Cycle Stop Valves
Pump System Questions and Answers => Frequently Asked Questions => Topic started by: New2CSV on April 23, 2015, 04:21:46 PM
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I have replaced an old 25 gallon pressure tank with the pside kick kit.
I have a 120' well with a 1/2HP 10GPM submersible pump. The well comes in to my basement via a 1'' black plastic pipe that I reduce to 3/4'' PEX.
Everything seems to be working correctly, except I don't seem to be able to adjust the constant pressure at all.
If I close the valve that provides water to the rest of my house and only open a drain valve that I installed inline with the CSV, I can get a constant 2GPM flow through a water hose and to my sump crock. The pressure gauge reads maybe 1-2PSI the whole time no matter how much a screw in (or out) the adjustment screw.
Am I doing something wrong?
Thanks.
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Sounds like you have the CSV backwards.
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I double checked the CSV the arrow on the housing is pointing in the correct direction (towards the house plumbing, away from the well).
I did install it with the red bell housing pointing toward the floor and the pressure tank pointing toward the ceiling, but I did not think that mattered.
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With the adjustment screw tightened all the way the CSV is just a piece of pipe. The pump is not producing as much as it should. Sub or jet pump?
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It's a submersible pump.
I'm thinking about unhooking the CSV and just running the pump into a bucket to see how many GPM my well is even putting out.
I got a feeling the 2GPM or so I'm getting when testing from the drain valve is all that my pump is putting out.
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I think you are right. You can remove the CSV but tightening the bolt has the same effect.
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Okay I did some additional testing.
Coming out of the CSV I get a max of 3GPM (timed with a stopwatch into a milk jug it took 20 seconds).
From the frost free spigot in our barn (I believe this T's off the well line underground before it goes into the basement), I get a max of 3GPM.
So, I think I'm getting a max of 3GPM from my well/pump.
That seems low to me.
I checked my well paperwork supposedly it's 131' deep, with a 100' pipe drop.
The pump is 1/2HP submersible (model # 4H10A05305). I think it's been in use since 1998.
With the pump turned off, I'm hitting water in my well at about 28' (using the fishing line with bobber method).
Does this mean my pump is dying?
Anything else I can check to make sure?
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I am guessing a broken pipe or a clogged screen or check valve. With all valves closed will it build any pressure?
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Yes, it does.
Under 'normal' operation the 30/50 pressure switch and pressure tank seem to be working as they should.
If the pump is running and I shut off all water usage the pressure builds in the pressure tank to 50PSI and the pump kicks out and the pressure seems to hold just fine.
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OK then. Let the pump stay off for a while, then do the flow test again. If the pump starts out pumping 10 GPM or so, then drops off to 2-3 GPM, the well is not producing as it should. If the pump just starts out a 2-3 GPM, most likely the pump screen or impeller is clogged up.
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Okay.
I will pressurize the system and turn off the water to the house this evening and let it sit all night to make sure the system is holding pressure (which I think it is) and run my flow test again first thing tomorrow morning.
From previous times I've checked the flow, it seems like the water comes out like blazes until the pressure tank is empty then the flow immediately drops to the 3GPM.
What's involved with checking/cleaning the screen and/or impeller?
Thanks for all your help with this.
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It's too bad these pumps don't have some sort of backwash feature.
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Turn the pump off. Then drain the tank. When you start the pump check to se how much comes out at first. Screen, impeller, or bad pump, either way you will have to pull it up to fix it. But never pull a pump until you have checked everything out.
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I ran the test (closed the valve to the house, turn off the well pump, opened my drain valve, drained the pressure tank, and then flipped on the well pump and filled a gallon milk jug).
It took 20 seconds (3GPM) right from the start, and stayed right at 3PGM.
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Looks like you are going to need to pull the pump.
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Yeah it is probably a pump problem. If it is a weak well, it will usually pump 10+ GPM for a few seconds at least.
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Just in case, any recommendation on a replacement pump?
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I ended up getting a Franklin Electric pump from a local well digger. I replaced the pump and the wire (it was worn through in at least one spot).
Sucker is pumping like crazy now.
I'm getting somewhere around 10-13 GPM from the drain valve/water hose in the basement.
I reset the pressure switch back to 40-60 PSI, adjusted the air pressure in the pressure tank, and adjusted the CSV to a steady 50 PSI (at 2-3 GPM flow).
Everything seems to be working as expected.
Thanks for your help!
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Thanks for the update and sorry I missed the post about what brand of pump to use. But the Franklin is as good as any. Glad you got it working.