Short cycling issue. Unsure if system is even set up correctly!

Users who are viewing this thread

Corman

New Member
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Alberta
Hello folks. I'm hoping to get some advice here as the plumbers in my area that I've had out seem to not understand my rural water system.

To start with, the actual problem I'm having is my pressure tank/well pump is short cycling. The stable (no draw) pressure is about 50 psi, but when there is a draw it cycles quickly from just under 60 psi, down to 35, then back up to about 60 (and repeats). The time it takes to go from the 60 psi, down to 35 and then back up to 60 is between 20 and 25 seconds.

Now, to the setup itself. I have a deep well (I don't have the depth in front of me, but lets say it's approx 200'). The water comes into our mechanical room and then through what I've been told is a 'venturi' loop for air injection. The amount of injection is supposedly controlled by a valve in the other side of the 'loop'). It looks like this:

20170204_164706.jpg


20170204_164720.jpg


I've seen something similar online, a bypass loop used in conjunction with a micronizer but we don't have a micronizer (just seems to be a reduced flow thing that is supposed to draw air in from what I can tell...)

From there, the water goes into our pressure tank, which is a Well Mate UT-40 set up to be a hydropneumatic tank (no bladder) - it has an air volume control (avc) that is installed through the top of the tank. Here is a shot of the bottom of the tank and the pressure switch.

20170204_164803.jpg


The last time the pump was short cycling, about 5 or so years ago, a plumber replaced the avc (the complete 'bent rod' and the AVC part at the end) and all was fine afterward. However, this time when I changed the AVC (they only changed the actual AVC part at the end this time) it hasn't helped (still short cycling afterward). The picture below shows the top of the AVC.

20170204_171747.jpg


After the tank we have a greensand iron filter with a pot perm tank. When we moved into the house, it had a birm type filter but it wasn't controlling the iron so we replaced it with the greensand one and it seems to mostly do the trick on the iron (a rotten egg smell started just shortly before the short cycling began though).

20170204_164925.jpg


So my first question is what might be causing the short cycling? The guy that replaced the AVC said it was completely clogged with coal/carbon, and the inside of the tank was caked with it (all black). Could this lead to the tank itself being the problem and having to be replaced? That's what his suggestion was, to replace the tank..... (whatever I do end up doing, I've decided I'll install an inline filter before the tank to get the coal and sediment out of the water before it hits the rest of the system.....).

However, after a lot of web searching and talks with plumbers that seemed to have no idea what I'm talking about when I describe my system, I'm wondering if my current config is even proper. The questions bouncing around my head now are:

Does a hydropneumatic tank setup need air injection to work (to get the air into the tank)? If so, should I be used a proper micronizer instead of whatever it is I actually have? If the current air injector setup should work, could it be plugged with scale or sediment and just need a good cleaning/descaling?

Or was the air injector maybe there in the first place for the older birm iron filter and maybe I don't need it anymore at all?

If I need to replace the tank and don't need air to get the iron filter to work (my understanding is that a greensand filter doesn't need air - the potperm does that work instead...) could I replace the tank with a bladder tank and get rid of the air injector completely?

I've very frustrated that no professional locally seems to really know what to do with this.... so I'm hoping that someone here can lead me down the correct path!!

Thanks 'well' in advance of anyone that can help! :)

Cheers,
Corey
 

Texas Wellman

In the Trades
Messages
1,035
Reaction score
59
Points
48
Location
SE Texas-Coastal
That first picture appears to show a micronizer. My guess is that it's plugged and not functioning correctly. Looks like you have two unions to pull it out to clean.

Yes, a hydropneumatic tank needs the right air charge. Since the micronizer isn't working you have lost your air charge. Until you get your micronizer working I'd try to charge the tank manually. Is there an air fitting schraeder valve?

The rotten egg smell is because air is not contacting the water. Air neutralizes h2s.
 

Texas Wellman

In the Trades
Messages
1,035
Reaction score
59
Points
48
Location
SE Texas-Coastal
You cannot put a filter between the pump and tank. You might try chlorinating your well to clean the oxidized h2s. That's what the air is doing (oxidizing). Even if you get a new tank you would still have that black residude in short order.

You're supposed to blow down the tank monthly to clear out the h2s residue.

Pentair makes a nice micronizer. I would look into that.
 

Boycedrilling

In the Trades
Messages
837
Reaction score
185
Points
43
Location
Royal City, WA
Welcome Corman. I would agree with Texas Wellman. It sound like your micronizer or Venturi isn't adding air to your system. It should inject more air than is needed and the excess is rekeased by the AVC. It sound like you have a conventional pneumatic tank because of water quality problems and your water is purposely being aerated. Because of your need to treat your water, you will never have a maintenance free system. The aeration system is precipitating material that was dissolved in the water.

I would suggest with starting by removing and cleaning or replacing your air injection Venturi or micronizer, and your AVC. you can find the specific part numbers on Well Mate's website.

http://www.wellmate.com/files/knowledgebase/itemdownload/en/4003265-utseries-specsheet-mr14.pdf
 

Boycedrilling

In the Trades
Messages
837
Reaction score
185
Points
43
Location
Royal City, WA
You could temporarily fix your problem by replacing the black 1/4" plug on top of the tank with an air snifter valve. That a tire valve stem that had 1/4" pipe threads on the other end.

Where are you located in Alberta? My daughter and grandkids live in Edmonton. Been driving up there for 40 years.
 

Corman

New Member
Messages
5
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Alberta
You could temporarily fix your problem by replacing the black 1/4" plug on top of the tank with an air snifter valve. That a tire valve stem that had 1/4" pipe threads on the other end.

Where are you located in Alberta? My daughter and grandkids live in Edmonton. Been driving up there for 40 years.


Thanks to both of you that replied, and sorry for the delay in getting back to you. I tried what you both suggested, and that did the trick!

I removed the venturi (which was just a reduced diameter section with an even smaller opening to draw in the air - not the kind of micronizer I see on the pentair site these days; the valve on the bypass loop seem to do what the dial does on the newer micronizer).

I saw right away that there was some iron build up on it. I soaked it for about 10 minutes in CLR and then ran a pipe cleaner through it a few times to unplug that smaller opening, hooked it back up and it worked like a charm. No more short cycling, nice constant pressure and the rotten egg smell is almost completely gone.

Boycedrilling, I grew up in Edmonton but now live about 30 minutes east of the city, in rural Strathcona County. Still commute into Edmonton each day for work. Sure is a small world!
 

Reach4

Well-Known Member
Messages
38,749
Reaction score
4,400
Points
113
Location
IL
Did that black hose dangling into the sink used to be connected to something?
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks