Constant Pressure Well Pump Question

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WellNeub

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Hello Forum,



I am in the process of buying a house with a well. My first (town)house was connected to the city water/septic, so I never bothered learning anything about it. The house I am looking at has a 'constant pressure pump' that was installed in 2012. The house was built as a model house a few years ago and never used, as a result the well/pump combo is about three years new. During the inspection I turned on the water and noticed that whenever I turn the water on anywhere in the house, the pressure relief valve would leak. The builder says it is just a bad valve and they're going to replace it. The house is being sold as is, no warranty.



Question: Could the leaking valve be a sign of something serious?

Link to YouTube : http://youtu.be/Z6HcM2q1iWw
 
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It's a relief valve. Either the pump is spiking too much pressure then the relief valve is rated for, or the spring in the relief valve is weak and needs replacing.

Either way, wouldn't be taking his word on it. Did he check the settings on the system and see what's going on? A 3 year old relief valve just doesn't start dripping unless something sets it off first or it's been tampered with
 
Matt30 said:
It's a relief valve. Either the pump is spiking too much pressure then the relief valve is rated for, or the spring in the relief valve is weak and needs replacing.

Either way, wouldn't be taking his word on it. Did he check the settings on the system and see what's going on? A 3 year old relief valve just doesn't start dripping unless something sets it off first or it's been tampered with
Click to expand...


If you had to guess. What do you think is going on here?
 
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A unicorn pissed on it :rolleyes:

Constant pressure systems are their own beast that require manufacture specific training. It could be something in the system settings, it could very well just be the relief valve. The only person who is going to know is the person with training who looks at your system. My point is to not just take the builders word for it. Just because a relief valve leaks doesn't mean it's bad, they have a job to keep you safe. He might just change the relief valve, then come to find out your air bladder was bad all along. Get a professional in there.
 
Matt30 said:
A unicorn pissed on it :rolleyes:

Constant pressure systems are their own beast that require manufacture specific training. It could be something in the system settings, it could very well just be the relief valve. The only person who is going to know is the person with training who looks at your system. My point is to not just take the builders word for it. Just because a relief valve leaks doesn't mean it's bad, they have a job to keep you safe. He might just change the relief valve, then come to find out your air bladder was bad all along. Get a professional in there.
Click to expand...


Ok thanks. Both the tank and valve are fairly cheap shall they need replacing. I'm more concerned that, say, a pump is going bad or something is wrong with the controls.
 
I can't see the picture very well. But it looks like you have a storage tank with a booster pump feeding the house? If so I do not see a pressure tank close to the pressure switch, which is a major problem. And if this is the system with the leaking pressure relief valve, that is your problem.

Then the submersible is just filling the storage tank?? If so the variable speed type constant pressure pump on the well is not needed at all, and is just an expensive and problematic part that will need to be replaced very soon. When that happens here is a way to fix it so it will be long lasting and dependable.

http://www.cyclestopvalves.com/csv-vs-vfd_1.html
 
Valveman said:
I can't see the picture very well. But it looks like you have a storage tank with a booster pump feeding the house? If so I do not see a pressure tank close to the pressure switch, which is a major problem. And if this is the system with the leaking pressure relief valve, that is your problem.



Then the submersible is just filling the storage tank?? If so the variable speed type constant pressure pump on the well is not needed at all, and is just an expensive and problematic part that will need to be replaced very soon. When that happens here is a way to fix it so it will be long lasting and dependable.



http://www.cyclestopvalves.com/csv-vs-vfd_1.html
Click to expand...


Hi. Thanks for the reply.

I'm a little confused by it actually. This is a constant pressure pump system. Not by choice per se, rather what the builder put in.

The PRV was in fact leaking and was replaced. Ran the water for an hour. No leaks.

There is no storage tank other than that blue one above the valve.

What's the problem with the installation?
 
The pump you're looking at just left of a storage tank is actually a wet sprinkler system. Although it is connected to the domestic water distro, the pump only feeds those Sprinklers.
 
Even though that booster pump only feeds the sprinklers there should still be a pressure tank close to that pressure switch. The storage tank is the one that pump is pumping out of.

Those Grundfos SQE pumps with the CU301 controller are notorious for leaving you out of water at the worst possible time. When that happens just replace the pressure transducer with a regular 40/60 pressure switch and remove the CU301 box and tie the wire to the pressure switch. The pump will cycle on and off but at least you will have water. Then you can place a Cycle Stop Valve on the line before the pressure tank and it will stop the cycling and maintain the constant pressure you want without all the problems that go with that CU301 controller.

People usually tell me they have replaced the CU301 box 3 times in 5 years or so, then they finally discover the CSV, which does just as good a job, cost much less, and makes the pump system last a lot longer.
 
Valveman said:
Even though that booster pump only feeds the sprinklers there should still be a pressure tank close to that pressure switch. The storage tank is the one that pump is pumping out of.



Those Grundfos SQE pumps with the CU301 controller are notorious for leaving you out of water at the worst possible time. When that happens just replace the pressure transducer with a regular 40/60 pressure switch and remove the CU301 box and tie the wire to the pressure switch. The pump will cycle on and off but at least you will have water. Then you can place a Cycle Stop Valve on the line before the pressure tank and it will stop the cycling and maintain the constant pressure you want without all the problems that go with that CU301 controller.



People usually tell me they have replaced the CU301 box 3 times in 5 years or so, then they finally discover the CSV, which does just as good a job, cost much less, and makes the pump system last a lot longer.
Click to expand...



Wow. Ok. Can I trouble you for the proper make / model for:

1. Storage tank (and recommended size)
2. Pressure switch
3. Cycle stop valve
 
The little pressure tank you have will work fine with a CSV. All you need is the CSV1A and a regular 40/60 pressure switch. But if the tank is questionable you could use one of the Pside-Kick kits shown here http://www.cyclestopvalves.com/prod_psidekick.html

It has everything you need to replace the CU301 controller and pressure tank when needed.
 
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