Loss of water pressure when washing machine is used.

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Maine15

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Type of pump?
Submersible________
Two wire (no control)________
Three wire (control box)______
Wire Size_________ Wire Length________
or
Jet Pump (above ground)____Stayrite
One or two pipes down the well__2__

Size of Pump?
Motor Horsepower?_______3/4
Pump Model #______________
Date Pump Installed__________

Pumping from?
Cistern tank___________
Pond, lake, river________
Water Well____________
Depth of well_____shallow well_____
Depth to water_________
Pump Setting__________
Pipe Size_________"
Drop Pipe Material
PVC________
Steel_______
Poly________

Well Recovery Rate_______gpm
Well Casing Diameter_______â€
Rock Well__________ Sand Well__________ Other______________
Date Well Drilled____________

Well Casing Material
PVC________ Steel_________ Other_________
Pressure Tank?
Bladder or diaphragm tank (one pipe to tank)______yes___
Size or model of tank_______fiberglass_____Flex lite 22 gallon
Air charge in top of tank, with pump off and water drained_________28___PSI
(check with car tire gauge)
or
Plain Hydro Pneumatic tank (two pipes to tank, one in and one out)_________
Size of tank________________

Pressure Switch Setting?
On 30, off 50 ____yes____
On 40, off 60_________
Other_______________

Pump Control Method?
Cycle Stop Valve model #_________
Variable speed control #__________
Pump Start Relay (sprinkler timer, no tank)__________
Manually turned on and off____________

Pump Protection
Cycle Sensor_________
Pumptec_____________
Low pressure cutoff switch (lever on side)__________
Other_______________

Filters or Softeners____limestone__________
Before or after pressure tank___after
Type of filter________limestone
Bypass available________________

Water Used For?
House Use___yes____ Number of baths___2____ Number of People_______3_
High Flow Showers_______gpm?
Plus/Or
Irrigation with timers___no__


Irrigation with hoses___no
Heat Pump______gpm? No


Problems Experienced
No Water_________________
Water only part time________
Water at all times but weak_____
Air in water_______________
Pressure surging___________
Water Hammer (noise)______
Too Much pressure_________
Other____________________


Pump makes clicking or buzzing sounds____yes, clicks
No Sounds______________
Pressure gauge reading________psi
Other____________________________________

Do you have, and know how to use
an Ampmeter and Voltmeter_____yes_____________
Describe Problem_______When washing machine in basement is used water pressure upstairs drops, air gets in lines. Pump pressure switch seems to be working (replaced it 2 years ago). Bladder is holding pressure. Water flow upstairs (first and second floor) is sporadic until pump finishes and cycles off. This is a recent (few days) problem. Cleaned some sediment from pressure valve hose, Pump comes on when pressure drops to 20, stays on for a few minutes until pressure is up to about 49 when it turns off, gauge drops low briefly and settles at 38. Have a shallow, point well. Don't know how old the pump is, but it could be as old as house (21 years). We have had ample rain.
 

Valveman

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Need more info. Using the washing machine should have nothing to do with air in the lines or sporadic pressure. I think you may have a leak in the suction line or well point.
 

Maine15

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Water pressure issue

Need more info. Using the washing machine should have nothing to do with air in the lines or sporadic pressure. I think you may have a leak in the suction line or well point.

Since the washing machine is in the basement (lowest place we can use water) I think that when if fills it is allowing all the water in the house to drain down. We don't have this issue when using a shower upstairs for instance. Could this be a problem with the pressure tank? It reads 28 with a tire gauge. The pump, limestone tank, pressure tank and hot water tank are located within a 5 foot area. The washing machine is about 30 feet of pipe away on the same level. As for sporadic pressure, it is only a problem in the minutes after the washing machine fills (until the pump completes cycle). However, on the second floor, toilet will give a slight hiss when flushed as though there is a bit of air in lines. These are not major problems BUT it was not happening last week, so I am trying to solve before it gets worse.
 

Cacher_Chick

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Are you relieving the water pressure from the tank before you measure the air pressure? Ideally, the water should be drained before the air pressure is adjusted to 2 PSI less than the cut-in pressure of the control switch.

You might try running the washer supply hose wide open into a drain to see if your well can keep up with demand.
 

Maine15

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water pressure

Are you relieving the water pressure from the tank before you measure the air pressure? Ideally, the water should be drained before the air pressure is adjusted to 2 PSI less than the cut-in pressure of the control switch.

You might try running the washer supply hose wide open into a drain to see if your well can keep up with demand.

I did check the pressure tank after it was drained, THEN the pump pressmure valve got gunked up. So I cleaned that. I am wondering if my regulator valve needs adjusting, but I don't know how to check it setting.
 
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