oneshot

Member
My son called and said that his well pump must have died because he had no water. I went to the basement and took a look and saw no pressure on the gauge. I gave the pressure switch a small tap and the pressure began building up and he again had water.

My question is, will this happen again and does the pressure switch need to be changed or only cleaned. If cleaned, what is the best way? Thanks for any help in this matter.
 
There not that expensive I would put a new one on because it will only get worse you can file the points on them but turn the breaker off first
 
No one mentioned it yet, but I'd replace the switch with one with an automatic shutoff if the pressure drops below 10 psi or so. They cost a couple bucks more than the switch without a shutoff, but they will shut the pump down instead of allowing it to run with no pressure.
 
Points are getting bad and yes they can be cleaned if not real bad. BTDT many times over the years
 
YES the pressure switch contact points may be burned and pitted or else the toggle mechanism is bad/corroded/hanging
YES they can be lightly cleaned/buffed/polished which can help for at least some time

HOWEVER once a set of contacts gets burned or pitted they may not last very long, so best to replace and I always bought the ones that shut down if pressure dropped too low.

John T Home water well user on farms for 40 years
 
Replace the switch, ours welded shut and the pump kept running, very high pressure, missus was home and turned the water on and called me, told her how to shut it off.
 
I had that issue probably 30 years ago, one night pump wouldn't work. I filed points in pressure guage to get it working and went to coop the next day for replacement switch. It set in my pump house for about 25 years until the old one sprung a leak. At least I had a replacement on hand.
 
I keep a spare switch on hand all the time. I refuse to buy the Chinese made switch. I get ones made in Mexico if I can't find USA made.
Richard in NW SC
 
Yes to everyone else. Get a new switch. Most pump rooms have close to 100% humidity, Corrosion slowly builds up. Points then poop out.
 
I need to get rid of the one with the low pressure shut off. I have a pump saver now and it interferes with the operation. The pump saver resets automatically.
 

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