water pump goes on every 45 minutes!

primal1 · #1 11/19/08, 06:48 PM

Grrrr... all of a sudden this has started happening.
I checked the pressure in the tank and it's 30lbs but water output holds at 50lbs dropping slowly.. should be ok but after a soap test i found the valve was leaking slowly... so I tried tightening the valve which turned 2 full turns and still leaks. Will the valve stop if i tighten it as far as possible? I'm guessing yes but want to be sure before i force it too much!

thanks!

agmantoo · #2 11/19/08, 10:11 PM

There is insufficient information here for me to give a good response. If the pressure is slowly dropping as you already know water is going somewhere. I have no idea where the valve is located in the system you are referring to in your statement. If the valve is at the output of the well pump the problem could be that the footvalve in the well is not seating or that you have a leak in the line from the pump to the tank if this is a submersible pump.

primal1 · #3 11/19/08, 10:23 PM

Sorry i forgot to mention that the tank is one of those balloon tanks, a balloon is inflated inside the tank for pressure, it's the air valve that leaks slowly... Question is basically can I keep tightening the air valve thingy till the leak stops... I am just worried about breaking it.

foxtrapper · #4 11/20/08, 06:35 AM

Something's not adding up right here.

The pressure tank, if the air side is loosing air, it will all be gone in fairly short order. Then the pump starts very rapid cycling as there is no air cushion. That's not what you're describing happening.

45 minute cycles is a case of the water leaking out of the pressure tank. It can be leaking in either direction; back down the well, or out a faucet or toilet.

primal1 · #5 11/20/08, 07:17 AM

I double checked all water faucets and piping and no leaks. After tightening the air valve it went from 1/2 hour to 45 minutes.
As far as going back into the well, i guess it's a possibility too but I have two huge ballseal taps(one for each well) they are both new as of this spring... I will try closing and opening them alternately and see if the pressure still drops.

Also now i will have to google to see how much air pressure is and was supposed to be in the tank.

thanks!

unioncreek · #6 11/20/08, 08:42 AM

Check what the air pressure is in the tank bladder with a tire gauge when you have emptied the water system of all pressure. If you think that the air valve is leaking remove the valve stem core and put a new one in.

Bobg

primal1 · #7 11/20/08, 08:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by unioncreek

Check what the air pressure is in the tank bladder with a tire gauge when you have emptied the water system of all pressure. If you think that the air valve is leaking remove the valve stem core and put a new one in.

Bobg

Never thought of that!! I'll try to buy a few of them later today... maybe thats the problem with 2 of the tires on my car too!!

THANKS!!

raymilosh · #8 11/20/08, 04:01 PM

Hmm.
So, yeah, if the schrader valve is leaking, remove it, put on a drop of oil and replace it and put pressure back into the tank. If it still leaks, replace it with a new one. Check to see if water comes out of the tank when you remove the valve. If it does, then replace the tank. I'm thinking the tank is OK. I'm also thinking that the valve was not leaking when you started, but began leaking the first time you tested it and it has led you to mistakenly think that it has something to do with the pump cycling.
I am just about certain that this leaking schrader valve has nothing whatsoever to do with your pump turning every so often. The problem is likely a leaking footvalve on the bottom of the pump. If you don't feel like replacing the foot valve, install a check valve inline between the pump and the pressure switch. That way, the water (and the pressure) can't go backwards past the checkvalve regardless of the leaking footvalve.
Checkvalves are cheap, too.

primal1 · #9 11/20/08, 04:52 PM

YAY, seems it was the schrader valve... it's been just shy of 2 hours since i replaced it and still no pump action!

After letting the water out the bladder was at 2 lbs, so i guess it has been leaking slowly for a while and then after i tested the pressure the first time it made the leak worse.
I am so happy it's not the footvalve, i tested both wells and they are fine.
Thanks for letting me know about the checkvalve option, never know when that info will come in handy

.

thanks all!