Daavewaard
Member
Without going into every detail, here is the setup: A 30 year old residential well just short of 300 feet.
1 1/2 hp Gould pump installed Jan 2003, supposed to run at 9-10 amps...running at 11.4 to 11.7 until the control box shuts it down. Max amps is rated at 11.5 amps.
2. I have isolated the pressure tank so that the pump sends water only to the tank...not into the house or external hose bibs.
3. When I turn on the power, with the pressure at zero and the new pressure switch points closed and active, the pump will raise the tank pressure to 35-38 (pressure switch factory set at 40-60), sometimes closer to 30...never even reaching 40. The pump will continue to run in this mode from 1 minute to several minutes until the control box shuts it down.
4. Clear water is available if I send water to the house and open a faucet, with pressure showing at 30-38 for a short time.
5. I have a Pump Saver installed and it seems to be working fine but never activating...the green light is always on and to get the pump started again I need to reset the control box reset switch.
Thinking............ see below for my conclusion.......
I suspect the pump's check valve 300 feet underground is not working to hold pressure or to let it increase.
So...my questions:
1. If/when I pull the pump how can I look at the check valve and prove it has failed. Is there a field test?
2. If/when I pull the pump is there anything I can do to get more life out of the motor (running at too high an amperage).
Thanks!!! Dave
1 1/2 hp Gould pump installed Jan 2003, supposed to run at 9-10 amps...running at 11.4 to 11.7 until the control box shuts it down. Max amps is rated at 11.5 amps.
2. I have isolated the pressure tank so that the pump sends water only to the tank...not into the house or external hose bibs.
3. When I turn on the power, with the pressure at zero and the new pressure switch points closed and active, the pump will raise the tank pressure to 35-38 (pressure switch factory set at 40-60), sometimes closer to 30...never even reaching 40. The pump will continue to run in this mode from 1 minute to several minutes until the control box shuts it down.
4. Clear water is available if I send water to the house and open a faucet, with pressure showing at 30-38 for a short time.
5. I have a Pump Saver installed and it seems to be working fine but never activating...the green light is always on and to get the pump started again I need to reset the control box reset switch.
Thinking............ see below for my conclusion.......
I suspect the pump's check valve 300 feet underground is not working to hold pressure or to let it increase.
So...my questions:
1. If/when I pull the pump how can I look at the check valve and prove it has failed. Is there a field test?
2. If/when I pull the pump is there anything I can do to get more life out of the motor (running at too high an amperage).
Thanks!!! Dave