Intermittent water pump cycling on and off, FAQs #3

Older questions & answers on how to diagnose, find and fix the cause of intermittent or irregular well pump cycling on and off: if the well pump seems to run for no reason or when no water is being consumed.

This article series explains how to diagnose & repair water pump intermittent cycling - the water pump comes on when no water is being run in the building. Intermittent water pump cycling means that the water pump comes on for no apparent reason.

Older Water Pump Intermittent On-Off Cycling Q&A #3

These older questions & answers about unexplained water pump cycling on and off, posted originally

at WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING - topic home. Be sure to review the causes and cures discussed in that article

Before we scroll down to questions and answers on pump cycling on and off, let's sum up intermittent pump operation compared with short cycling well pumps see if the step by step diagnosis and repair procedures in these rticles help you out:

• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 1: PUMP WON'T RUN, WON'T STOP, or CYCLES - water pump diagnosis
• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 2: PUMP RUNS, WEAK or NO WATER PRESSURE - water pump diagnosis
• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 3: PUMP RUNS, NO WATER or INSUFFICIENT WATER - water pump diagnosis

On 2013-04-04 by Intermittent pump cycling, mulitple times

We have a shallow well pump and tank in the basement.

We have noticed the water pump coming on with no water demand. Today, we replaced the preasure switch for the second time in 6 months.

After replacing the preasure switch, the pump will power on by no water flow follows

After reading some of the articals, I suspect a bad foot or control valve, or even leaky well piping. Does this sound like the most likely situation?

Thank You for your comments,
Carrie

On 2013-04-04 3 by (mod) - I suspect a bad foot or control valve, or even leaky well piping is causing the pump to run at odd times

Sounds right.

Turn off water in the house. If the pump keeps cycling then the leak is between house and well bottom.

On 2013-01-05 by colm the plumber - trouble with pressure tank on a fishing boat

a pump on a fishing boat for ice recently had an expansion vessel replaced it is a white potable type 20 ltrs max working pressure 10 bar factory precharge 1.9 bar after it was fitted it was switching on an off ,

we increased pressure to 35 psi and pump stopped cycling , now after a tap is used it cycles for approx 2 min on and off and then stops and hold the pressure at 4 bar , any ideas
thanks - colm

On 2012-10-04 by Kristen - We have to turn off our pump once it gets to pressure - else it won't stop

I have a pump that never stops running - we have looked everywhere for a leak.

We turn off the relay switch once the pressure tank has full pressure, and then the water will continue to flow from the pipes without the pump all day until all of the pressure has been exhausted in the pressure tank. If we never call for water then the pressure stays up at 40psi the whole day.

Could this be a bad relay switch? Could there be some other issue? We have a gravity fed cistern and the pump that sits atop the pressure tank "pulls" water from the cistern and pushes the water to all the pipes in the house (the pump and pressure tank sit beside the cistern). Thank you for your help.

On 2012-10-04 by (mod) -

Kristen

Check for debris clogging at both the pressure gauge and pressure control switch. Ghats what your description suggests.

On 2012-10-04 by Kristen

will do - thank you

How do I find out if the foot valve in my well is leaking?

Hello All,

What is the process for checking a foot valve for leaks? Thanks! On 2012-09-02 by Allen -

Reply by (mod) -

Allen,

to track down a leaky foot valve, turn off water into the house, then watch for a drop in water preside at the water pump/tank when the system is off. Dropping pressure indicates a leaky check valve, leaky foot valve, or a leakmin the well piping.

 

On 2012-08-13 by Anthony - my water feed pump runs every few hours when we're not using water. Is that proper?

The water feed pump in my apartment runs ever few hours without any water been drawn down by taps etc. is the pump programmed to operate every few hours to cycle water in store tank to prevent build up of bacteria or is there a leak in system?

On 2012-09-08 by (mod) - NO

Anthony,

No the system would not be designed to run the pump every few hours as a means of bacteria control.

Rather there is water running somewhere, such as a running toilet that is not so obvious, or a leaky foot valve, check valve, or well piping.

On 2012-09-07 by Lisa - water flow slows down or stops for a few minutes when we're running water in our home

When our water pressure would slow down or completely stop for a few seconds to a few minutes during baths, washing machine fill, etc., it was caused by a stopped up nipple below the pressure switch.

We replaced it, and the water psi came back to normal. We had replaced the pump and box about a year ago, and the last problem we had was as above.

