One well problem solved only to find another problem.

[Geo-TH,In]

I thought my very old 120v myers jet pump died only to discover it has a bushing that has never been oiled. I oiled the bushing and the pump is very quiet and pumps water. It can only make 25 psi max so I adjusted the pressure switch and used it during the power outage.


July 29, 2012 I had a new well installed with a 1/2 hp submersible 120v. The pressure switch is a 50 psi Off and 30 psi ON.

Today, I noticed the new pump couldn't make more than 25 psi and was running non-stop.

I have no clue how long it has been running non- stop.

I turned the power off to the new pump and the pressure remained at 25 psi. That tells me I have no water leaks and the check valve is working.

Why can't an 11 year old submersible Gould pump make more than 25 psi??

The guy who installed the well will be out Friday to look at it.

 

[kencombs]

Sandy wells can ruin the impellers in short order if the pump is set to deep or the sediment builds up after installation. That's a problem in my area but usually happens because the installer didn't case the well deep enough. Shouldn't be as issue with an older sell and pump though.

OTOH, I don't know how your system is plumbed, but the pressure holding may not indicate no leaks down hole. If there is a check valve top side there would be no pressure drop if you had a leak between the pump and the check.

 

[DoubleO7]

How deep is the pump set at?
A brand new pump, too deep struggles and might never reach normal household pressure.

 

[Janicholson]

The impellers are plastic, and can easily fail. (been there at 475 ft) There is likely a check valve at the tank, and at the top of the pump/bottom of stem. I would drop the pressure to near zero and run the pump to see what pressure it can build. I would also check load amps to see it it was running at higher load or less than rated. Impellers are available. If the stem is iron pipe it could be hemorrhaging. Jim

 

[chcase]

George If you old jet pump will only build 25# of pressure it most likely has a small piece of rust or junk in the jet. Depending on the model some only need to remove a small plug to push a stiff wire in to clean out the jet.Others you have to open the whole pump up to clean inside. The pump you are using now may have a ckeck valve at the pump besides the ckeck valve at the tank. You could have a leak above the pump ckeck valve but below your upper ckeck valve.

 

[Destroked 450]

Running non stop is an indication of a bad leak or broken impellers in the pump, we ve had the impellers fail in our house well pump.
You can replace just the pump end to save on some of the cost of a complete new pump
If that pressure gauge is as old as the pump I would not trust it to be accurate or even work
About anytime I ve had to do s as my type of service to the wells I would have to replace the gauge

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I'm not sure what a packard well is and how it works.
It's a 2 inch pipe with a 1 inch pipe inside.
The old well was installed in 1962, the year the house was built. Good chance the myers pump is the original pump. The boss bought the house in 1982 and never oiled the motor.
Well people tell me there is nothing that can be done with a packard well. Not sure of the spelling of the well. I'm lucky that it produces water and I don't care if I damage the pump using my 3500 watt backup generator.
11 years ago I had a new well drilled. 6 inch and 75 feet deep. Water level is 35 feet. The half hp pump produces 10 gallons a minute at the wellhead.

 

[Russ from MN]

George, I think what you're referring to is a packer well, if you google it there is a lot of information. It's a way of sealing a smaller pipe into a 2 inch well to have a jet. The Packard Well is a geothermal mine located in Riverside county, California at an elevation of 2241 feet.

 

[Geo-TH,In]

I was told the well is junk and not repairable so 11 years ago I retired it and had a new well drilled.
At the time the old well was making air and the motor sounded like it was on its last leg.

11 years ago the new well cost $3k. Today the same well is over $6K and a new pump cost my neighbor $3k.

 

[Destroked 450]

Your neighbor over payed
1/2 submersible pumps range from $350 up to $1000
I m sure later would probably double the cost but still yet $3k was to much