pic is that pump side or irrigation? Have you shut it off after pump stops.

It is the irrigation side and yes I have shut it off. Didn't change anything. The problem seems to be right there at the well

 

[Valveman]

How could water shoot up after removing the pressure switch if the pressure was at zero? Should not have been any water. Possible cross connection with a system that has 100 PSI or so? Could check with an amp meter. A 3HP draws about 17 amps or so if pumping water. If the switch really turns off the pump, and the amps drop to zero, water has got to be coming from a different location.

 

[Fitter30]

Take few pics of the tanks and piping.

 

[Chucky_ott]

Question for the experts. Could an artesian well build that kind of pressure?

I'm guessing you'd see water coming out of the vented well head if that was the case.

 

[Valveman]

Question for the experts. Could an artesian well build that kind of pressure?

I'm guessing you'd see water coming out of the vented well head if that was the case.

Yes. A flowing well with 2 PSI pressure will lift or shoot water 4.62' in the air, but won't go to 100 PSI.

3HP, with that pressure switch, must be using a contactor like in a Deluxe control box. The contactor could be sticking and not releasing for a while after the pressure switch de-energizes it?

 

[Bannerman]

I drained the system and removed the switch with the tanks still full (pressure gauge was at 0)

Explain what you mean by this. If you drained the system, but the tank's are still full (assuming you mean of water), the pressure gauge should not be reading 0 unless the tank diaphragms are defective.

With the pump shut off and the tank's completely drained so no water is remaining, using a tire pressure gauge on each tank's Schrader valve, what is the air pre-charge pressure for each tank?