Well pump won't shut off

Canada · June 23, 2007, 07:14:27 PM

I need HELP! My well pump (above grade not submersible) will not shut off. My initial thought was there was a leak in the pipe coming from the well into the house but there seems to be no evidence of that. Secondly, I thought it could be the pressure switch, that still is a possibility but when I shut the power off I lost prime in the well. It is not holding pressure.

Neighbors are saying get a new pump, take the well liner out, put a new foot valve in...I am not sure where to begin.

Has anyone else had this problem? (with the well not the neighbors!)

thanks

Tom · June 23, 2007, 07:19:27 PM

Usually when mine does that, it is the pressure switch. Look for a fried insect in there. Spiders are always looking for a tight dark spot. Another possibility being stuck points. Pull them apart with a stick so that you don't short something. If that's the case, you can dress them with a small fingernail file or the striking surface from a box or folder of matches.

To help my pump hold prime, It has a check valve inside, I put another check valve in the line between the pump and the well. I don't know that I've ever needed it, but it seemed like a good idea at the time.

swampy · June 23, 2007, 08:45:32 PM

We had the same problem at my shop location. A gentleman that does well drilling said that the check valve was sticking and I told him that I had taken it off and found nothing in it. The guy took pressure and blew air down into the well to clean out the end of the pipe from mud and other things. Now the pump holds pressure and the pump does not run anymore. Ed

isawlogs · June 23, 2007, 08:52:14 PM

If that pump aint shutting off , its loosing its prime ... why ??? first thing I would look into would be like Tom and Swampy said ............ da check valve .

Tom · June 23, 2007, 08:56:49 PM

Loss of prime can be air leaking into the line, but it can also mean low water in the well. Don't burn up your pump because the drop pipe doesn't reach the water.

isawlogs · June 23, 2007, 08:59:27 PM

Well if da check valve aint in da water it aint gonna help much ... :P

Gipper · June 24, 2007, 12:34:41 AM

A few years ago mine did that - had to replace the foot valve. Last October it was doing it again. This time a small hole had come in the fitting of the foot valve where one of the pipe connected to it. Solved that problem by taking it all out of the well and putting in a submersible. No problems since that time!

Slabs · June 24, 2007, 07:15:06 PM

Didn't hear if it was a 2 inch or 4 inch casing. I've had to replace fractured 2-inch casings and "sucker" lines.

Regardless, the water in the "jet loop" is going somewhere if prime is lost. Check valve/foot valve is a very suspect culprit.

I don't like the idea of a check valve between the pump and tank. A very slow leak in the foot valve or loop system could be compensated for by the volume in the tank.

Yeah, it'll hide a problem that needs to be identified but the pump coming on without water consumption can identify the problem too.

Good luck

SwampDonkey · June 24, 2007, 07:30:59 PM

Probably a piece of dirt in the foot valve. happened here years ago and at uncles last year. Also, check the flush, maybe the rubber seal of the tank valve is old and deteriorated and leaking water and no longer a tight seal.

mometal77 · June 24, 2007, 10:19:43 PM

I worked for a well drilling company for a few months. I couldnt believe how much they raked in over me using a service truck. I was going out just to repair a broken line or replacing a pump. Or installing a new pitless and pump in a new casing. Usually the motor went bad at the top end or when the pump was first put in the wire rubbed on the side of the well shorting it out. Best to fix it yourself. If the notion of you were ever to call a guy up to come fix it.

Canada · June 25, 2007, 12:09:07 PM

Thanks everyone for your replies. I ended up taking the pump out and the lines only to discover that the foot valve was welded on by a previous owner and the lines had been joined very poorly. I replaced the screen, foot valve, lines, fittings and pump (as the other one was well beyond it's prime) as well as the electrical shut off switch. So...the entire system is now brand new.....hopefully this is it. The well itself was to our best guess using a brick and rope around 15 feet deep.

Thanks again!

Wade

Canada · June 28, 2007, 08:02:49 AM

HHHHEEEELLLLPPPPP!

Okay, replacing the lines, the fittings and the pump did NOT work. Water pressure is down, I seem to have air in the system and I am unsure where it is coming from and the pump burned out after just two and half days!!!! I took it apart last night, got a new pump, and put it in place but I seem to still be having issues. I am at my wits end boys!! Any suggestions? Not sure why the pump burned out as it was shutting on and off at a normal rate but I am afraid if I don't get this straigtened out the second pump will have the same fate.

Fla._Deadheader · June 28, 2007, 09:32:09 AM

Long ways away, but, I grew up in New Jersey. We had sand and no rock. Our well was 16', driven point. I did MANY of those when I was 13 years old and older :

:

Driver weighed 40# :

:

Armstrong type :

:

;D

Ennyhoo, in the 10 years I can remember, we had to drive the point deeper and deeper. Ended up at 36' from 16'. Had plenty of rain, and lived in the country with about 10 houses in a ½ mile area, so, NOT a lot of water use.

My guess is, you are running out of water. Is this a cased well, or open well ???

