Pump pressure changing.

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Chris

Chris

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Sweet, Idaho
OK so I just bought a home in the mountains that is on a water tank and septic holding tank. No well. Filled the tank and everything works great. I was told I have an issue but want to make sure. To me everything works like an RV but better, when you turn on water after a second the pump will kick on (Pump is located under my stairs between floors so you can slightly here it). Now when you take a shower it will kick on for a second or two then kick off and will repeat as long as you are using water. Now when in the shower and the pump kicks on the pressure will slightly build. So the pressure will increase and decrease every couple seconds while showering.

I take this as normal but I have been told the pump should be running longer and then sitting idle longer. Am I wrong here?
 
Delivery or in my case my neighbor down the way has a well and likes beer and I like water so a trade happened along with several hoses.

Or magic, which ever you prefer.
 
You will have to determine if this is a jet type pump or an RV type pump. If you can see it, tell me if it looks more like the ones on my Website Here or There?
 
It is a jet type pump, runs on 110V. Looks similar to the second or third pump down.
 
Chris, is the pump connected to a pressure tank? If it's a bladder tank the bladder may be gone or need charging. If it's a galvanized tank it may be water logged. If you don't have a tank you need one.

John
 
John's right. And if you don't remedy the problem soon, you will be needing a new motor. If you don't have a tank, and there is no where to put one due to available space, then get a Constant pressure valve. That will at least stop the cycling while your using water.
 
Then I recommend the constant pressure valve. The small tank is why the pump is cycling so much now. The valve will prevent that from happening.

In the meantime, you might get by if you set the pressure up higher. Most jet pumps won't get much past 60 psi and some less than 60. If you turn on one faucet full blast, then crank the pressure switch up so the pump can't quite make shut off, that may be just as good as adding the valve.
There I go messing up another sale.
 
Where is the pressure switch? I may be going back up to the house tomorrow but may not until next week. Is the switch in an obvious place?

Also do I want the pump running the whole time while the faucet is on under normal operation?
 
The pressure switch is normally mounted on the motor at the back end.

Yes you do want it to keep running while your using water. Cycling is real hard on a motor and your light bill.
 
Sounds good. I'll give it a shot when I go back up the mountain and will report back what happens. Thanks for the help.
 
Be careful turning up the pressure switch so close to the max pressure the pump can build. With a tiny amount of wear, the pump will melt down when it is not able to reach this pressure and shut itself off. Constant pressure valve is the term for a generic Cycle Stop Valve. Your pump is cycling on and off, and a Cycle Stop Valve will solve that problem. In this case generic copies are not the same as the original.
 
When I get up to the house, Probably next Monday or so I will take some pics and post them so everyone can see my setup before I do anything. Then we can work out a plan on what I need to do,
 
Constant pressure valve is the term for a generic Cycle Stop Valve. Your pump is cycling on and off, and a Cycle Stop Valve will solve that problem. In this case generic copies are not the same as the original.
Click to expand...

Are you ever going to lighten up Cary? I know you think your the only one that sells these valves and the master inventor, but it's time for you to grow up and get over it.
 
So what should my tank be charged at? Is it as simple as adding air or is there more to it?
 
If it's a bladder tank, you should have about 2 lbs less than the cut-in pressure. So if your switch is turning the pump on at 30 and turning it off at 50, you would set the air pressure in the tank at 28 psi. You must do this after turning off the pump and draining all the water pressure from the system.
 
Thanks, My father in law was saying it needs to be charged and this and that but he knows less then I do about this and has a habit of getting in over his head with things adn I am trying to get him not to go over to the house before me. Problem is he lives five minutes away and I live two hours away.
 
speedbump said:
Are you ever going to lighten up Cary? I know you think your the only one that sells these valves and the master inventor, but it's time for you to grow up and get over it.
Click to expand...

It is important for people to get something that actually works, and not one of those bad copies that some say is “just like a Cycle Stop Valve only cheaper”. It is actually flattering that there are several companies trying to steal my patented idea. I just get tired of angry calls from people who got stuck with a bad copy, and can’t figure out why it is not working.

Using CSV’s to make pumps last longer and use smaller tanks is what I do for a living. Most people in the pump industry don’t like the CSV because it makes pumps last longer, so I will never “lighten up”. As a matter of fact, just wait, you ain’t seen nothing yet.
 
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