Recent water pump short cycling diagnostic FAQs:

Readers ask why their water pump turns on and off too often or very rapidly. Is that a problem? Yes.

The answers to these questions include links to detailed diagnostics to find and fix pump short cycling troubles.

This article series will diagnose short on-off cycling problems with a water pump or well pump.

Questions & answers about well pumps or water pressure pumps that run too often (short cycling)

These questions and answers about troubleshooting and fixing a well or water pump that keeps turning on and off rapidly were posted originally

at SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP - home - be sure to read the procedures and repairs discussed there.

Why does the pump keep running for a minute after I turn off the water?

My water pump keeps running for a minute or more after I shut the water off.

Why? On 2018-10-27 by Martin -

Reply by (mod) - why pump runs a bit after water has been turned off

The pump is completing the re-pressurization of the water pressure tank.

Watch out: however: if the pump keeps running for a long period, more than a couple of minutes, watch the pressure gauge; if it's not rising to the CUT OFF pressure (typically 30 or 40 psi) then something's wrong: low water in the well, a damaged pump, a piping leal.

In that case try turning off the pump and leaving it off for a few hours to see if giving the well time to recover its water makes a difference.

You don't want to let a well pump run dry nor to let it run indefinitely or it may be damaged.

My well pump delivers water for 2 minutes then stops

pumps water for 2 minutes then stops . switch off then back on will pump for another 2 minutes only again. has pump protection and an overload switch if runs out of water sometime needs resetting tried this not of any value. On 2018-10-0 by Graham -

Reply by (mod) -

It sounds to me as if you have run your well nearly dry and the pump is switching off by a pump protection feature or control.

Look for


Water running somewhere

A leak at a foot valve or check valve

If you leave water turned off for longer, say half an hour, and then turn the pump back on and it will run for a longer time before stopping that may confirm my guess.

Daniel

I want to install a drain back valve to stop silt from being stirred up in my water tank

Have a bladderless tank system with tank and well head inside a metal building. No chance of freezing.

Noticed that when pump cycles on I get a surge of water into my tank which stirs up any sand or silt at bottom of tank.

From reading about the operation of the valve which allows water on the well side of check valve to drain back into the well, my thinking (and experimentation) is that putting the cap on this valve allows the water flow to soft start since pump is starting under increased head pressure. Any comments will be appreciated. On 2018-08-23 by Dave Sanderson -

Reply by (mod)

Dave you'll find our complete description of the drain back valve system, where the parts are installed, and why and how it works,

at DRAIN BACK & SNIFTER VALVE SYSTEM COMPONENTS 

But frankly that's not intended for the application you describe.

If your water tank has debris in it you'll want to try flushing the tank.

If your water supply is muddy or silty you may need to install a water filtration system.

Daniel

On 2018-08-08 by Robert - can I add a cycle stop valve instead of going to a larger water tank for my lawn irrigation system?

Is it a good idea to add a CSV value to you pump system to stop the motor from cycling off and on when irrigating the lawn.

Or should I get a bigger holding tank?

Reply by (mod) - A cycle stop valve or CSV can save a pump from damage

Robert

A cycle stop valve or CSV can save a pump from damage, but before adding that component it would make sense to see if your water pressure tank is waterlogged.

If so fixing that fixes the problem.

If the system has always short cycled and the tank is not waterlogged, then indeed you might need a larger tank.

On 2018-07-23 by Elizabeth - New tank, new pump, pump keeps cycling on and off

We had a leak. And The pressure tank was bad too. It was a new pump.

And the pump got soaked and ran for an undeterminable amount of time within the few days we were not home.

After repairing the leak and getting a new larger pressure tank the pump is constantly trying to kick on.

And after about 20 to 40 tries it kicks on for a minute. Then it's quiet for a few minutes 5. Then it starts over.

And this is all day and all night. I'm really worried about my power bill. I thinl the pump is seizing up. Can I repair pump or do I need a new one?

On 2018-07-24 by (mod) -

Elis

If the pump keeps running on and off when you are not drawing water there is a leak in well piping, in the foot valve, or in the building (or there's something running, like a toilet, that you haven't found)

And in fact exactly that situation could be what caused your need to replace the old pressure tank and pump.

