Suspecting a faulty check valve. Help please.

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Waterboy Juan

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I've just noticed that my pressure tank is cycling on and off every 3 minutes. I can hear it clicking. My pressure gauge is stuck at 48psi, likely due to sediment, and I'll fix that in a couple days. I closed the line immediately after the tank to ensure no house leaks or consumption, and the 3 minute cycles continue.
I put a pressure gauge on the valve at the top of me Well-Xtrol 42 gallon, 40/60 tank and watched it throughout the cycles. It cut on when the bladder pressure was 38, psi as expected, and cut off 45 seconds later at 58 psi. During the next 2+ minutes, the pressure drops, then the cycle repeats.
I have a Red Jacket submersible that's probably 10 years old.
I'm a well newbie but suspect a faulty check valve from what I've read. What do y'all think?
 

Reach4

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Check valve, or hole in a pipe, or leak at the pitless. You could lift the well cap, and look with a bright flashlight and/or listen. It's not as if you should try to fix it yourself, however.

If you have a well seal rather than a pitless, don't try lifting that. Just call your well person.

He will suggest a new pump. Up to you. I had a 12 year old Sta-rite pump put back down June 2014 when I got my pit demolished and pitless installed. It's still working. Maybe I lucked out. Maybe it will fail tomorrow.
 
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Waterboy Juan

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Reach4, your comments are much appreciated! I've temporarily (?) fixed the problem by inserting a new check valve a couple feet before the pressure switch at the tank.

I began by removing the well head and looking/listening into the well. First time I've ever looked in a well. I could see the water level, and when the pump would start, the top of the water would generate small waves. Once the pump stopped, the water would calm and it would be quiet.

I then went to the pressure tank. I emptied the tank, checked the bladder pressure (found it to be 25#, or 13# under expected 38 PSI, so filled it up to 38 PSI), replaced the pressure gauge, and also replaced the pressure switch. The problem still remained, as I kind of expected.

So, finally installed a 3/4" check valve into the line directly before the tank. (See photo.) So far so good. Hopefully no other issues will crop up.
 

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Waterboy Juan

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Cary, thanks for the heads up on that. I'll keep an eye on that and will post a couple months down the road. Thank you.
 

Waterboy Juan

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I wanted to post an update here after 1 month. I'm happy to report everything seems to be running smoothly thus far. No leak, knocks, or faulty pressure.
 

Reach4

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I am glad it is working nicely for you. If you ever need to get that pump changed, you might take out the innards of the topside check valve. There is some advantage to keeping the piping from the pump pressurized. Since you don't report air in your water, the problem is not an above-water leak, such as a bad pitless o-ring.

When you put in your check valve, you might have seen a screw or nut that would be used to hollow out the check valve.
 
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