I'm dealing with a well that provides water for my irrigation system, but I've run into a problem. The pump doesn't seem to build any pressure when the sprinklers are on, which wasn't an issue last summer. I don't have much info about the well's size or depth since it was already here when we moved in. It's a 2-wire system connected to a 20-amp breaker. I replaced the pressure switch recently, but now the pump runs continuously without refilling the pressure tank. I've tested the voltage and continuity, and everything seems fine. What could be wrong? I've really tried to avoid pulling the pump up!
4 Answers
It sounds like your sprinklers might just be using more water than the well can keep up with. If the water table is low or if the well is a bit shallow, that could definitely cause the issue you're facing. Any chance it's been drier this summer?
Just a heads up, pumps create flow, not pressure. If you're not getting enough pressure, it might be worth looking into restricting the flow a bit more to create the pressure you want.
Have you checked if the pressure settings on the switch are correct? The pressure in the bladder of the tank needs to match with what the switch is set for. That might be affecting the pump's ability to refill the tank!
Yeah, I've got a 20/40 switch and confirmed the tank's air pressure is right at 18 psi when empty. It's even a new tank as I replaced the old one last year due to a bad bladder.
It could also be that you need a larger pressure tank. If it's too small, it won't hold enough water to maintain the pressure you need when the sprinklers are running.
Interestingly, we've had more rain than usual this year, so I'm not sure what's happening.