Settings on Deep Well Jets
Deep well jet pumps usually require setting a regulator are fairly sensitive to leaks in the suction piping.
You should take the installation manual in hand and follow through the procedure from beginning to end. There may be a checklist for finding solutions to problems.
If you don't have the manual, find the model number off your pump and go to:
http://www.femyers.com/products/water_sys.html to find your pump and download the manual.
When setting up the pump and controls, you should have a place to dump water near the pump, such as a faucet with hose. Then, with all water uses shut off, try to get the pump to operate in the correct range. Separate your possible house problems from the possible pump problems.
Let's start with the tank and the pump.
1. Turn off all water usage in the house, shut off the pump, and drain the system to zero WATER pressure through that hose I discussed above. Close the drain valve.
2. Check the air pressure and set it to 18 psi (if you are going to use 20-40 psi on your pressure switch). After you fill it with air, put a little spit over the Schrader valve to check for leaks out the valve.
3. Without turning on the pump, open the drain valve again.
4. Wait 10 minutes and see if the air pressure holds steady. If it doesn't hold steady and the Schrader valve is not leaking, then you probably have an air leak in the air side of the tank or a leak in the bladder. We still haven't established for certain that the bladder doesn't leak because it could be pushing the bladder against the side of the tank and closing leak.
5. If the pressure holds steady, start the pump and observe the water pressure gauge. Measure the time (seconds) to fill the tank to shutoff.
6. If it doesn't rise to the shutoff pressure, then you have a problem with the pump or pump setup. Go to the installation manual and try to fix the problem.
7. If the pump is working to shutoff, open that drain valve slowly and observe the pressure at which the pressure switch starts the pump.
8. Turn off the pump switch and let all the water run out. Check the pressure at the Schrader valve and see if you still have the original 18 pounds. If it has dropped a lot, you probably have a leak on the air side of the tank or in the bladder.
9. Close the drain valve and turn on the pump. See if it cycles to the shutoff pressure. Adjust the pressure switch to get the pressure you want at shutoff. The big nut on the taller stem usually adjust both turn on and shutoff pressure together. If you want to adjust the differential there is usally another nut or screw. Look at the instructions on the pressure switch.
10. Run the pump for 5 cycles between turn-on and shutoff. Record the time (seconds) between start and stop of the pump when the drain is closed. If you are happy with the result, you probalby have a working pump and tank and can concentrate on your internal plumbing system.
11. If you start to get short pumping cycles (shorter time from start to stop when the water is off; compare with those seconds from step 10), then you probably have a bladder or tank failure. Reset the air to make sure but if short cycling returns in less than a week then you have an air leak somewhere.
If the pump won't pump to shutoff, then go back to the installation manual and do a step by step checkout of the installation and settings. Make sure you have the correct regulator settings and ejector.
Get the pump/tank system working before you start worrying about the shower.