Can anyone tell me why our pump clicks off and on every 5 minutes,even when not in use. Everything has been replaced down in the well in the past two years,and I mean everthing.It shouldn't run if we're not using water should it? The guy who replaced our pump cracked a piece of pvc pipe,but glued it with plumber's glue and fed it back down the well.I wondered if that is why it runs, because maybe the glue didn't hold,it was only 20 below when he did it.To reach our water ,it's about 200 feet down. HELP!

-- Carla Gruber (herbs@computer-concepts.com), January 23, 2002

Answers

You have it figured out! The glue didn't work, and the "guy who did it" should have replaced the errant section of pipe. Call him back and insist that he replace the plastic pipe. If he refuses, write back. Ve haf our vays! GL!

-- Brad (homefixer@SacoRiver.net), January 23, 2002.

what kind of tank are you useing? If its a bladder tank,, sounds like its waterlogged,,could have happened when he cracked the line

-- stan (sopal@net-port.com), January 23, 2002.

Also check the toilet flush valve, it could be seeping.

-- mitch hearn (moopups@citlink.net), January 23, 2002.

I believe the pressure tank is a bladder tank which was replaced when the pump was. It is a 30 lb. tank. Is there a plumber out there?

-- Carla (herbs@computer-concepts.com), January 23, 2002.

We had the same problem a couple of months ago. Our's was the bladder tank being waterlogged. My guess with you would be that pipe I cant imagine why someone would do that. Also might be the foot valve, its in the bottom of the well I hope not. good luck

-- ronda (thejohnsons@localaccess.com), January 23, 2002.

could also be the switch going bad

or a leak some place you don't know about yet

if you don't fix the leak, it can wear the switch out, too.

-- Rose (open_rose@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

Sounds like a leak to me! Best of luck!

-- cowgirlone in OK (cowgirlone47@hotmail.com), January 23, 2002.

You may want to shut it off if you can while you are figuring this out. The frequent clicking on and off can burn up your new pump! (You may also want to think about replacing the PVC with black pipe, our well guy said that in 20 years he's never seen black pipe crack.)

Good Luck!

-- Michelle (kellycalves@soon.com), January 23, 2002.

Dad just had this problem last summer. His problem was that a steel fitting near the top of the well was completely rusted through and had formed a hole. The well was pumping water up and then allowing it to pour back down inside the well casing. We also found that he had a bad bladder style pressure tank. My guess is that you have a hole somewhere, probably where the PVC was broken. I would replace the PVC with black plastic flexible pipe. PVC has a tendency to get VERY BRITTLE with age, and can BREAK. I can promise you that you do not want a pump laying in the bottom of your well....Also, don't forget to tie a nylon safety rope to the pump itself, and then tie the other end to the bracket that mounts at the top of the well casing, just as a precaution. If you pull the pump, and do not have a safety rope already attached, make sure that you have someone at the neck of the well casing to catch the PVC pipe if it should break.

-- clovis (clovis97@Yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

Put a check valve at the wellhead. If this doesn't stop your problem then you probably have a leak above ground or in the house. I had a leak in my well and this worked for months until the hole in the galvanized pipe got so big the pump couldn't overcome it. Also, install a low pressure cutoff pressure switch if you don't already have one. One costs about 20.00 and will prevent your pump from burning out if the pump can't satisfy the pressure switch. If the check valve stops your problem you have a leak in the well. Check valves are cheap and can easily be installed by yourself. Good luck.

-- Don Cothern (hihilldon@yahoo.com), January 23, 2002.

I would like to find out if you got your pump fixed and what the problem was. Thanks.

-- Don Cothern (hihilldon@yahoo.com), January 28, 2002.