Now the pump comes on, fills the tank (runs for a longer period of time than the intermittent run), shuts off, then after just a few minutes, kicks back on, runs just a couple of seconds and kicks back off. It just started this. We checked the air in the tank last night, it was about 10 lbs low

. We added air to empty tank. It did not fix the problem. I used canned air to blow any debris out of the pressure switch and the controlbox, and that did not fix the problem. I noticed a greasy looking substance inside the pressure switch while blowing it out.

We are going to replace the presuure switch tonight. We also noticed that the tank is now sitting at an angle - not level. We are going to check this out too soon. Someone had been messing around because the pressure switch cap was NOT locked on (screwed down) like we had left it. The tank is getting old, so we need to check it for leaks and need for replacement.

The pressure gauge needs replacing as it is rusted. If all that doesn't fix it, then I guess we pull the well...

On 2012-09-08 by (mod) - probably a clogged pressure switch or pressure tank inlet

Lisa, it ounce as if your water supply contains rust or debris that is clogging the pressure switch sensor or clogging the sensor line conducting pressure to the switch. A cogged water filter between pump and house can have a similar effect.

Water inside that tube bringing pressure to the bottom og the pressure control switch is normal.

On 2012-09-08 by Lisa

Well I replaced the pressure gauge, and the pressure switch. I rechecked the air in the empty tank - it is holding at 28 lbs.

The new pressure switch is a 20/40 adjustable, but no matter how we adjust it, the pump kicks on well below 30 and kicks off almost immediately. It pumps water but then shuts off, even if we have something (faucet, sink) running open.

The gauge drops to 0 and stays there for a little while before the pressure switch kicks the pump on again. Then it wont go up past 32 before the pump shuts off again. The tank is holding water when everything is closed - no seep leak showing, and when we removed the pressure gauge and at a different time the pressure switch, there was water in the line.

What is causing this? How do we fix it?

On 2012-09-08 by (mod) -

On occasion if a pressure tank has a sticky internal bladder or a damaged bladder the system may also be unable to push water into or draw water out of the tank, also giving improper pump om/off behavior.

I should add that similar debris clogging can make the water pressure gauge read incorrectly and act oddly too, as he gauge also has a small pressure sensing opening that can become debris or rust clogged.

On 2012-08-24 by Shaun - Diagnose slow loss of pressure in the pressure tank

Hi all,

I'm having a bit of trouble tracking down a pressure tank loss of pressure and intermittent cycle problem.

The initial problem here is that my pressure tank will fill to its cut off of 50 psi and then without using any water over the course of 2 maybe 3 hours the pressure will slowly drop to the cut in of 30 psi.

I have pex water pipe running through the home and have inspected the connections and there are no leaks. The pressure tank is not leaking. Both toilets seem to be holding their water.

I know my main tub has a very slow drip leak (probably wouldnt fill a 1L) in a day..and everything else in the house that is connected to use water seems to be tight and dry. I also have a water softener and iron filter tanks and they dont appear to be leaking externally

I checked my pressure tank air level and precharged it should be 28psi but was around 20psi..so i added air up till around the 27 to 28 psi indicator.

If I allow the pressure tank to fill up to its cut off of 50psi then turn the valve off to allow water to the house the tank will hold 50 psi without decreasing.

The majority of water lines in my home are exposed in the basement and nothing appears to be leaking from behind any wall into the basement so im stuck there.

The only recent thing of lately is that I did have a plumber come and replace a faulty pressure tank control switch that was leaking.

He just brought another one to install in place of the faulty one. Could this be a source of problem? it was brand new.?

Sorry for the length of this post I'm just not sure what else to suspect and may have to call someone in to check it out.

P.S. after adding air to the pressure tank I have the unpleasant odor of iron in my cold water since i added air and refilled the tank.

Yuck

On 2012-07-20 by (mod) -

Shaun: if the tank pressure stays fixed when you turn off valves feeding water to the house but pressure drops when house water is turned on, I think there's either a running tolet somewhere or a water pipe leak to be found.

Conversely: if the problem isn't on the house side, I'd look for a leaky foot valve or check valve between pump/pressure tank and the well.

On 2012-07-19 by Dawn - Pump chycle goes on/off every 5 minutes: why and how to fix it?

If Intermittent pump cycling is going on/off every 5 minutes what might be the problem?

Could a small leak in a supply line to the home or under the home cause the intermittent cycle every 5 minutes ?

