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Water Pump & Well Control Repair Q&A #3

Recent Well Pump & Water Pump Control & Switch Q&As set No. 3.

This article series describes and identifies the switches, controls, and safety devices used on water tanks and water pumps such as the pump pressure control switch, pump motor relays, water tank relief valve, water tank pressure gauge, water tank air volume control, and water tank air valve.

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Water Pump & Water Tank Controls & Switches Diagnostic Q&A

Horizontal Pentair water pressure tank (C) InspectApedia.comThese questions & answers about water pump controls were posted originally at WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES - if you're not sure you can identify the controls and switches for your well pump or water pump, start there.

If you need to adjust or repair the pump pressure control switch, see WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL

[Click to enlarge any image]

On 2018-10-16 by (mod) - suspect a bad start capacitor

Sounds odd; I still suspect a bad start capacitor - or you had a loose, corroded or bad electrical connection and the pump lacked voltage.

On 2018-10-16 by Ralph Martyn

The Leader pump when plugged tries to start but does not run, when wired directly by passing the the board it works okay, where is the cause

On 2018-06-22 by (mod) - manual for Pentair AW42T bladderles tank.

The Pentair manual for this tank series shows several installations including one in which the switch is attached to a bracket on the pump and monitors tank pressure by a tube connected to the pressure tank. The manufacturer didn't anticipate a direct on-tank mount nor do they prohibit it.

See your manual at one of these lists:

On 2018-06-22 by Russ

Pentair Pro-Source epoxy lined bladderless water pressure tank (C) Inspectapedia.com RussPentair AW42T bladderles tank. we have a 3/4 hp sta- rite pump. Should we go with a1 hp. He suggested not because it could change levels in the well overtime. Does that sound possible??

On 2018-06-22 by (mod) - pump getting "weak" ?

Right,

But it makes no difference to the pressure control switch whether it's on a tank using an internal bladder or not. The switch simply responds to pressure sensed at its sensor port.

At WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPLACE we include instructions on switch replacement


And at WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH REPAIRS

you'll find links to PDF files giving pressure control switch installation instructions from the switch manufacturers.

I'm going to review the manufacturer's instructions to see if they raise any question about pump switch mounting location. To date the main constraint I've found is that the switch needs to be mounted as close to the pressure tank as possible rather than remote from it.

The pressure control switch can last 30 years or longer, or fail in a few months. Early "failures" are usually due to

1. debris clogging the pressure switch sensor port opening - the switch fails to respond to changes in pressure

2. arc burning - due to excessive short cycling due usually to a waterlogged pressure tank

On 2018-06-22 1 by Russ

Pentair Pro-Source water tank label data at Inspectapedia.comThanks dan, that’s what he told me but everyone else I talked to said it wasn’t right.this is not a tank with a bladder so I think that is what is confusing.

In the manual it suggests the switch be installed on the inlet line to the tank.this all started because we noticed the pump would run continuesly when taking a shower.

He noticed the switch was set to high (65).

He did the draw down test & all our pump will produce is 4 gpm.

Says our pump is getting weak. He installed it 8 years ago & claims that is about average.

8 to 10 years?? So that’s why I was wondering if something else caused the pump to wear out.

On 2018-06-21 22:38:29.357465 by (mod) -

l think that's fine, Russ since both the air and water in the tank will always be at the same pressure.

However if you can tell me the model number of your Pentair tank we (or you) can check the water pressure tank's installation manual to see what the manufacturer recommends.

On 2018-06-21 17:16:26.963964 by Russ

My plumber installed a new bladerless tank for our well pump 2 mo’s ago. He put the pressure switch directly on the tank near the top.not on the water line feeding the tank. Is this okay?

On 2018-03-18 06:05:03.758748 by (mod) -

Is it possible that your pump was running while lines were frozen and therefore it either burned up the pump motor or burned out a wire?

On 2018-03-18 00:37:00.767941 by Dave

Well pump apparently tried pumping iron-rich mud and sediment, shutting pump off completely, exacerbated by two weeks of sub-zero weather that, I suspect, helped dry up overworked aquifer in this area (Poconos).

