Shallow well pump continually cycles

Have a 30+ year old shallow well (approx. 30 ft.) in the basement plumbed for outdoor use only. When there is no demand for water it continually cycles on and off at 40 PSI. Have tried adjusting the shut off switch with no change. I don't think there is anything wrong with the pump or well as there is ample water supply. It has a tank, approx. 25 gal.
Could it just be a pressure switch?
Thanks for any input.
Bill.
 
Try shutting the pump off at the switch and drain the tank completely. Then close the drain and turn the pump back on.
I think... the tank needs some air in it and yours has become waterlogged.
Post back.
 
What type of tank? Is it a bladder style with a schrader valve?

If so, it needs an air charge, about 20 PSI I think. Those typically don't need air unless there is problem with the bladder. Nothing to loose from trying though, but if it looses the charge the tank will need to be replaced.

If there is no valve, the tank needs to be drained empty so there will be an air cushion trapped in the top. This will only be a temporary fix, best to replace it with a bladder style tank.
 
The air pressure in the tank should be 2 lbs. below the low setting of the pressure switch. A 20-40 switch would need 18 lbs., a 30-50 would need 28, etc.
Every few years I have to drain mine out, reset the air pressure in the bladder, and restart.
 
Are you 100% sure you do not have a water leak some place?? A simple leak will cause that and can be hard to figure out
 
How about foot valve leaking or one way valve corroded? Should have one(some did not)
When we had swallow well pumps we hit the trifecta. Foot valve had crud in it, pipe on the return side had a leak, and tank had a leaking bladder.
 
Typically a tank problem.

Is it just a simple tank, the air cushion has absorbed into the water and it is water logged. Turn off pump, open a faucet, and add air through the tire valve on the tank.

If it is a bladder tank, the bladder may have burst and the tank is water logged. New tank time.

It could be a leak or a foot valve/ check valve as mentioned. But check the tank first, that is the classic symptom of a waterlogged tank.

Paul
 
When shuts off at 40 lbs, air it up to say 50 lbs. I adjusted my barn shallow well at 60 lbs. Mine comes on at 25 lbs, shuts off at 60 lbs. If your pump runs every time that you run water, as others have said, sure sounds water logged. A good way to find out, often, is when you go to air it up, water spits out the air pressure inlet valve. I've found that tanks that have the pump water inlet up higher have a tendency to water log faster because as the water enters the tank, it has a tendency to mix with the air, and if you're watering the lawn or something that is causing the tank to refill often, the airated water goes right out the spiquot. Bring the water in and out as low to the bottom of the tank as possible. The outlet needs to be as low as possible. Here is my barn tank. Fortunately for me, I have opposing inlets and outlets at the bottom of the tank. From the picture, you can see the inlet from the pump at the bottom of the tank. If you look closely between the tank and the compressor, you can see the pipe from the outlet at the back of the tank by the wall at the same level.

Mark
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Thanks for the input. I hate to throw parts at a problem. I'll try to drain the tank and look at it closer. This thing has been a problem for 2-3 years at my mother's house. Others have told me "it can't be fixed" I knew the minds on here would have some good ideas.
Thanks.
 
I had similar problems. new pressure switch & Don't forget to check that little 1/8" line that runs to pressure switch. After 30 years, they can rust shut.
HTH
Led
 
When it shuts off, try adding air to the tank. Bring it up to about 50 lbs. Sounds water logged. There is no shallow well system that can't be fixed unless the well is dry, and that don't sound like your problem. If its a baldder tank, bladder could be bad, and if thats the case, you would have to replace the tank because bladder tanks don't operate like my conventional glass lined tank. Bladder tanks get replaced. As someone said, could be the pressure switch. They do go bad, and can be purchased at many or most hardwares. Even at Menards. They can and do go bad.

The cheapest idea...air up the tank. When it shuts off, air it up to 50 lbs. Don't go a lot higher if she has a small tank, or pipes are sweated and old copper. 50 lbs though oughta work well, and costs nothing.

Something else that could be going on is a bad check valve. If the check valve is failing, you would be losing pressure from the tank blowing back into the well, pressure drops, pump comes on. Over the decades, I've had 2 check valves fail, and your symptom fits that as well. In my picture, the pipe coming out of the ground, just before the 90 degree elbow sending it to the pump...that brass piece, is the check valve. They can and do go bad.

Good luck.

Mark
 
You need to shut off the power and bleed off all the pressure, then air it up, 2 psi less than cut in! If the air comes out the drain valve then you have a ruptured bladder if you have one. shut the valve and air it up, it will work beter than it does now. Short cycling will ruin the starter points and or the motor, it should of been fixed 2 years ago!
 

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