kRaSh1979
New Member
Ok so I've been researching and calling around and trying to get an answer to my issue.
And I came across several recommendations for this forum.
First, some background information.
I have a well that was installed over 25 years ago, and roughly 250ft down in a rural area.
The wellhead and controls are all located outside and above ground.
The pressure tank is mounted next to it under ground.
In the past several years, I've replaced the pump, the underground pressure tank, the control box inside the well head, and just recently the gauge and pressure switch.
The recent part is the current problem.
When I replaced the broken gauge I noticed a little bit of green fluid drip out of the pipe.
Upon firing the well back up it never made it over 34 PSI and the pump never shut off.
My original pressure switch was a 30/50 outdoor sealed switch.
Not sure if the gauge was bad or if the switch was bad, I went and replaced the switch.
Not a bad idea since the switch was old and the contacts were worn.
As before, when I removed it more of this green liquid dripped out.
This time when it fired up it showed even less pressure, 15PSI.
Being that I already had the new switch wired, I replaced the gauge again, and again more liquid dripped out.
Now when I turned the well on I was getting less than 5 PSI.
Not being a complete idiot I quickly figured out it wasn't the switch or the gauge, but the loss of this green fluid causing problems.
I checked around with local well guys and they all said it's supposed to be just water, and that the green stuff was probably dirty water and that I should try to clean out that pipe.
Well I prefer second opinions before I start something like that.
So I checked around the web, and everything said the same thing.
Then I came across this patent which explains exactly what I have.
According to patent #US4664185 they use a diaphragm and a type of safe antifreeze to apply pressure to an outdoor gauge and pressure switch instead of water which could cause breakage in winter.
http://www.google.com/patents/US4664185
This makes much more sense to me.
So my question to you all is where do I get this non-toxic antifreeze for well switches?
And I came across several recommendations for this forum.
First, some background information.
I have a well that was installed over 25 years ago, and roughly 250ft down in a rural area.
The wellhead and controls are all located outside and above ground.
The pressure tank is mounted next to it under ground.
In the past several years, I've replaced the pump, the underground pressure tank, the control box inside the well head, and just recently the gauge and pressure switch.
The recent part is the current problem.
When I replaced the broken gauge I noticed a little bit of green fluid drip out of the pipe.
Upon firing the well back up it never made it over 34 PSI and the pump never shut off.
My original pressure switch was a 30/50 outdoor sealed switch.
Not sure if the gauge was bad or if the switch was bad, I went and replaced the switch.
Not a bad idea since the switch was old and the contacts were worn.
As before, when I removed it more of this green liquid dripped out.
This time when it fired up it showed even less pressure, 15PSI.
Being that I already had the new switch wired, I replaced the gauge again, and again more liquid dripped out.
Now when I turned the well on I was getting less than 5 PSI.
Not being a complete idiot I quickly figured out it wasn't the switch or the gauge, but the loss of this green fluid causing problems.
I checked around with local well guys and they all said it's supposed to be just water, and that the green stuff was probably dirty water and that I should try to clean out that pipe.
Well I prefer second opinions before I start something like that.
So I checked around the web, and everything said the same thing.
Then I came across this patent which explains exactly what I have.
According to patent #US4664185 they use a diaphragm and a type of safe antifreeze to apply pressure to an outdoor gauge and pressure switch instead of water which could cause breakage in winter.
http://www.google.com/patents/US4664185
This makes much more sense to me.
So my question to you all is where do I get this non-toxic antifreeze for well switches?
Last edited: