Wells, Sump Pumps and Septic Sewage Systems - New pump not making adequate pressure
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DaveLKN
09-11-09, 01:32 AM
Hi all,
New Wayne 1hp 110volt convertible 2-drop pump into about 90-100' 8" cased well approx 30yrs old. Third installation of the same system. There is a pressure gauge, faucet and a water shutoff in the line from the pump to the underground line back to the house where the pressure tank, pressure switch, and another pressure gauge reside.
Old one gave up today after having a line from the pump to the well head fail and then it ran dry continuously until my wife got curious and shut it off before it overheated. Good girl...
New pump did not require much water to prime it, and it took off right away. Since the old pump ran on and on, the pressure switch was inspected and isn't welded together or anything. All other visible equipment have no issues.
The gauge at the pump is reading a continual 25-30 psi and will spike to 40 if you turn on and off the faucet at the pump site. Moving lots of water, that's not the problem. Won't build pressure and shut off. No leaks. Tank gauge agrees with the pump gauge.
Do I have a line/valve problem down in the casing? Would there be anything more than a footvalve in this type of installation? What do you think??
Thanks!
Dave
Lake Norman NC
New Wayne 1hp 110volt convertible 2-drop pump into about 90-100' 8" cased well approx 30yrs old. Third installation of the same system. There is a pressure gauge, faucet and a water shutoff in the line from the pump to the underground line back to the house where the pressure tank, pressure switch, and another pressure gauge reside.
Old one gave up today after having a line from the pump to the well head fail and then it ran dry continuously until my wife got curious and shut it off before it overheated. Good girl...
New pump did not require much water to prime it, and it took off right away. Since the old pump ran on and on, the pressure switch was inspected and isn't welded together or anything. All other visible equipment have no issues.
The gauge at the pump is reading a continual 25-30 psi and will spike to 40 if you turn on and off the faucet at the pump site. Moving lots of water, that's not the problem. Won't build pressure and shut off. No leaks. Tank gauge agrees with the pump gauge.
Do I have a line/valve problem down in the casing? Would there be anything more than a footvalve in this type of installation? What do you think??
Thanks!
Dave
Lake Norman NC
Pumpman
09-11-09, 08:22 AM
On a convertible jet pump system, with two lines in the well, there is an ejector installed in the well.
This ejector contains a venturi tube and nozzle. If the nozzle plugs up, the pump will have a hard time building pressure. Did you replace any of this when you replaced the pump? Is the pump the same thing that you replaced? Ejectors need to be matched to the pump.
Air leaks can also keep a pump from building pressure.
Ron
This ejector contains a venturi tube and nozzle. If the nozzle plugs up, the pump will have a hard time building pressure. Did you replace any of this when you replaced the pump? Is the pump the same thing that you replaced? Ejectors need to be matched to the pump.
Air leaks can also keep a pump from building pressure.
Ron
DaveLKN
09-11-09, 11:31 AM
Thanks for the reply!
I spoke to Wes at Wayne tech support this am and he said the jet assembly had to be matched to their pump. This pump does not have a control valve built in; you have to use a ball valve to play with the pressure on the pump output to the tank and to complete the priming process- which is new to me. All other installs I've done were plug-n-play essentially. So it looks like I'll be pulling the lines up this weekend and replacing all of that if I don't learn why not to...any advice on doing that chore?? Any special tricks or techniques to getting those lines up out of that 6" casing while they're full of water?
Thanks again!
I spoke to Wes at Wayne tech support this am and he said the jet assembly had to be matched to their pump. This pump does not have a control valve built in; you have to use a ball valve to play with the pressure on the pump output to the tank and to complete the priming process- which is new to me. All other installs I've done were plug-n-play essentially. So it looks like I'll be pulling the lines up this weekend and replacing all of that if I don't learn why not to...any advice on doing that chore?? Any special tricks or techniques to getting those lines up out of that 6" casing while they're full of water?
Thanks again!
DaveLKN
09-13-09, 09:26 PM
Well, after procrastinating about pulling up the lines, I collected the parts- new jet assembly etc. and attacked this chore this afternoon.
Pulling up the lines, about 90-100' of them, was the task I was dreading. After a talk with a subcontractor of mine whose brother is a pump & well tech, my mind was made up. I'd pull 'em out myself...after all, his brother hauled his lines w/a submersible out by himself. Hmmm.
Well, I found out I could do it...after lifting the sanitary seal, I simply started to pull them up. And up they came. I didn't realize that, since the static water level was only 10' from the surface, there was a certain amount of buoyancy to the whole assembly. Once you got about half of the lines up, and the buoyancy reduced, then you got to really pull on them, but they weren't that heavy at that point. So there it was all laying in the yard like a beached....something...
The apparent difference between the old jet assembly and the new Wayne piece was the long venturi assembly in the Wayne unit. This was likely the cause of no pressure buildup in the system. I didn't want to reuse any of the old fittings or foot valve, just the lines which were just fine. So off to SLowes to gather the parts. After visiting two different stores, I had all the parts.:rolleyes:
The installation was simple- reverse order. The only thing I was concerned about now was 'will this thing actually make pressure?' Filled all the lines with the neighbor's water (thanx Mike) and threw the switch. Before I could close off everything on the output line side, I had plenty of pressure and the system was building. Shut off as required. All I've got to do now is let the system flush out over the next couple of days and keep the faucet aerators clean...already had to do that...
Thanks for your reply Pumpman.Beer 4U2
DaveLKN
Pulling up the lines, about 90-100' of them, was the task I was dreading. After a talk with a subcontractor of mine whose brother is a pump & well tech, my mind was made up. I'd pull 'em out myself...after all, his brother hauled his lines w/a submersible out by himself. Hmmm.
Well, I found out I could do it...after lifting the sanitary seal, I simply started to pull them up. And up they came. I didn't realize that, since the static water level was only 10' from the surface, there was a certain amount of buoyancy to the whole assembly. Once you got about half of the lines up, and the buoyancy reduced, then you got to really pull on them, but they weren't that heavy at that point. So there it was all laying in the yard like a beached....something...
The apparent difference between the old jet assembly and the new Wayne piece was the long venturi assembly in the Wayne unit. This was likely the cause of no pressure buildup in the system. I didn't want to reuse any of the old fittings or foot valve, just the lines which were just fine. So off to SLowes to gather the parts. After visiting two different stores, I had all the parts.:rolleyes:
The installation was simple- reverse order. The only thing I was concerned about now was 'will this thing actually make pressure?' Filled all the lines with the neighbor's water (thanx Mike) and threw the switch. Before I could close off everything on the output line side, I had plenty of pressure and the system was building. Shut off as required. All I've got to do now is let the system flush out over the next couple of days and keep the faucet aerators clean...already had to do that...
Thanks for your reply Pumpman.Beer 4U2
DaveLKN