Pump sometimes cycles on and off when restarting

[SteveHanna]

Just had a new jet pump installed. Now when pressure gets to 30psi it rapidly cycles on and off for up to 15 seconds before staying on and pumping water. What causes the cycling and how do I get to stop?

Thanks.

 

[Valveman]

Pressure switch is too far from the pressure tank.

 

[SteveHanna]

Pressure switch is connected to pump, right next to pressure gauge. Kinda looks like like factory intended it that way. Hose is perfect length. The tank is about 6' of piping away from pump. Would I have to tap tank and run hose to it? Or could I tap pipe leading into tank?

 

[Valveman]

6' is too far. I don't know why they put a pressure switch on the side of jet pumps? They all have that problem. Put a tee at the base of the tank and either run the hose from the pressure switch to that tee, or just install a normal 1/4" pressure switch and wire around the one on the side of the motor. I have a drawing to attach. Use the wiring for "jet pump" when using an auxiliary switch.

 

[SteveHanna]

Thanks. Will work on it this week.

 

[wpns]

Classic symptoms of the precharge not being a few PSI less than the cut-in pressure of the switch. Either adjust the switch upwards or drop the precharge in the tank.

 

[Valveman]

Yeah your tank could be water logged or have too much air. But if it has too much air, the diaphragm in the tank is probably bad as the air side pressure doesn't increase on its own. But most of those tanks come with 38 PSI air and you only need 28 PSI. so, if it wasn't corrected during the install that might be the problem.

 

[SteveHanna]

Moving pressure switch hose connection from pump head to pressure tank solved my problem. Thanks for all your help.