Water Pump Cycling

We are in the process of remodeling my sons house. It has been sitting empty for several months while the place has been gutted and rebuilt. I was out there yesterday to check things out and turned on the well pump and it was cycling on and off while the water was running. It would stop cycling after water the faucet was shut off. I really don't know anything wells and well water systems so can anyone offer some insight into what could be causing this? Also, what should the water system shut off pressure be set at?

OTJ

Sounds like the bladder tank has a ruptured bladder. Normal off-on is 60-40.

Tank is water logged. What happens is the tank has to have air in it because water cannot be compressed but air can be. So you need to add air to the tank. If it is the old type tank with out a bladder then adding air should take care of it for a while. If a newer bladder tank adding air may take care of it but if the bladder is bad then it may need to be replaced

It does sound like it is waterlogged.Kill the power,and bleed the pressure off to zero and drain off a few gallons.Then check the air pressure in the tank.It needs to be 2 pounds below cut in pressure.20-40 needs to be 18,30-50 needs to be 28,40-60 needs to be 38.Pressure tanks really don't waterlog unless there is something wrong.If it's a slow leak you might recharge once a year and get by with it.I have one I've been charging 3-4 times a year for maybe 10 years.If water comes out the air valve you know right then that the tank is junk.

Look at the tank.

If it has a single port in the bottom, and a Schroeder valve in the top, it is most likely a bladder type tank.

It needs to be charged with air to 2 PSI below the cut on pressure. To find the cut on pressure, let the pump cycle off, open a water valve just a small amount, watch the pressure gauge, note when the pump comes back on. Subtract 2 from that number, that will be the precharge.

Turn the power off to the pump, open a water valve and let all pressure discharge. Add air to the tank until it reaches the precharge amount.

Note, this pressure will be checked at the Schroeder valve, not the pressure gauge on the system. If the tank will not build pressure, the bladder is bad and the tank will have to be replaced. A healthy bladder tank should hold it's charge indefinitely. If the pressure was low, chances are it will soon fail even if it charges up for now. Those tanks do not like to be frozen.

If it is an old style tank without a bladder, it will need to be vented and drained, then the vent closed. It will simply trap air in the top for a while, then have to be drained again when the rapid cycling starts. Replacing it with a bladder tank would be an advantage.

(quoted from post at 15:52:11 08/28/18) Tank is water logged. What happens is the tank has to have air in it because water cannot be compressed but air can be. So you need to add air to the tank. If it is the old type tank with out a bladder then adding air should take care of it for a while. If a newer bladder tank adding air may take care of it but if the bladder is bad then it may need to be replaced

Click to expand...

+1

Look on the end of the tank for a valve stem (like a car tire). You can use an air hose or portable air compressor (providing you have a power source near by) to add air to the tank.

If it's a bladder tank and waterlogged then the bladder is shot, new tank. If it's the old style drain it empty and charge it to 5 psi below the cut in pressure. Don't keep using it like this. You'll kill the pump real quick.

More simpley:

Your pressure tank is full of water, with little to no air.

If it is a simple tank with water in the bottom, air in the top, just add air. Probably turn the pump off, open a faucet, and add air. If you get too much air it will shoot the extra out the pipes when you use them, a bit messy but you can?t mess up. This type of pressure tank needs attention like this every few months, twice a year anyhow, as the air slowly desolves into the water.

If it is a bladder tank the bladder might need air, or as likely the bladder ruptured and the tank needs replacing.

Paul

Before the bladder tank, the tanks had a float in them and a system to add air, when the pump was running.

I had a similar problem, I replaced the tank, but it didn?t fix it. It turned out the pitless adapter had failed, the well was leaking internally.

Thanks for the replies everyone. The tank had no pressure at all. I took my portable compressor out there and charged it up. I will keep an eye on it for the next couple of days to see if the air is leaking out.

OTJ