Check out our diagnostic steps

at WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING

On 2018-07-24 by Elisabeth

@Elizabeth,
Thank you. We will make some adjustments and keep you posted.

On 2018-06-03 by Scr - Our well pump turns on and off every few seconds at 20 psi

Pump cuts on and off every couple of seconds : blows up pressure tank too around 20 psi and then turns off with contacts still closed

On 2018-06-04 by (mod) -

Watch out: it sounds like your pump is short cycling perhaps because of an obstruction between the pumping water tank

or Lack of proper air charge in the water pressure tank.

And also the motor may be overheating and shutting off on thermal overload.

On 2018-05-06 by Bryant Tart - New 25' deep well bore water is brownish orange

I just drilled a new pump pipe in the ground since I was having water pressure with the previous well.

I'm about 25 ft down and now have great water supply but ran water till it cleared up but when pump cuts off it gets brownish orange in color then clears back up. Help?

On 2018-05-07 by (mod) -

My best guess is that that's not a pump defect, it's a well water supply issue.

You might be seeing silty water entering the well bore. Have a sample tested so we know what needs to be addressed

On 2018-04-22 by Angelina - Why does my pump go on and off when I run my sprinklers?

when my sprinklers go on the pump will go on and off during the sprinkler cycle why? thsnk you

On 2018-04-22 by (mod) - could be normal

Angelina

I have to guess wildly since I don't have a clue what king of "sprinklers" you are asking about.

1. If you are asking about an irrigation or lawn sprinkler system then it makes perfect sense that your pump would cycle on and off under control of its pressure control switch. As long as the rate of water usage through the sprinkler system, in gallons per minute, is less than the pump's capacity to deliver water from your well (in gallons per minute), then the pump will get "ahead" of the sprinkler system's water use, will re-pressurize the water pressure tank on your system, and will turn off when system pressure reaches the CUT OUT pressure on the pump's pressure control switch.

The pump will turn on again when pressure in the system falls to the pressure control switch CUT IN pressure.

However IF your pump is turning on and off RAPIDLY then you need to review the pump short cycling causes in the table above on this page.

2. If you are asking about an aerobic septic system sprinkler pump (search InspectApedia.com using the search box above for AEROBIC SEPTIC SYSTEMS for details) then

Your pump will cycle on and off rather than running continuously if the sprinkler system pressure reaches the cut-of pressure on the pump's pressure control switch. I suspect that your sprinkler system uses a pressure tank as an auxiliary device to allow the pump to work less hard, extending its life.

Of course there could be another operating problem causing excessive pressure in your system such as a blocked outlet line. But we cannot guess further, knowing nothing at all about your system. Your onsite aerobic septic system maintenance company should take a look at your pump and effluent distribution system.

On 2017-11-22 by Kamal - Municipal water pressure booster pump short cycles every 2 to 3 seconds

I have a potable water booster pumps systems which is short cycling (starting and stopping) every 2-3 seconds.

Water is supplied by municipality line to water storage tank at ground floor level and have three booster pumps in series with Cut-out and Cut-in pressures of 1. pump set at 6 bar/5 bar, 2. pump set at 5 bars/4 bars and 3. pump set at 4 bar/3 bar.

There is a expansion tank too but don't have pressure gauge and have air feed valve installed on top side of tank.

I have ordered to install a pressure gauge on expansion tank thereby to check air pressure.

In case if we need to fill the air, it be 0.14 bar less than which cut-in pressure?

