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10-19-2017, 12:08 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Central Alberta
Posts: 8,315
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Pressure System Diagnosis
System consists of a deep well pump feeding a pressure tank with a standard switch and gauge. Lately, a noticeable pressure drop occurs when the cut-in engages. Very short, more like a pulse. Watched the pressure drawdown on the gauge, and when the cut-in engages, the dial “flickers” downward about 10 lbs (only about 1 second), then jumps back to the cut-in pressure as the pump starts. Have never noticed this “pulse” previously...what’s up?
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10-19-2017, 12:21 AM
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Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Calgary
Posts: 19,419
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The pulse you're likely seeing is from when the check valve is opening. Have you checked the pre-charge pressure on your expansion tank (to get a true reading this is the pressure when the water pump is turned off and the water has been drained, so that you're just getting the air pressure reading of the expansion tank)
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10-19-2017, 06:22 AM
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Join Date: May 2007
Location: wmu 222, member #197
Posts: 4,907
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is this pressure tank a captive air style often blue or red with air valve on it or is it a galvanized tank.
is this water pump short cycling? or does pump comes on when you turn on the tap?
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10-19-2017, 08:35 AM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Central Alberta
Posts: 8,315
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Tank is a pre-charged unit with a bladder and does not cycle when water runs so probably not water logged.
I was unaware there is a check valve but that makes some sense. Where is it? I presume if the check valve is buggered, the pressure tank will need to be replaced? I will empty the tank to confirm precharge pressure is a bit under the cut-in.
Thanks
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10-19-2017, 09:07 AM
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Join Date: Jan 2014
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If it drops 10 lbs in 1 second, chances are your bladder is no longer charged.
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"The further a society drifts from truth, the more it will hate those who speak it."--- George Orwell
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10-19-2017, 12:45 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Central Alberta
Posts: 8,315
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It drops from 30 to 20 the instant the cut-in activates ....and then back up to 30 in less than a second. Kind of looks like a new tank, switch, gauge ... get changed out. Just part of the joy of rural living.
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10-19-2017, 05:05 PM
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Join Date: Feb 2011
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Is it causing problems? Or you just don't like that the gauge drops for a fraction of a second.
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10-19-2017, 05:11 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Central Alberta
Posts: 8,315
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It is not causing problems ... started noticing it in the shower... just a “blip”, but definite drop in pressure, then return to what it was a few seconds previous. It was that symptom that had me watch the pressure gauge to see what was happening. Has not ever done this before, so is a symptom of something going wrong. Best to get on it before it fails. Found the receipt for the last time I changed the pressure tank out...in 2000.
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10-19-2017, 07:15 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Okanagan
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At what pressure does the gauge fluctuate? What pressure switch do you have ? 30/50 or 40/60? If the bladder pressure is not 2 psi lower than cut in pressure then this is usually a symptom. If cutin pressure and bladder pressure are close to each other let a few psi out of the bladder.
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10-19-2017, 07:52 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Central Alberta
Posts: 8,315
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It’s a 30-50 switch...I have bled a bit of air but really need to empty the tank to get an accurate assessment of the bladder pressure.
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10-19-2017, 08:31 PM
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Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: East Central Alberta
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I think I got it thanks to the good advice ... and a bit embarrased to say my “tinkering” without really understanding what I was doing ... was the likely problem. At some point I had “adjusted” the pressure range ... When I drained the tank, found the cut-in was lower than the bladder pressure. All reset now with bladder pressure at 28 and I set the cut-in to 32. Did I get it right?
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10-19-2017, 09:05 PM
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Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: North Okanagan
Posts: 157
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2 psi below cut in is recommended but 4 psi won't hurt.
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