So, my pressure tank has a bladder, the valve at the top has air coming out of it, yet, the pump will run for 5 minutes, fill the pressure tank and within 7 minutes the pump is kicking on again.

Does that mean the entire pressure tank is draining out ? Is the water going back into the well ? and if there is a leak wouldn't that be a significant one ?

On 2012-07-20 by (mod) -

Dawn, the problem that is causing a well pump to cycle on and off every 5 minutee might be any of the sources we list in the article WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING

A first step to diagnose what's going on is to turn off all water into the building to see if the cycling continues. If so then look from the tank and pump and controls backwards to the well and well piping and check valves/foot valve.

On 2012-06-27 by (mod) - Well goes on every 3 minutes

Dave the article WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING suggests explanations, I'd start there. If water intonthe building is shut off and the pump continues to cycle I suspect a well piping leak or a bad foot valve

On 2012-06-24 by Dave

well goes on every 3 minintes pressure goes up to 40 and goes off it drops down to 20 and the pump goes back on

On 2012-04-24 by shane - pump goes on an doff when our house water is not on

My pump goes off and on and the water is not on i looked for leaks but there is none. I went out to the pump and when the pump cycles off the water seems to be running back down the pipes. Anyone have any suggestions

On 2012-04-24 by (mod) -

Shane, the article WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING has 6 likely explanations and cures for a pump that seems to come on for no reason - please check them out. But from what you say, it sounds like either a bad check valve on or near the pump, or a bad foot valve in the well. Let us know what you find, it will help others.

On 2012-04-17 by jeff S

I have a 152' well that keeps losing pressure, I have to charging tanks which seem to working fine. The pump engages and the guages show approxz 60#s then I can watch it drop until about 20-30#'s and the pump rengages. I cant find any water running or leakes in the system. Where do I start.

On 2012-04-20 by (mod) -

Jeff I suggest taking a look at the diagnostics at WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING (in the ARTICLE INDEX found at the end of this article).

On 2011-12-22 by Phil - intermittent shallow well jet pump, not losing prime

I have a intermittent cycling with my shallow-well jet pump, however I am not losing prime

. I have been turning the pump off when I don't need water (to keep from burning the pump out) for as long as 10 hours and still haven't lost prime. The foot valve was replaced recently as I did lose prime during a power outage a couple of months ago.

Any ideas of the source of the problem? I can't see how the problem could be due to a faulty foot valve or leak in the piping when I don't lose prime.

On 2011-12-25 by (mod) -

Phil, the causes of intermittent well pump cycling we discuss here do NOT require that the system loses prime. Not at all.

More likely the slow leak back into the well from a bad foot valve, or from a well piping leak, or from water running in the building resulting in a pressure drop cause the pump to turn on often enough that in fact it never loses prime - except when there is a power outage.

If you're sure it's a good foot valve I'd look for another leak. Turn off water into the house and watch for a pressure drop. If it occurs, the problem is in well piping or at the water tank. If not, there may be a running toilet in the house or something like that.

On 2011-11-24 by Abbie McCaffity - Problem with iron and other mineral contaminants in water, now we lose water pressure

Hi, I have been in experiencing some major problems with my water. I had unusually high levels of iron and other minerals in my water. I purchased a Master water system.

The following items are listed on my receipt (Neut/Softener, Water heater Conditioners, Multimedia filter, Resup kit (feeder & 1 qt). This seemed to help finally my water was clear. Within a few months I noticed that the water began to look rusty again.

The gentleman that installed the equipment later admitted that he didn't have any experience with this type of installation. Another gentleman came out and he indicated that the equipment was not installed properly. He said that the media filter needed to be rebedded.

He did that for me and immediately we noticed a loss of water pressure. The water will run powerfully initially and then within seconds it diminishes to a trickle until it cuts off. We were told that the switch needed to be replaced so we did that. Then we were told to check the air pressure, we added air. We called someone else and he advised us that we needed to replace the submersible water tank.

There was a lot of mud so we were advised to cut off about 10 ft of the pipe so we did that. The water seemed to be working fine for hours but now it is doing the same thing. It sounds as if water is being drained and it sounds like it is coming from the master equipment but they say it is not. Please help. Let me know if you need additional information.

