Pump not switching on automatically

[twoblindgoats]

I recently bought a house which had been empty for a while. The filter on the pump was replaced at this time by a qualified pump person. It has worked fine for the past 6 weeks apart from brown smelly water which is rapidly clearing. It used to cycle on and off throughout the night, no doubt due to some washers in the house which I haven't got around to replacing. Since yesterday the pump is not always switching on automatically. It seemed to have switched itself off in the night. The pump is above ground. There is an orange drum with a pressure gauge under it which remains constant. But periodically I have to go out and hit the switch to get it working. I live in Ireland. Any suggestions?

[Mike Swearingen]

The pressure switch (and/or the line to it from the pressure tank) that turns the pump on and off is probably clogged from sitting up.
Turn the power off, drain the water pressure off, and take the pressure switch line apart and clean out the line and the switch connection to see if that doesn't straighten it out.
Ireland is a beautiful country and you have good soap (Irish Spring) according to our TV. LOL
Good Luck!
Mike

[twoblindgoats]

Thanks Mike......er...... where is all that stuff I have to clean out? I have never dealt with a well pump before! A pipe comes into the pump and feeds to the orange drum with the pressure gauge. below and behind the drum is some kind of electrical thingie with wires to the pump and into the wall. From the drum is one pipe which goes to the outside tap and another which goes to the filter and thence into the house. Which bit do I have to dismantle?

[joed]

There is an electrical wire going to the pump. This wire will go though a switch before it goes to the pump. The switch will be connected to the plumbing so it can detect the pressure. It is possible the switch is mounted direct on the pump. It won't look like a wall switch. It will be a box witha cover. When you remove the cover there are some springs inside and wires. The springs are the pressure sensing adjustments.