Reply by (mod) -

Kamal

It sounds as if the water pressure tank has lost its air charge. Set the tank when it is empty ATS to psi below the pressure cut in or sorry I would translate that the bar but I am not at my computer

See WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD

where we also tell you how much air to add

And Yes, set the tank pressure to 2 psi or 0.14 bar below the pressure switch CUT-IN pressure, as we explain

at WATER TANK AIR HOW MUCH TO ADD

On 2017-09-20 19:12:57.995291 by Simon

I had a new well put in and when the pressure gets to 65 the pressure switch which is new starts turning on and off rapidly until it reaches 85 and then shuts off completely any suggestions on how to fix

On 2017-09-20 01:28:53.317893 by JD

Question: Had a "short cycling issue" about 2 1/2 years ago in my house. (House is 30 years old and has always had the pressure tank located about 8 feet away from the pressure switch [20 feet away total piping distance]). Replaced the 30/50 Switch and system worked up until Oct '16 when cycling started to recur on a limited basis. In Nov discovered that the well pump had burned up (possible lightning strike?) so I had the pump replaced. At same time I replaced the tank and 30/50 switch. Cycling issue came back both at the low and high end of the cycle and sometimes it was a very rapid cycling. Well Drilling company came back and replaced the new pump with a newer pump and switched out the new tank with another new tank. We also tried about 5 different 30/50 & 40/60 switches with no luck. No one has a clue as to what could be going on. Tank bladder pressure is set to the correct psi (either 28 or 38 depending on the switch used) but the cycling continues.

On 2017-09-11 20:55:49.083360 by (mod) -

Dorothy,

This sounds to me as if either you are missing a tiny hose clamp or fitting to make a more-secure connection on the pressure tube where it connects to the pump or the pressure is set abnormally high - say over 80 or 90 psi.

You can use the page bottom CONTACT link to send me photos of where the tube connects to your pump and I may be able to comment further.

On 2017-09-11 13:44:40.022932 by Dorothy

My water pump turns on and off no prob but when it reaches pressure the little tube going to points will blow off of pump and water sprays out until pressure is down about 30 again

On 2017-09-05 11:36:49.666950 by (mod) -

Restore air to the pressure tank. The first diagnostic line in the table above suggests seeing
See the diagnostic article
at WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING CAUSES https://inspectapedia.com/water/Pump_Short_Cycle_Causes.php
that will give you specific diagnosis and repair steps to follow.

On 2017-09-05 07:49:39.780362 by Issachar Uroga

How do I reset a short cycled water pump

On 2017-06-09 22:04:22.874160 by (mod) -

Shaun

It seems odd indeed that a single pump pushing water through a plumbing system would have any way to know which water is going to be heated and thus slow that water down.

More likely is that when work was done on the system crud or a plumbing solder blob has flowed to a point in the hot water piping where it's clogging a pipe, valve, elbow, or the inlet to the heater itself.

On 2017-06-09 05:19:05.325491 by Shaun

Hi,have a problem with a brand new flowjet waterpump, 12volt, that I run all the water in my house.

Its the same type of pump that I normally use but for some reason , this new one works great with cold water but is restricting the flow of the hot water by turning on and off in minutes.

It heats up and then the pump turns off, the hot water loses pressure and cools down and then the pump starts again, water heats up then the pump turns off and the pressure slows and the water cools down. Any idea?,
Cheers,
Shaun

On 2017-05-23 23:05:53.324378 by (mod) -

Tim

I'm not sure but the fact that the pump keeps running suggests that your well is running out of water.

On 2017-05-23 19:17:07.587871 by Tim

I have a 1 1/2 hours Gould pump for my yard sprinkler system. The pumps send to run for a bit. Then the pressure switch starts to rapidly move to the engaged unengaged position. I have turned the system off but the pump continues to run until it is turned off... Can you please point me in the right direction

On 2017-05-22 15:34:07.773820 by (mod) -

Denise

It sounds as if you are describing what I call INTERMITTENT WATER PUMP CYCLING - when a pump seems to run from time to time for no apparent reason. There is, of course, a reason. Start with that diagnostic article found by using the search box above or go directly to WATER PUMP INTERMITTENT CYCLING

Keep me posted.

On 2017-05-22 12:03:55.393057 by Denise

Why is my water tank pump switching on and off. Water level in tank is fine

...

Continue reading at SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMP - topic home, the home page for this water pump topic, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING - home
  • WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH CHATTER
  • WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING CAUSES
  • WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING DIAGNOSIS TABLE
  • WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING - PIPE LEAK
  • WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLE STOP VALVE

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WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING FAQs-6 at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

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

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