Wells, Sump Pumps and Septic Sewage Systems - How to Troubleshoot Well Problem

About 3 weeks ago I asked for help replacing the pressure switch on my well system at the cottage. It was a Pumptrol submersible @ 130 feet run on 230V feeding a pressure tank under the camp. It seemed like the pressure switch was sticking so I bought a new replacement 30-50 just like the old one and changed it adjusting the spring to turn on a 30 and shut down at 50 psi as was the old one. Everything seemed great last weekend and we shut off the power to the pump and went home like usual.

This weekend upon arriving we turned on the pump power and the pressure switch seemed stuck again and the pump would not turn on as the pressure dropped. I took off the cover and manually tripped it a few times and everything seemed to work OK again for the whole weekend. :wall:

What else needs attention or repair or replacement? What troubleshooting order will discover the problem?


Thanks for your help!

Tom

Tell us more about this tank under that camp.

bob...

Hi Tom,
When you took the old pressure switch off, did you check the tubing and/or fittings that the switch was mounted on?
Many times the tubing and fittings will get corroded and plug up. When this happens, the switch either will not react, or will react slowly to the pressure changes. I've seen this happen many times.
Ron

Bob: I'm at home right now so I'm going by memory. The tank is a (Welltrol) I think. Are these Goulds tradenames? Anyway it was new in 1997 same year as the well was put in. It sits on a wooden platform under the camp and is about waist high so as winterizing can be done without using the hands and knees routine. The pressure switch is on a pipe on the front of the tank I would think on the pump side coming in. The pipe at that point is a "T" with the other leg going up to the house. In other words the pressure switch then "T" going in to the tank and then to the house. The well is up next to the stone driveway and is about 30' elevation from the camp.

Ron: That makes sense and no, I didn't really do a thorough job of inspecting the pipes like I should have. Because the system is laid up essentially dry over the Winter months it would be more likely to accumulate crapola and corrosion. How far back have you seen this crud? Like right at the pressure switch nipple?

Please give me any and all options as I have friends renting the place in 2 weeks and they are used to things that work. (Not common sense fixers in the group)

Thanks again up front for the help.

Tom

It sounds like your pressure switch is mounted on a tank tee or close by. You'll need to check the nipple were it's threaded into the pipe as well as where the switch is threaded on. Look inside the threads on the switch itself, too. There is just a tiny hole at the diaphragm that easily gets plugged up.
Ron

Ron: Many thanks for the help. Will do a thorough check for debris on Friday and hopefully it will be good to go.

Tom