Water Pump Pressure Switch Repair FAQs

Index to all Q&A on How to fix a water pump cut-in & cut-out switch

Pressure Control Switch Relay Repair Q&A

Contactor broke in pump pressure control switch

Hi. My pump will not come on when I pull the metal lever up as it normally does.

It has been cycling over and over again and then shutting off by itself every few days. I've taken the box cover off and can see a spring and small piece of metal has broken off. I'm not sure how to fix it myself or who to call for help. Can you help me? Thank you. On 2022-12-06 by Rachel -

Explanation & Repair Suggestion by InspectApedia (Editor) - replace the pressure control switch entirely

@Rachel,

It sounds as if a contact relay tip has broken off - the switch then can't turn on the pump. You will need help from an electrician or experienced plumber who can replace the pump pressure control switch.

Looks like a contact part has been lost from the upper contact in your photo

I would not try to repair this switch, though there are re-build kits for water pump pressure controls. It's simpler and similar in cost to replace the switch.

See

WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH INSTALL / REPLACE

I replaced the pressure switch, and the pressure tank, but my well is still not kicking on

I replaced the pressure switch, and the pressure tank, but my well is still not kicking on. Is there something else that I can try before I have to pull the pump?  On 2021-09-12 by joe

Testing suggestion by inspectapedia.com.moderator

@joe,

An experienced well pump installer and some electricians as well know some electrical tests that can be made of your well pump before actually pulling the pump.

For example measuring the current draw can sometimes indicate that a motor or impeller has seized.

Pump Pressure Switch Burn-Ups

Why does my pump pressure switch keep burning up?

I have replaced my pump to my sprinkler system but the pressure switch keeps burning out. I have replaced the pressure switch 3 times. Can you give me some suggestions? On 2021-09-14 by Janet

by inspectapedia.com.moderator (mod) - here are common causes of a pump pressure switch burn-up

@Janet,

it might be best to have an electrician inspect and test your pump circuit to look for the cause of pressure switch burn out - of which some common causes include

- pump motor seizing

- excessive short cycling of the pump (search this site for that phrase)

- low voltage

- improper wiring or loose, corroded connections

- pump needs a separate control box that in turn is switched by the pressure controller

- Look for defective or shorted wiring, debris clogging the pressure control switch, lightning strikes

Water Pressure Control Switch Freeze-Up Failures

Water pressure lost after freezing temperatures

We recently had a cold snap here in Florida with ice and sleet and our power went out. I first thought my pipes were frozen or my pump had frozen. I heated the pump and water supply to home and water came on in on end of the house and drizzled in the rest of it

I thought I would be able to wait out the other pipes to un-freeze but that never happened. Now today, temps in the 50's I lost all water. I cleaned the contacts on the pump regulator switch and the pump will come on, but won't stay on. And I'm at a loss. I have two bladder tanks and an aerator tank.

I also have two switches, one off well casing to one bladder tank and another on pump to other bladder tank and aerator tank. Help me get water back. On 2018-01-13 by Don

by Randy

System has internal pump cut off switch

by (mod) -

Don, take a look into the pump housing for lost prime.

Randy may be offering you a suggestion that there is a reset switch to be lifted.

Also see PIPE FREEZE PROTECTION - home

Warming a frozen water pressure sensing tube fixed our water pump control and restored water pressure!

Thanks for posting this article. I woke up this AM after temps fell well below freezing last night and we had no water pressure. Our pressure tank is in our root cellar and we occasionally do have some problems with things freezing up when temps are really low for an extended period of time.

The pump would not click on or off. I could do it manually by using a pencil to bring the points together but it was not detecting any pressure.

I put things through a couple of tests and the pump and pressure tank were fine.

I then read how you stated that the small pipe that goes to the pressure control box can become easily clogged. Literally two minutes on that pipe with hair dryer and the pump kicked right on and was working fine.

All of that from a little 6" pipe! On 2018-01-01 by Scott Young

Suggestions by (mod) -

Fantastic! we work hard to provide accurate, unbiased information, Scott, so I am especially thrilled when a reader finds our info useful. What a nice start to the new year. Thank you for the feed-back.

Now, try adding just a little heat at the pump control - even an incandescent type light bulb may be enough - just keep it fire safe as well.

See HEAT SOURCES to AVOID FROZEN PIPES

What's the pump pressure switch setup to run two pumps in series.

Great Website. Thanks for the info.

We're having trouble with running two pumps in series.

Pump #1 is 2hp submersible in a 3000 gallon cistern with pressure switch and pressure tank next to it. It pumps up hill 60' to pump #2.
Pump #2 is to bring the pressure back up into the 40/60 range.

When working, it's great. However pump #1 will occasionally drop below the 40 (kick on) and go to zero and I have to activate the lever on the side of the switch to reactivate.

Additionally, when this happens, pump #2 keeps running (without water) and will eventually burn out (?) if I don't catch it.
Can you point me to additional info on either of these problems? On 2024-08-05 by Gary@MorningMistVineyard.co

Suggestions by InspectApedia Publisher

@Gary,

Sure, let me take a first stab at this question, then I ask that you report back to me so that we can be sure we're on the right track.

Two items:

1. Signs of Clogged Pressure Control Switch:

The symptom you describe is what I see when a pump pressure control switch becomes debris clogged. Most of these switches use a flexible diaphragm with a small opening that is the pressure sensor that activates the switch. If there is sediment or debris in the water supply that opening can become clogged and the switch tends not to respond to pressure drop as it should. (We see pressure gauges clogging in a similar fashion, giving false pressure readings).

So first, replace the pressure control for pump #1. If that doesn't fix the trouble we might check the water level in the cistern and the water intake or check valve.

We discuss diagnosing and repairing a water pressure control switch that sticks "on" or "off" or simply won't operate,

above on this page.

2. Proper dual-water pump installation:

Usually in a two-pump system like the one you describe, I'd expect pump #1 to feed into a pressure tank not directly into pump #2.

Then Pump #2 boosts water pressure into a second pressure tank or if it's a bladderless type demand pump it might feed the building water piping directly.

Details of your installation, pump locations, tank locations, piping, would be helpful. You can post sketches or photos as image files - one per comment.

Our water pump and tank articles might be helpful to you - starting at

WATER PRESSURE BOOSTER PUMPS

where we will eventually want to move this conversation.

should add that from your description the lower pump and tank are in the right place.

Daniel

Can I change a 30/50 water pump control switch to run at 40/60?

Purchased a Water Pump Pressure Switch rated at 50/30.

After installation, can it be set to 40/60 and work properly. Mine, while in operational demand never reaches 60 on the high end, until demand is shut off. Thanks On 2020-10-30 by Earl

by (mod) - yes

Earl a CUT-IN/CUT-OUT switch that was factory set to 30/50psi can be re-adjusted down to a lower pressure range such as 20/40 psi

However if I understand you correctly it's your pump and well system that cannot reach a pressure of 60 psi, so your suggestion of setting to 40/60 won't fix the trouble you're having.

You need to set the switch to 20/40.

Check out the details given in

MAXIMUM PRESSURE SWITCH SETTINGS

and

PRESSURE SWITCH NUT ADJUSTMENTS