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Pressure switch diagnosis & repair questions & answers

  • POST a QUESTION or COMMENT about well pump pressure contr ol switch inspection, adjustment, installation, diagnosis, & repair or replacement

Q&A on water pump pressure switches.

This article series explains How to Find & Adjust or Repair or Replace the Water Pump Pressure Control, what it looks like, where it is usually connected.

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Water Pump Pressure Switch FAQs

Photograph of a water pump pressure control switch with the cover on

These Q&A about the pressure control switch used on pump and well systems were posted originally

at WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH - please check out the advice given there.

On 2018-10-16 by Ralph Martyn - Leader Pump only works if I bypass the control board

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 2018-10-16 by (mod) - First diagnostic steps if the leader pump won't run

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

For other readers,

Definition of Leader Pump:

a leader pump is the main or primary pump in a water or other fluid handling system where multiple pumps are installed, usually ganged together to provide higher total lift capacity or greater and variable total fluid flow or flow rate in gpm or lpm.

The leader pump as well as other pumps in the multiple-pump system will be controlled by a combination of demand sensors and electrically-operated switches or valves that bring the additional pumps on line when needed.

On 2015-03-05 by SharonMurray

I hope someone can help me. I am $400.00 lighter today due to a suspected frozen pipe. Called a nationally recognized plumber. Pipe from the wall prior to the pressure switch was replaced.

I had water for 12 hours after and now nothing. The tank is empty. I had created a small closet around the tank with plastic shower curtains and added an electric heater to prevent a future freeze

. I don't hear the pump engaging at all. I placed my ear to the pipe I would have heard the pump from there. It was working prior to the repair. I cannot afford another service call and would never call RR again. Whoops did I drop a name?

On 2015-01-06 by (mod) -

To me it sounds as if the pressure switch is not accurately sensing water pressure - typically that means its sensor port is clogged. Replace the switch.


How do I diagnose and fix intermittent loss of water or loss of water pressure?

I had a problem with inconsistent and low water pressure. I raised the bladder pressure to 20 psi, but it did not really improve the problem, so then I adjusted the pressure nuts. Originally my cut in pressure was 24 and my cut out was 65.

I adjusted it and now My cut in pressure is 37, my cut out pressure is 70.

How do I lower the cut out pressure when the spring is already at its loosest point, any more and it would have no pressure at all. Am I at risk of blowing out the water lines or anything else at 70?

In the complete cycle it goes from 70 to 60 in less than 10 seconds and the complete cycle takes approximately 2 minutes.

Do I need to make further adjustments or do I need to replace the pressure switch unit?

Can I take it off and clean it? Is there something else I can do? I have extremely hard water and do have a water softener but it is after the unit. I have not checked for plugged lines into the unit. HELP! - On 2015-01-06 by Karen -

Also, my unit is a 40/60 unit.

On 2015-01-06 by (mod) -

Watch out: Do not set water pressure switch cut-out above 70 as doing so makes leaks more likely.

Set the pressure tank air pre-charge to 2 psi below the cut-in.

Based on what you describe as the trouble you should read the article (also in More Reading above) titled

WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING - home

On 2015-01-06 by Karen

DanJoeFriendman, I have read both of those links and many more of them here.

That is how I knew what to do and adjust

I have tried to lower the cutout to 60 but in doing so it also lowers the cut in well below 40. I can not adjust the small spring nut any further to compensate for the adjustments to the large spring nut. I raised the psi in the tank as suggested and backed off the nuts.

It is now 45/65 but when it cycles through - when it gets to 45, it takes a sudden drop to 30 then the pump comes on. Now what?

I am wondering if I have a leak in the bladder.

Reply by (mod)

That doesn't sound like a tank bladder leak, Karen, it sounds more as if the pressure control switch sensor port is debris clogged.

That will prevent the switch from turning on or off when it should

Replace the switch and let me know if you still have trouble.

Daniel


On 2014-07-16 by Ron Brown - how can I get a pressure switch that shuts off at a pressure above 50 psi?

I have an artiesan well 600 ft deep and would like to increase my water pressurs. I have a 1hp submersable pump with a 30 gal bladder tank.

Someone told me that they mfg a swith with a higher on/off pressure paramiter, is this true.

I currently have a swith that is a 30/50 on/off. Can I increase my pressure with a higher swith, thanks Ron.

On 2014-07-17 by (mod) -

Ron,

Most water pressure control switches can be adjusted within a range, allowing you to up your cut-out and cut-in pressures above the factory 30/50 cut-in / cut-out pressures.

We explain how to do this

at WATER PRESSURE REGULATOR ADJUSTMENT

Watch out: However you need to watch out: setting the pressure too high may

1. cause the pump to run indefinitely if the pump can't reach the new high pressure

2. cause plumbing leaks

Be sure that your water pressure tank has an appropriate pressure-relief valve installed.

Dan


On 2014-05-26 by Anonymous - I have no water coming into house and the pump control is buzzing

hi my name is andy I have no water coming into house, when I cut the power on I hear a buzzing noise coming from a box under the house and no power is coming threw the grey box, how can I get water back in my house please help andy

On 2014-05-26 by (mod) -

Andy

From just your note I can't tell if the problem is that the pressure switch has failed or if the pump motor has failed and the switch is buzzing trying to turn on the pump.

And if this is a deep well with a submersible pump in the well there may be a second relay that actually turns on the pump.

Watch out: leaving a buzzing pump control with a pump not working risks an electrical fire.

I would turn the system off -electrical switch - and get some help from an electrician or plumber familiar with pumps and controls. Keep us posted.


...

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

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Watrer Pump Pressure Control Switch Articles

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