well pump pressure switch

[scf84]

having trouble with the pressure switch.
this is the one with the switch on the side like an air compressor. some times it will kick on at 30 psi and some times it will not kick in at all. have tried 2 switches, both give me trouble. any ideas?

 

[M5farm]

Your points are getting burnt up. Use an Emory board to clean them. I keep a spare and I believe it's a square d pressure switch. They don't make e'm like they used too.

 

[dun]

When we've had that problem it;s always been ants in the switch

 

[Jogeephus]

Agree on the points. Might not be in Tennessee but here we have a sugar ant that for some reason loves to get on wires and they will follow the wire to the points. The ants will hasten the burning up of points and it is well worth keeping the wires dusted with that powder stuff that cuts them. I forget the name.

edit: :lol2: :lol2: Well they are in Missouri so I suspect they are in Tennessee as well.

 

[Hook]

Diatomaceous earth

At least you guys aren't digging up your septic tanks lift pump like I am tomorrow.

 

[Jogeephus]

Diatomaceous earth

That's it. Seems to last longer than insecticide.

 

[scf84]

this is a low pressure switch. just replaced week ago.
just done it again in middle of shower. go out to well house and the switch is on auto, but the contacts never moved. i have to move the lever up to start, and it will kick in. the pressure tank is around 5 years old. i think this switch is worse than the old one i just took off. always hada little trouble, but nothing like this.

 

[M5farm]

Never seen a pump switch with a lever until is saw these. All of the ones Ive seen with the lever are for air compressors.
.http://www.lowes.com/Search=presure+swi ... re+switch#!

I use the ones with out a lever and might have to change it out every other year.

 

[hurleyjd]

Never tried it but was told you could trim a piece from a ear fly tag and place under the cover and that would keep the ants. Fire ants will pack in the switches.

 

[Orerancher]

Have You checked the air pressure in Your tank? Too low will make the pump switch act like what Your talkin about...

 

[backhoeboogie]

this is a low pressure switch. just replaced week ago.
just done it again in middle of shower. go out to well house and the switch is on auto, but the contacts never moved. i have to move the lever up to start, and it will kick in. the pressure tank is around 5 years old. i think this switch is worse than the old one i just took off. always hada little trouble, but nothing like this.

I've got one of the pump that only works above 20 PSI. Think it is set for 40 to 60. If pressure gets below 25 or so, it stays open to protect the pump from run out. It sure sounds like this is what you have. Hold the lever until you get above your low setting. You should be able to release the lever then and it should drop in and drop out on normal. If you have a power outage you will have to do this again. The bright side is you'll never burn up a pump from run out.

 

[bbirder]

Have You checked the air pressure in Your tank? Too low will make the pump switch act like what Your talkin about...

X2

 

[dun]

Never tried it but was told you could trim a piece from a ear fly tag and place under the cover and that would keep the ants. Fire ants will pack in the switches.

I just put out those Terro ant bait stations under the light switches that aren't the external sealed kind and one in the pump house. Ant problems have dropped to zero since I started doing it. New trap in the middle of summer and one in the spring has taken care of it.

 

[pdfangus]

check the nipple the pressure switch is mounted on....they will get clogged and the switch cannot read the pressure....
I always replace the nipple when I replace the switch....

 

[mwj]

Backhoe nailed the problem with it being the '' safety'' type switch. Throw it as far as you can and get a regular switch! When you mount the new switch make very sure that you clean out all of the crap crud and rust out of the fittings the switch mounts in so it can sense the pressure change in the system.

 

[Craig Miller]

check the nipple the pressure switch is mounted on....they will get clogged and the switch cannot read the pressure....
I always replace the nipple when I replace the switch....

Thats where id start.

 

[Ouachita]

It's your tank pressure. We use the same type switch, commonly called a safety switch switch or low pressure switch. We use it because the well that serves our house only produces about 2 gallons a minute. I've only replaced one in 17 years.

 

[Hook]

2 gallons a minute? You gotta run around in the shower to get wet? Lol

 

[Ouachita]

2 gallons a minute? You gotta run around in the shower to get wet? Lol

After 17 years we've learned a lot about water conservation. (From a personal perspective, not a greenie slant)
Actually 2 gallons a minute is plenty for just household use, as long as you mind your time. We have another water well we use for garden and stock. This low output well we have for the house was not what we wanted, but the water is so good we have made other accommodations for extra water. This situation has given me some knowledge of low pressure/no water, and that is why we have a "safety switch". The first few months we ran the pump dry several dozen times before we changed from the the standard switch to a low pressure cut-out switch. I think it has saved us a lot of money. We pump dry several times a year. The switch shuts the pump off when it drops below 28psi.
17 years same well pump. 17 years on the second switch. Not bad I think. It does suck having to go out to the well house and reset the switch, but he!! It's still easier than maintaining an outhouse.
Hook, just so you know, minding my water has taught me a great deal about how precious a resource it is. I'm glad my youngest children have grown up having to mind the well/water. It's amazing how the thought of being without will change the way you manage, and how you think and fight for the most base of rights; Water.

 

[Hook]

Just don't tell me your share your bath water. Lol b