On 2011-11-24 by (mod) -

Abbie I'm not sure I've got the full picture of your installation and I certainly am not sure we have an accurate picture of just what problem substances are in your water supply, but it sounds as if you have a high level of sediment or perhaps even clay (you mention "mud") in your water pressure tank.

Minerals or mud or debris can clog the pump pressure control and lead to periodic water pressure loss or erratic water pump response (failing to turn on or failing to turn off when it should).

High levels of any particulate debris in the water supply can and will quickly clog treatment equipment, piping, pressure control switch sensor ports, even piping and water pressure tanks and on occasion dangerously clog pressure relief valves in the plumbing system.

You might want a more comprehensive water test that describes just what problems need to be corrected in your water supply.

Then the proper choices of treatment equipment as well as the order of treatment can be properly chosen and installed. For example, you may need a sediment filter installed ahead of all other system components.

On 2011-11-13 by G. Albertelli - trouble with vibrating pump on artesian well

My well pump (above ground) and connected to my 600' artesian well just began to have the following problem. The pump achieves cutoff pressure, stops, vibrates violently while the pressure is dropping, and then starts again. If left alone, I believe that it would continue this cycle until self-destruction. Any ideas?

On 2011-11-23 by (mod) -

Mr. Albertelli:

If the pump is trying to run when the pressure is dropping there may be a problem with the pressure control switch and its pressure sensor. If the pump motor is not trying to run but the pump is vibrating I suspect a failing internal check valve in the pump.

On 2011-11-21 Rich Swaim - lose pressure in minutes or sometimes after an hour

I have my well hooked up to the outside faucets only and when all faucets are shut off the tank continues to slowly lose pressure. I have inspected all of the piping and connections and found no evidence of a leak. Sometimes the presuure loss is quick(5-10 miutes) and other times it may take an hour.

I have the old steel tank not a bladder tank. I have checked for air leaks on the tank and found none. Am I looking at going out side and into the well for a fix?$$$$$

On 2011-11-23 by (mod) -

Rich,

if the water pressure is dropping there is almost certainly a leak somewhere. Turn off water into the building at the water pressure tank. If pressure still drops the problem is between the pressure tank and the well piping down at the bottom of the well. If pressure does not drop, then the problem is a leak or slow running toilet etc inside the building.

On 2011-10-01 by Tom Wilson - Is the problem of pump runnign every 30 seconds in the well or in the house?

It appears as if I have intermittent water pump cycling. It's turning on about every 30 seconds, running for about 10 seconds and turning off. I don't appear to have any water leaks in the house at all and I checked all the piping in the crawl space today and found nothing.

I turned the power off to the pump/tank and all the water drained backward to "somewhere". Do I have a well problem perhaps or a problem in a line between well and house?

I forgot to mention that I have good water pressure. No obvious issues other than the pump cycling on and off for no apparent reason.

On 2011-10-01 by (mod) -

Tom, sounds as if the answer to your question is yes. If water is draining back from the pressure tank into the well piping there is a well piping leak or a bad check valve or foot valve.

More obscure: if the well pump is submersible (in the well) and your pressure tank is a steel non-bladder type, there could also be a leak not in the well piping itself but in an air vent valve installed on well piping inside the well.

Such air vents were used on older systems with bladderless pressure tanks as a means of adding air to the pressure tank at each pump cycle.

On 2011-09-11 by Laura - Water tank doesn't have a bladder - guy says we need a new well

The well guy just tole me our water tank is a sealed tank so does not have a bladder and that most likely it is a leak in the well or piping and suggested we get a new well. Think we should get a second opinion.

My water pump will cycle every 6-8 minutes when the pressure gauge drops bellow 48 psi. It will take 6-8 seconds the pressure up to 62 psi, this then starts all over again.

I checked to see how much air was in the bladder with a tire gauge and water came out. The well guy I talked to said the bladder tank is shot and needs to be replaces but there might be something else going on because the pressure drops then pump turns on. What is our next step to take?

On 2011-09-12 by (mod) -

Laura

your pump sounds as if it's short cycling - that's a water tank problem. But the pressure drop may be a piping or foot valve leak

I suppose it's true that if you drill a new well, all of the well piping would be replaced as part of that job. And so if the actual problem is a leak oin the present well piping, as a byproduct of the new well the leak would get fixed too.

I'd ask what other concerns s/he saw led to the new well recommendation

On 2011-09-10 by Doug - what are symptoms of a bad foot valve in the well?

