Tankless Submersible Well Pump losing pressure

Users who are viewing this thread

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
I replaced my old pump as it was barely giving me any pressure and it was very old. Before the new pump was dropped the 82 feet into the well casing I tested it above ground and it had a ton of pressure but there was also a slit in the pipe where it was leaking. I fixed that put the pump back in it had lots of pressure for 3 days then slowly started to lose pressure. I thought OK the pipe had split before maybe it split again or is leaking at the fittings or at the patch I put in. Bought new pipe to use but ran the new pump again above ground to check for leaks before I replaced the pipe and I can't find one and the pressure seems up to par. I have a leak somewhere but it only shows up after its in the ground. HELP!
 

Valveman

Cary Austin
Staff member
Messages
14,599
Reaction score
1,296
Points
113
Location
Lubbock, Texas
Website
cyclestopvalves.com
Submersible pumps don't lose prime, they pump the well dry. Submersibles don't gradually over three days lose pressure. You could be stopping up the intake screen gradually, or you have an enlarging slit in the pipe.
 

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
Submersible pumps don't lose prime, they pump the well dry. Submersibles don't gradually over three days lose pressure. You could be stopping up the intake screen gradually, or you have an enlarging slit in the pipe.
 

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
The pump DID lose pressure after 3 days or at least the pressure was greatly reduced by a leak somewhere, a leak that is giving me a headache. I have no pressure tank. The pump pulls the water to ground level and I water my plants then I turn it off. On the 1st day it had very good pressure almost too much. I added two hoses to release the pressure and it worked great. On the 4th day the pressure was much lower and lower yet as the days passed. I ran the pump again today above ground and the pipe split in another area so I'm going to replace the whole 82 feet then give it another go. The intake screen was fine. I've been using this well for over 15 years never had clogs in it.
 

Reach4

Well-Known Member
Messages
38,796
Reaction score
4,412
Points
113
Location
IL
If you run your sprinklers for a while, maybe the spot with the broken pipe will make a wet spot in the lawn. If you have one or more valves after your pressure gauge, closing that/those mostly would tell you which side of the valve the problem was.
 

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
If you run your sprinklers for a while, maybe the spot with the broken pipe will make a wet spot in the lawn. If you have one or more valves after your pressure gauge, closing that/those mostly would tell you which side of the valve the problem was.
 

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
I can't run the pump very long being out of the ground I put it in a garbage can full of water when it gets half full I have to shut it off or ruin the pump. This takes less than a minute its a 3/4 horse. I don't have a pressure gauge its just pump wire rope pipe with a spigot on the end.
 

Reach4

Well-Known Member
Messages
38,796
Reaction score
4,412
Points
113
Location
IL
I can't run the pump very long being out of the ground I put it in a garbage can full of water when it gets half full I have to shut it off or ruin the pump. This takes less than a minute its a 3/4 horse. I don't have a pressure gauge its just pump wire rope pipe with a spigot on the end.
If you can feed the water from the pump back into the garbage can, you will not run out of water. You can probably get a fitting that will adapt to a garden hose that you could use to pump back into the garbage can during testing.

Regarding a pressure gauge, I presume you mean that you don't have a pressure gauge on your setup when you are using the garbage can. If you wanted to develop pressure, you would need a valve to let you throttle the flow. If you have no gauge in your normal setup, you could consider adding a gauge and a valve to your setup. Make sure not to totally close up the valve while the pump is running, because that would destroy the pump.

Anyway, I think that odds are that the broken pipe is not down the well casing.
 

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
If you can feed the water from the pump back into the garbage can, you will not run out of water. You can probably get a fitting that will adapt to a garden hose that you could use to pump back into the garbage can during testing.

Regarding a pressure gauge, I presume you mean that you don't have a pressure gauge on your setup when you are using the garbage can. If you wanted to develop pressure, you would need a valve to let you throttle the flow. If you have no gauge in your normal setup, you could consider adding a gauge and a valve to your setup. Make sure not to totally close up the valve while the pump is running, because that would destroy the pump.

Anyway, I think that odds are that the broken pipe is not down the well casing.
 

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
You are right the pipe broken is not down the casing because the whole rig is above ground. I had a hose running from my city water into the garbage can but I can't fill it up fast enough the pump is very efficient. Can we post images?. I really appreciate the help though! :)
 

twistedDNA

New Member
Messages
19
Reaction score
0
Points
1
Location
Oregon
pump (300x225).jpg
pump2 (225x300).jpg
pump3 (225x300).jpg
 

Reach4

Well-Known Member
Messages
38,796
Reaction score
4,412
Points
113
Location
IL
To post an image, keep it 800 pixels or smaller. Then click "Upload a File" button.
To modify a posting that you made, you can click "Edit" at the bottom of the existing posting
huge4.png

Ahh.. I see you had figured out how to post pictures.

I presume you are where it does not freeze. If that is the case, I would get a tee and put a pressure gauge on that. I would maybe put a boiler valve (hose tap) before the existing valve, and get a garden-hose thread pressure gauge. That way you could take the gauge inside for winter, and drain the plumbing as best you can. The new tap could help drain, but you would need to be able to drain down below the frost line. For monitoring pressure, hook up the pressure gauge. For testing pump flow, hook up a garden hose, and route the water into the garbage can or the well casing -- depending on where the pump is.

For a pump, if there is little resistance, such as if there is a broken pipe on the output, then the pressure will stay low, even though the pump is working nicely.
 
Last edited:

Craigpump

In the Trades
Messages
2,436
Reaction score
158
Points
63
Location
Connecticut
Last time I saw an eye hook in a well seal holding "safety rope" it rusted off and dropped the rope down around the pump.

Word to the wise, throw the rope away!
 
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