Pressure tank keeps losing prime

[KyleS]

My issue is that I'm continuously losing prime at my pressure tank, I have replaced my pressure switch. When I have had a plumber out it seems to cycle as expected, but with in a day or an hour it will need to be primed again to again.

 

[Reach4]

If this is a precharged pressure tank, and the air precharge does not hold, the tank is bad. Replace it.

Always measure the air precharge with zero water pressure.

If you are not sure if you have a precharged pressure tank, is the tank painted? Maybe provide make and model from the nameplate.

By priming, do you mean adding air with an air compressor?

Do you have a submersible pump down the well?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[KyleS]

If this is a precharged pressure tank, and the air precharge does not hold, the tank is bad. Replace it.

Always measure the air precharge with zero water pressure.

If you are not sure if you have a precharged pressure tank, is the tank painted? Maybe provide make and model from the nameplate.

By priming, do you mean adding air with an air compressor?

Do you have a submersible pump down the well?

Thank you for helping me out, what I mean by priming is. I hold my pressure switch in the on position until it reaches the pressure necessary to cycle on its own. It is a 30-50PSI switch

 

[Valveman]

If you have a foot valve and a check valve, the check valve is causing the loss of prime because the foot valve is leaking. Remove the check valve and you will stop losing prime, but the leaky foot valve will cause the pump to cycle on even when no water is being used. Replace the foot valve AND remove the check valve to solve the problem.

 

[Reach4]

Thank you for helping me out, what I mean by priming is. I hold my pressure switch in the on position until it reaches the pressure necessary to cycle on its own. It is a 30-50PSI switch

I think you are saying that you have a pressure switch with a lever, because it has the low-pressure cutoff.

If your air precharge pressure is too high, you could trip out that switch. With a jet pump, you usually want to set the air precharge to about 5 psi lower than the cut-in pressure for the pressure switch. So the pressure tank could be perfectly OK.

The problem would tend to occur when you are using a higher flow of water.

If you replace that pressure switch again, I suggest one without the lever.

 

[Valveman]

But a low pressure cut off switch with the lever will save the pump if it is really losing prime.