Can you dig deeper with a sand bucket ??? Is it in rock ???

Carries-Mom · June 28, 2007, 09:39:19 AM

One time we had a problem with our pump. We couldn't figure the thing out. Finally, after much pondering, we figured out our problem had to do with our water softener. We finally had to replace the water softener "system" and it had worked fine for years after that. Don't know if you have something like that, but I thought I would share, just in case. ;D

beenthere · June 28, 2007, 09:55:42 AM

Quote from: Canada on June 28, 2007, 08:02:49 AM
........................ Not sure why the pump burned out as it was shutting on and off at a normal rate ..........................

I'm confused a bit with this statement as it doesn't match with the title of the thread. What is a 'normal' rate of shutting on and off. ?? ???

Sounds like you are sucking air, not just water. Does it try to pump after the water pressure is up, and no water demand is present (all supply valves turned off) ?? ???

Fla._Deadheader · June 28, 2007, 10:15:52 AM

Forgot to ask, what size is the pressure tank ??? Them stinkin little bitty Blue "BAG" tanks, are a pump installers residual income source. I have seen the bags collapse and cause LOTS of problems. Ours had a red mold-algae growing in it, that gave us the goose trots :

:

>:(

I MUCH prefer galv. tank in 40 gallon or more capacity. THAT gives time for the well to recover, if you have a slow stream feeding the well.

Maybe try controlling the well-pump. If your bride is doing lots of laundry, or, you have a pressure side leak somewhere, the stream can't recharge the well fast enough for the next cycle ???

sharp edge · June 28, 2007, 10:37:09 AM

CN

Sounds to me like you have the wrong pump or wrong power going to the pump.

You need a shallow well jet pump. Make sure it has the jet in it and it is not plugged.
Make sure the motor wiring is the same as the power coming to it, most of them you can change between 110v--220v.

If their is a leak in the suction line, it might not loose prime but you would have air coming out with the water. If the well is slow you can hear it suck air.

SE

Canada · June 28, 2007, 12:19:26 PM

thank everyone for taking the time to respond.

Several things here; I will try to respond to some comments.

I did change the wiring to from 115V to 230V to accomodate the 220 wire coming in.

When I mentioned the pump turns off at a regular rate, I meant that the new pump (the one that just burned out) was turning on and off as a result of water demand, not just continuing to run to maintain prime.

I do have one of those little blue tanks that everyone hates. I will be looking more closely at the tonight.

I also have a water softener so that may be an issue. I will have to look into that.

I can hear air coming out when the pump comes (from the new pump I installed last night) on but the pressure seems to be fine. It is not pumping at all once the water demand has been met in the house. It continues to hold prime. Question is where would a leak be in an entirely new system and why did the pump just installed last weekend burn out if everything seems to be operating as it should.

Thanks again for the additional information, I will look further into tonight and report my findings.

Carries-Mom · June 28, 2007, 12:27:28 PM

our water softener was sucking air. On our water softener, we had a thing that looked like a wide enclosed tube with a float or ball in it. That piece was the reason our pump burned up. It caused the pump to keep running. We just replaced the whole top unit on our softener and eventually got a whole new system. Then, our well water got so bad, we just decided to go to county water, especially with our daughter too. hope this helps.

sharp edge · June 28, 2007, 02:19:24 PM

What did you see that made you think the first new pump burnt out. Did the motor run but didn't pump water or nothing happen when it was time for it to pump?

Most people in the pump buss. I think would say the blue tanks (wellXtroll) are not perfect but close. If a sofener was the reason the pump would keep running.

isawlogs · June 28, 2007, 04:30:14 PM

Question is where would a leak be in an entirely new system and why did the pump just installed last weekend burn out if everything seems to be operating as it should.[/b]

1 .. At any joint in the system .
2.. Good be a bad pump from the start . Would not be the first time something new has failled early in its life .

SwampDonkey · June 28, 2007, 09:18:26 PM

Quote from: Carries-Mom on June 28, 2007, 09:39:19 AM
One time we had a problem with our pump. We couldn't figure the thing out. Finally, after much pondering, we figured out our problem had to do with our water softener. We finally had to replace the water softener "system" and it had worked fine for years after that. Don't know if you have something like that, but I thought I would share, just in case. ;D

Mom wanted a water softener after she got a dish washer. The water is full of lime here. Anyway, used it about a week and said it was wasting too much water going through the cycle. It sat idle ever since. That was 25 years ago. ;D :D

I never use the washer, I'm a pretty good dish washer, and way faster. ;D

Need any dishes washed? :D :D

Carries-Mom · June 28, 2007, 09:27:37 PM

we had rust, lime and calcium in our well water. It just got to the point of trying to keep everything clean, especially the bathrooms, even though I cleaned everyday. The water wasn't safe to drink. When taking a shower, I would develop welts from the water. Since hooking up to the county water, no problems...Don't need any dishes washed, SwampDonkey....I'll let you know if I do.. :D :D :D :D