Pump run time?

[Wjh1175]

Have a submersible pump (unknown HP on pump as I have not pulled it yet), 32 gallon tank, 40/60 pressure switch. Question is; from pump cut in to pump cut off it takes about 9 minutes with no water running in house (main shut off valve to huse closed). With a 32 gallon tank, I'm only storing 8 gallons of water, 9 minutes seems awfully long to me....possibly pump worn.. Any suggestions.

 

[LLigetfa]

It could also be a leak in the pipe masked by a check valve.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Wjh1175]

There are no check valves on the system in the basement

 

[Reach4]

Once the pump shuts off, if the water to the house is off, does the pump stay off for an hour or more?

You can work around this for a while by turning down the pressure switch to maybe 34/54. If you did that, you would drop the air precharge to 32 PSI. If you are still over 4 minutes, crank it lower still. Air precharge is normally 2 PSI below cut-on for a submersible.

It is about 10 PSI for each 3.5 turns of the nut on the big spring of the pressure switch. So about 2.1 turns CCW to drop 6 PSI. You should not need to touch the nut on the smaller spring.

But start looking for a good pump person in your area. You have been allocating money for this kind of thing to come up, right? I know most people don't. If you need to borrow money, try to use a bank rather than carrying a balance on your CC.

 

[LLigetfa]

There are no check valves on the system in the basement

Check valve could be in the well.

 

[Wjh1175]

Yes, if water in house is off pump pressure does not drop at all, pump stays off..

 

[Craigpump]

1) Worn out pump
2) Leak in the system, (split pipe, rotted fitting, blown Oring in pitless, leaky offset pipe)

Backing the pressure switch off will do nothing but prolong the pain

 

[LLigetfa]

It could also be a lower static water level putting the pump off the curve nearing a deadhead condition. Does the refill time vary with the amount of water use? If so, then maybe the well is getting drawn down.

 

[VAWellDriller]

Another thought....had a customer call me with exactly the same complaint.....went and pulled up the pump to find a CSV doing it's job right under the pitless.

 

[Valveman]

Another thought....had a customer call me with exactly the same complaint.....went and pulled up the pump to find a CSV doing it's job right under the pitless.

The way to tell if there is a CSV you can get as much water as you want below 50 PSI.

 

[Reach4]

A less probable, but possible, explanation would be that the water level in the well dropped significantly.

 

[Wjh1175]

Update.. turns out the 1/4" galvanized pipe that goes to gauge and pressure tank was blocked with rust giving false reading to gauge and switch... replaced 1/4" nipples and all is good now.... hopefully this helps someone with similar problem

 

[Valveman]

That is why you should never use a Galvanized nipple for the pressure switch. Brass or Stainless only and you won't have that problem.