Trying to understand well pump behavior

[wellpumpin]

Background: I installed 1hp Flotec jet pump and Amtrol WX-202 (20 gallon) pressure tank October 2023. Pressure switch set to 30-50 and pressure tank pressure set to 28 psi when empty (first installed). The well has been in use since the house was built in 1975. I believe the foot valve has been replaced once - maybe in the 80s or 90s.

Issue: I turned on an outdoor spigot yesterday and noticed the water had a red/orange dirt coloration. I shut the spigot off and went inside to use the utility sink and noticed there wasn't any water. Checked gauge on the pump and pressure tank and they both were at 0. I have a low pressure shutoff pressure switch that had been triggered. I know I took the pressure on the schrader valve at some point, but it may have been after I reset the pressure switch/turned on the pump. The reading was over 40 and maybe close to 50, which probably makes sense with water filled back in the tank. I messed around with the tank pressure because I had forget when it should be reading 28 psi. I think I lowered it about 10 psi before it was drained. I shutoff the pump and opened the drain valve on the pressure tank to let all the water drain out and ensured the pressure was set to 28 psi when the tank was drained. The tank was easy to move and sounded hallow except near the bottom where I suppose the bladder would deaden some of the sound when tapped. I turned the pump back on and let the system repressurize to 50 psi. I havent noticed any issues since I refilled the tank.

Question: What could have caused the red/orange dirt coloration and for the pressure to drop to 0? What additional tests would you run or what should I look out for... The pump only has a one year warranty, so I want to make sure there arent any issues with it in the next 3 months.

 

[Valveman]

When you open up too much water the low pressure switch will shut off the pump. When the pump shuts off the tank bottoms out and you get the junk that was at the bottom of the tank. Flotec warranty is 12 months because they are not made to last much longer than that. Especially with a 20 gallon tank that only holds 5 gallons of water the pump will cycle a lot. Eliminate the cycling and even cheap pumps will last many times longer than planned by the manufacturer.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

With a jet pump and a 30/50 psi pressure switch, you would typically set the air precharge to about 25 psi, so that the tank supplies water while the jet pump is getting going.

Do flush your pressure tank maybe once per year or so -- when you also check your air precharge.

Precharged Pressure tank flush:
1. Connect a hose to the sediment drain valve, and run that to where you plan to drain the water. I suggest filtering the output through a cloth if you suspect the sediment may include sand.
2. Turn off the pump.
3. Open the drain valve, and let it drain until the water stops. It would be possibly interesting to watch the first water that comes out.
4. Close the valve, and turn the pump back on, and let pressure build.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 as needed.

 

[wellpumpin]

When you open up too much water the low pressure switch will shut off the pump. When the pump shuts off the tank bottoms out and you get the junk that was at the bottom of the tank. Flotec warranty is 12 months because they are not made to last much longer than that. Especially with a 20 gallon tank that only holds 5 gallons of water the pump will cycle a lot. Eliminate the cycling and even cheap pumps will last many times longer than planned by the manufacturer.

Thank you! This makes total sense to me now. It was a 3/4" for full port valve that I turned on full blast. I will get a cycle stop valve and install it. This is for my dad's property and he has had a Pentair Sta-Rite MS in the past (I think they make Flotec) and they have lasted a very long time. He doesn't use much water. I actually swapped his pump out when I replaced the pressure tank... maybe I should have kept the Sta-Rite installed. It's hard to find anything made the way it was 20-30 years ago.

 

[wellpumpin]

With a jet pump and a 30/50 psi pressure switch, you would typically set the air precharge to about 25 psi, so that the tank supplies water while the jet pump is getting going.

Do flush your pressure tank maybe once per year or so -- when you also check your air precharge.

Precharged Pressure tank flush:
1. Connect a hose to the sediment drain valve, and run that to where you plan to drain the water. I suggest filtering the output through a cloth if you suspect the sediment may include sand.
2. Turn off the pump.
3. Open the drain valve, and let it drain until the water stops. It would be possibly interesting to watch the first water that comes out.
4. Close the valve, and turn the pump back on, and let pressure build.
5. Repeat steps 2, 3 and 4 as needed.

I was just using the numbers recommended by Amtrol. Do you know why they say to set the pressure to 2 psi less than the cut-in pressure as opposed to 5 psi as you recommend? I will do the flush on the tank you recommend. Thanks!

 

[Reach4]

The 2 PSI is typically used with a submersible pump. Those get going very quickly.

Most people opt for a pressure switch without the low-pressure cutoff. If you had that kind of switch, there would have just been a stutter in water pressure.