If you have a well pipe leak or a bad foot valve, would you slowly loose pressure all the time? My well pump goes on with no water use but not consistantly. There are times that the pressure on the gauge appears steady and other times when it very slowly drops or it can drop quickly (all without water use)

On 2011-09-11 by (mod) -

Doug, a check valve or foot valve may leak intermittently, perhaps depending on just how the valve seats from usage cycle to cycle,or sue to occasional dirt.

Also a sticky water pressure gauge can complicate diagnosis

If pressure is dropping and you turn off water at the main valve into the building, and if the pressure drop stops, that usually means you had water running in the building. If it does not stop falling you probbly have a bad check valve or a well piping leak.

On 2011-06-19 by Sam - Rusty pressure tank, nasty smelling water, pump won't shut off

We have old farm house. Pressure tank been getting rusting. Few days ago, water nasty, pump running continuously.

Put in new pressure tank and all piping around it. Water pressure good. Cleanliness seems to have increased.

Problem: pressure switch not cutting off...will adjust setting. When turn off switch manually, tank pressure decreases immediatley, which would kick pump back on. Seems to be back filling. Have shut off valve between tank and well, when turn it, tank holds pressure. Something wrong with well? How would I check to see if foot or check valve is bad and what do I do?

On 2011-07-08 by (mod) -

Sam:

On how to check for a leaky foot valve or leak in well piping, if you shut off all water going into the building from your water pressure tank just at the end of a pump run cycle (so your system is at maximum pressure) then your pressure tank, pump, and well piping will either sit with static water pressure (meaning there are no leaks in that part of the system), or the pressure gauge will (probably) show a slow drop in pressure in the water tank - meaning that there is a bad foot valve or a leak in well piping.

Loss of prime can also indicate a bad foot valve.

I said the gauge would "probably" show a drop in water pressure because gauges can be inaccurate; try tapping on the gauge if it is not showing a change in pressure.

Debris clogging the pressure control switch could explain why the pump keeps running - OR you're well is running out of water.

On 2011-07-02 by notonyourtintype - How do we improve unreliable municipal water pressure?

We've got a house with municipal water that's unreliable, ranging from zero to 25psi; lots of people here put in storage tanks to buffer past municipal water outages.

Ours has a pressurizer system on it (pump, pressure tank, valves & switches etc.).

When pressure is above 25psi on pump gauge, things work pretty good. 19-25, seems like not enough pressure to turn on the on-demand boiler (7 liter tank inside it);showers cycle hot-cold-hot-cold, and kitchen sink cannot get enough flow on hot side only to turn on boiler.

No apparent leaks, no unexplained pressurize pump cycles when water doesn't seem to be flowing. Any ideas?

On 2011-07-06 by (mod) -

For unreliable water pressure and flow and quantity where you already have a booster pump and tank

if you still are not getting enough water, I suspect your pressure tank is too small; you need to store a larger volume of water to assure adequate supply when your municipal supply rate is too low or slow.

...

Continue reading at WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING FAQs-4 - more-recent Q&A about pumps that run for no apparent reason or at odd times

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE - home
• FOOT VALVES, WELL PIPING - check valve in the well
• NO WATER PRESSURE - no water at all
• PUMP PRIME, REPEATED LOSS of - pump loses prime, no water pressure
• SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMPS - pump cycles on and off rapidly when water is being run
• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 1: PUMP WON'T RUN, WON'T STOP, or CYCLES - water pump diagnosis
• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 2: PUMP RUNS, WEAK or NO WATER PRESSURE - water pump diagnosis
• WATER PRESSURE TABLE 3: PUMP RUNS, NO WATER or INSUFFICIENT WATER - water pump diagnosis
• WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD - add air to the pressure tank to stop short-cycling pumps
• WATER PUMP DRAWDOWN VOLUME & TIME - typical volumes and times between pump cycles depend on well tank size, pressure settings, and other factors
• WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING - pump cycles on and off at odd times or for no apparent reason
• WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING FAQs - Q&A about pumps that run for no apparent reason or at odd times
• WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING FAQs-2
• WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING FAQs-3
• WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR - diagnose, fix, replace the pressure control switch
• WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE - how to prime the pump
• WATER PRESSURE INTERMITTENT LOSS - occasional loss of water pressure
• WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENT - get higher water pressure or more flow
• WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING - pump runs continuously, never shuts off or can't reach shut-off pressure

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING FAQs-3 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

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