Is it normal for the pressure of the discharge pipe to drop to zero?

[FLSteve]

I’m in the process of figuring out why my pump struggles to supply water to a zone. As part of troubleshooting I’ve put a pressure gauge on the discharge line between the pump and valves. When one of the working zones are active, the pressure sits at around 35psi. When I shut off the pump and valve (via the controller), the pressure always drops to zero. Is this normal?

I’m on well water and my setup looks like this:
Well —> check valve —> sediment filter —> sta-rite pump —> six hunter PGV valves

 

[Reach4]

When I shut off the pump and valve (via the controller), the pressure always drops to zero. Is this normal?

That part sounds normal to me.

You normally don't want to suck water through a cartridge filter, however.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[FLSteve]

That part sounds normal to me.

You normally don't want to suck water through a cartridge filter, however.

The sediment filter doesn’t have a cartridge. It’s got a mesh screen to catch large debris like sand.

 

[WorthFlorida]

I’m in the process of figuring out why my pump struggles to supply water to a zone. As part of troubleshooting I’ve put a pressure gauge on the discharge line between the pump and valves. When one of the working zones are active, the pressure sits at around 35psi. When I shut off the pump and valve (via the controller), the pressure always drops to zero. Is this normal?

I’m on well water and my setup looks like this:
Well —> check valve —> sediment filter —> sta-rite pump —> six hunter PGV valves

Yes, pressure will always be zero when the pump is off. To maintain pressure you need a pressure tank and an irrigation pump does not use a pressure switch nor does it need a pressure tank.