Spring water system water fluctuation

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Jdlibby

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I am on a springfed water system, and For the last month or so, have had issues where my water pressure disappears completely to my house for 5 to 10 minutes and then comes back. There are two mobile homes on the water system and it is a shallow water jet pump that was replaced within the past five years and a 20 gallon pressure tank, whose gauge reads 40 psi. The bladder and the pressure tank is still good and the jet pump seems to be pushing water at the correct rate, but we are still dropping water pressure to nothing at least once an hour. I haven’t done anything to the water system except add a short line for an rv over a year ago but that didn’t change the water pressure before.
 

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Just observation ... You need to replace your pressure gauge. You state the gauge reads 40 psi which implies it is mid-cycle. Your switch is probably a 30/50.
The first thing I would suggest is watch the system while using water to verify the pump starts at 30 psi and stops at 50.
Then shut the power off to the pump and use water to drain your pressure tank and the "NEW" pressure gauge goes to zero. ( You will do this when changing out the pressure gauge and can check the air pressure in the tank then ) Then check the air pressure of the tank at the shrader valve to be sure it is near two psi lower that the pump start i.e. 28 psi?

Common issues to mention: air pressure in tank wrong ... bladder in pressure tank Torn & leaking ..... the 1/4 pipe nipple connecting the pressure switch to your system has become clogged and causes irratic operation and finally ... running out of water.
 
Last edited:
If the pump was running for the 10-15 minutes the water was out, the pump probably got hot. The well could be running out of water, the suction pipe could have a air leak, or the nipple to switch is clogged. If the pump was off for those 10-15 minutes, the overload in the motor cold be tripping. Need a new gauge and monitor the gauge while replicating the problem.
 
Thank you both! I have been racking my brain for weeks but I have such a minimal knowledge of well/spring systems that I finally reached out. I will get to doing those things
 
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