Intermittent water pump cycling on and off, Q&A-4.

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.

Water Pump Intermittent On-Off Cycling FAQs 4

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 get to recent reader Q&A on water pump cycling problems, lets

Sort Out the Type of Well or Water Pump Problem to Get the Right Repair

1. Intermittent pump operation: If a pump is running for no apparent reason and we're not running water in the building (or we think we're not running water there), then I call
   
   this WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING.
   
   The time between pump-on cycles will depend on how fast water is leaving the system and might be anywhere from "pump won't stop running at all" (though other problems can cause that too) to "pump runs once in the middle of the night".
2. Short Cycling pumps: Very short pump-on cycles followed by short pump-off cycles is caused by a water-logged pressure tank (lost air charge) combined with a rapid use of water in the building or by a significant water piping leak somewhere.
   
   See WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING. These cycles are typically under 30 seconds.
3. Chattering pumps: Extremely-short pump on/off cycling or pump chattering is usually caused by a blockage at the pump or water system output, like a clogged debris filter. This on-off cycling rate will typically be a second or less.
4. Continuous pump operation: if the pump won't stop running the cause may be simply a high water usage rate that exceeds the pump or well's capacity to deliver water or there may be a leak or a bad control.
   
   See WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

On 2019-03-29 by (mod) - our pump just never turns off

Continuous pump running or separately pump rapid on-off short cycling - are NOT the same as "intermittent" pump on-off cycling at odd intervals or at periods when no water is being run.

If your pump seems to run for no reason but intermittently - that is it will turn off but then runs again - the diagnostics at WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING are what you should read.

Continuous pump operation: if the pump won't stop running the cause may be simply a high water usage rate that exceeds the pump or well's capacity to deliver water or there may be a leak or a bad control.

See WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING to diagnose and fix that problem

On 2019-03-28 21:33:32.471275 by kay - Davey 350p8c water pump that keep short cycling

@kay,
Yes constant we turn it off when not in use

I have a Davey 350p8c water pump that keep short cycling I have tried to fix it by putting air into the bladder but it still short cycles any help would de appreciated

On 2019-03-2 by Anonymous

Extreme on off cycles

On 2019-02-22 by Anonymous

thank you! We are working on process of elimination. I installed a shut off on the outside spigot. So far it seems to have improved the intermittent pump cycling. Time will tell. The plans are to leave the outside spigot shut off until better weather than dig it up.

On 2019-02-20 by (mod) -

At this point i would follow the pipes in detail.

On 2019-02-20 by Susan

PS. We are not losing prime even with pump shut off.

the cistern is fed from rain water or water that is trucked in. I went looking for leaks this evening. I thus far have found nothing. Next is to dig up the line to the frost free hydrant , outside water spigot. That is the only fixture that I cannot visably see the lines.

We have turned the pump off when not in use to keep from feeding the leak.

Seems it causes our hot water tank to lose water when the pump is not keeping the lines under pressure.

We can hear it start to make a lot of gurgling noises after the pump has been off for a couple of hours, kind of like a boiling water with space above inside a closed tank sound.

So my guess is the leak is allowing air into the system when not under pressure...now to find the leak!
It is possible the cistern itself could be leaking but when the pump was off all day,the water level did not change.

It went down 6inches over night when the pump was on and cycling intermittently.

On 2019-02-19 1 by (mod) - what would cause us to lose all of the water in our cistern?

If the leak is outside, into the ground

How does water enter your cistern? From what source?

Could the cistern itself be leaking?

On 2019-02-19 by Anonymous

Thank you... Would that cause us to lose all of the water in our cistern? Where is the water going?

On 2019-02-19 by (mod) - We have intermittent pump cycling.

Susan

If you turn off water between the pressure tank in the house and pressure continues to drop from you know on which side of the tank and pump the leak is present. From that point you would suspect a leaky foot valve Aura Lincoln piping between the foot valve and the pressure tank that you have not yet found.

On 2019-02-19 by Susan

We have intermittent pump cycling. We have 1/2 hp shallow well jet pump, a 36 gallon air pressure tank, and a foot valve in our cistern. We cannot locate any leaks inside the house... We have lost about 1500 gallons of water over 3-4 days.

We noticed the issue after a really cold -7 low, for a couple days . The pump is under our house. We did not have any pipes freeze. We have replaced the air tank. But still hearing pump cycle intermittently. We cannot figure out where our water is going and why the pump is cycling when nothing is on! Help!

On 2019-01-18 by (mod) - submersible pump won't shut off

Tina

We have suggested diagnostic steps for a pump that won't stop

See WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

On 2019-01-18 by TinaLynnNelson@aol.com

HELP! Have submersible pump replaced 5 years ago.

Last year, changed well bladder tank from 40 gallons to 87 gallons as recommended by amount of faucets. Since we've suffered from very rusty water & sulfur smell changed all plumbing lines, pressure gauges and added some extra valves for easier diagnosis with problems.

Added a pressure relief valve as recommended by new tank. About 30 feet from well & tank is our house, against it is our salt softener (all internal parts changed out last year too) and added a double filtration system. New gauges and extra valves there as well.

Worked beautifully with clear un-smelly water. Suddenly my well pump won't shut off with a high pressure of 65. The tank appears to have water at the bottom as it doesn't sound hollow & its heavy. I checked for running water/leaks, then changed out the cut off switch. Strangely well pressure went down to 55 but still the pump did not shut off.

Adjusted new cut off switch to approx 50 (about 2 1/2 turns on diff. nut and 1/2 turn on larger). STILL PUMP RUNNING. The well pressure maintains 55 at tank.....45 at my house (normal drop between well & house after filters). Still pump running.

I checked control box. Capacitor was questionable as was a wire. Changed out complete control box. STILL PUMP RUNS CONTINUOUSLY.

I've been turning off the circuit breaker when I don't need water. I noticed that when the water is turned off it begins running back to the well.

So it sounds like it is running into all the lines because of the pump continuously running OR it may not be filling the tank, but as I said the tank sounds full at the bottom (not in the middle, I'd say lower 1/3) Spent all my money on control box & cut off.

WHAT could be the problem???

 

On 2019-01-06 by (mod) -

Before replacing the pressure control switch take a look in the ARTICLE INDEX and review the diagnostic articles on WELL PUMP SHORT CYCLING as there are quite a few possible causes such as a leaky foot valve or well pipe.

On 2019-01-05 by jacques

my dab controller keeps switching on and of every few seconds. It comes fro. a tank and supplies my toilet. all pipes are above ground so there is no leaks. do I replace the controller or is there a solution

...

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 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-4 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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