Problem with well not delivering water

Posted by harry k on October 13, 2009, 3:58 pm

> gwandsh wrote:

> > The rest of the process was to run things out via hose the next
> > morning, so as to not compromise our septic system. =A0However, when I
> > got up, I found that our pressure tank showed 0 psi. =A0When I turn on
> > the well circuit, I can hear the pump humming, but no water gets
> > delivered to the pressure tank.

> You can hear a pump at 300' deep humming?? =A0Good ears =A0:)
> 1. Check the pressure switch. =A0Zero pressure means the switch isn't doi=

> its job in some manner.
> 2. The pressure switch probably goes to a relay. =A0Relays generally have=

> manual start button, often on the bottom exterior of the case. =A0Does pu=

shing

> it start the pump and deliver water? =A0If not, have the start capacitor
> inside the case replaced. =A0If pushing it starts the pump and the zero
> pressure re-occurs, the start capacitor is flaky...have it replaced. =A0T=

> one I just had replaced yesterday cost $35 + the service call..
> --
> dadiOH
> ____________________________
> dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
> ...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
> LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
> Get it athttp://mysite.verizon.net/xico

Hear a pump at 300 ft? Why not, I am about 200 ft from my well and I
can hear it through the pipes in the basement. That has warned me
several times of water running when it shouldn't be.

Harry K

Posted by Frank on October 13, 2009, 3:50 pm

gwandsh wrote:

> This weekend we did a shock on our ~350' well to address some iron
> bacteria issues. Followed instructions carefully, adding measured
> amount of bleach and recirculating well water via garden hose back
> into the well head. Then we ran each faucet slightly untilI we could
> smell chlorine, turned it off, turned off the well circuit, and let it
> sit for the night.
>
> The rest of the process was to run things out via hose the next
> morning, so as to not compromise our septic system. However, when I
> got up, I found that our pressure tank showed 0 psi. When I turn on
> the well circuit, I can hear the pump humming, but no water gets
> delivered to the pressure tank.
>
> I took off the well cap again and powered the well circuit. I can
> hear "activity" in the well, not just the distant vibration or hum.
> With the echos and such, it is impossible to tell what that sound
> really is.
>
> It seems to me that somehow I have lost the seal prime on my well pump
> (or have a hole in the delivery pipe) that is preventing the water
> from being delivered. Anybody know of a way to diagnose this issue
> without special equipment? I believe the pump is at least 300' deep,a
> nd has worked flawlessly for years.

When my pressure drops to zero during something like a power failure, I
need to shut off valve to house, past pressure tank, to turn back on as
pump needs a pressure head to pump against otherwise low pressure turns
it off. Even then, I need to hold switch a few seconds to develop the head.

Posted by harry k on October 13, 2009, 4:02 pm

> gwandsh wrote:

> > This weekend we did a shock on our ~350' well to address some iron
> > bacteria issues. =A0Followed instructions carefully, adding measured
> > amount of bleach and recirculating well water via garden hose back
> > into the well head. =A0Then we ran each faucet slightly untilI we could
> > smell chlorine, turned it off, turned off the well circuit, and let it
> > sit for the night.
> > The rest of the process was to run things out via hose the next
> > morning, so as to not compromise our septic system. =A0However, when I
> > got up, I found that our pressure tank showed 0 psi. =A0When I turn on
> > the well circuit, I can hear the pump humming, but no water gets
> > delivered to the pressure tank.
> > I took off the well cap again and powered the well circuit. =A0I can
> > hear "activity" in the well, not just the distant vibration or hum.
> > With the echos and such, it is impossible to tell what that sound
> > really is.
> > It seems to me that somehow I have lost the seal prime on my well pump
> > (or have a hole in the delivery pipe) that is preventing the water
> > from being delivered. =A0Anybody know of a way to diagnose this issue
> > without special equipment? =A0I believe the pump is at least 300' deep,=

> > nd has worked flawlessly for years.

> When my pressure drops to zero during something like a power failure, I
> need to shut off valve to house, past pressure tank, to turn back on as
> pump needs a pressure head to pump against otherwise low pressure turns
> it off. =A0Even then, I need to hold switch a few seconds to develop the =

head.- Hide quoted text -

> - Show quoted text -

A couple things not mentioned.

1. zero pressue will show with pump off and bladder blocking outlet
of the tank.

2. Extremely unlikely but the same symptoms would show if the well
had run dry ;).

Harry K

Posted by on October 13, 2009, 4:16 pm

Why has nobody stated the obvious?

This person pumped a whole bunch of water with a well pump that "ran
fine for years and years."

The pump is old, and was on its last legs. Now it's shot, and needs to
be replaced.

Posted by Jules on October 13, 2009, 4:33 pm

On Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:50:46 -0400, Frank wrote:

For ours, I believe the pump body needs to be opened (there's a cap on
top) and the pump manually topped off with water if it ever runs dry -
running it once it's bled down not only results in no water flow, but
apparently also trashes the seals in the pump (or so the manufacturers
claim).

I missed the start of this thread - not sure if the 'hum' the OP mentions
means they think the pump motor *is* running, or if they mean (as someone
else mentioned) that they're hearing the hum of the motor trying to start
but failing (possibly because there's a start capacitor that's shot)

I'm not at all familiar with wells where the pump's right at the well head
(ours is a jet pump, with the motor/pump some distance from the head) but
maybe it's possible to confirm whether the motor *is* turning (and/or try
turning it by hand to make sure the pump's not jammed)?

cheers

Jules

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Problem with well not delivering water - Page 3