Too late, I changed filter (it was only 9 days old when pump stopped and I took too long to consider it).

My 55 gal rain barrel was a solid block of ice so I couldn't use that for the plumbing. 35 days of using a low camp toilet with my 71 year-old ripped up back was no fun.
Next - back-to-back storms caused widespread lost power for another 6 days (longer for some others).

Pump came back on for two days then stopped without warning (dribbling, fluctuating pressure) in the middle of my wife's shower.

Pump switch wire 1,2 and 4 are live. Wire 3 is dead. I don't know what that means.

Main box is live.

Breakers seem OK but I have only a simple circuit tester - light/no light. ??

On 2017-05-06 by (mod) - neighbor got the pressure switch out of whack - how do I get it back to proper settings?

Chris, at the ARTICLE INDEX or at the end of this page

at WATER PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH ADJUSTMENTS

ou will find procedures for correctly adjusting the pressure control switch.

On 2017-05-06 by Chris

we got this house that has a well with a well jet pump and I guess the neighbor came and got the pressure switch all out of whack how do I get it back to proper settings?

On 2017-04-12 by (mod) - don't risk blowing up the water tank

Harry:

Watch out: the conditions you suggest by high water pressure that blew out a well pump plug (perhaps a priming plug) are dangerous.

The risk is a burst pressure tank or other plumbing fixture that injures someone nearby, followed by risks of costly water damage to the building.

It's possible that your pump pressure control switch is defective or has been mis-adjusted.

If water pressure is over about 70 psi I consider that high enough to cause leaks, and if water pressure exceeds the rated water pressure tank rating then the system is indeed dangerous.

On 2017-04-12 by Harry Spaulding

what will cause the pressure to blow the plug out the top of the well pump

On 2017-03-28 by (mod) - If the pulsating is rapid or cycling when there's no water running,

If the pulsating is rapid or cycling when there's no water running, indeed there's a problem to find and fix but it may not be the switch.

Use the search box just above to search InspectApedia for WELL PUMP SHORT CYCLING to read the best way to diagnose and fix the problem in a sequence of steps.

On 2017-03-28 04:59:26.945227 by Nick

My well pump it's going on and off on and off pulsating from 60 PSI to 30 PSI don't know if I have a bad pressure switch can you help

On 2017-02-03 21:02:29.729158 by Jerry

We have a 44 gal tank that typically took about 3 minutes to fill when pump started. Yesterday it kicked on and I noticed taking much longer. I time the process and found it takes almost 15 minutes. Pressure on gauges stays between 40 - 60
Any ideas?

Thanks,

On 2016-11-08 19:01:14.530674 by (mod) -

Anon

Please use the search box just above to search this Inspectapedia website for WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING to read how to diagnose and fix the problem you describe

On 2016-11-07 19:39:44.138408 by Anonymous

waterpump taking long to cut off

On 2016-08-28 15:40:40.355529 by (mod) -

Your electrician will start at the electric panel, find the pump circuit, trace it forward to find where a switch is off or a wire or connection or splice is open.

On 2016-08-27 23:19:04.214576 by Anonymous

Have no power. Do have water in well and the lines.

On 2016-08-27 18:19:58.121697 by (mod) -

Bill

To have space for comments and links, please see the details I'll post over at WATER PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES at inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Pump_Pressure_Switch_Noise.php where I'll post your question and our reply to invite further reader comment

On 2016-08-27 15:03:53.002616 by Bill S.

We have a 35 foot deep well with a submersiable pump. My question is how or what can be done to reduce the noise (loud click on and off. when the pump turns on or off.
Our basement has a guest bedroom and the noise wakes up our guests. We have had the square D switch replaced once by our plumber, who said to get a quiet switch would be very expensive if he could find one? Note we have two bathrooms and a full lawn irrigation system, so the switch does work a lot in the summer months. The loud on off sound is able to be noticed in our living room as well. This is a very solid custom built home. Do I need to put sound dreading material over the switch ? Thank You pbriverhs@mwt.net


...

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

Or see these

Water Pump Control & Switch Articles

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WATER PUMP CONTROL SWITCH 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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