Home well pump - pressure leak issues

[ChuckD]

I noticed that my home well pump kicks on about every 5 minutes when there's no faucets turned on. I shut down the main valve to the house, and I watch the pressure gauge slowly fall until the pump turns on again. There's no obvious leaks inside the house (since I shut the main valve down), so it must be underground?

I do have a red, outdoor water faucet in the yard near the well pump. It's not on, no obvious leaks, etc..

It seems like a semi-slow leak. Hoping it's not a busted underground well line...

Has anyone seen this before? Just curious as I don't want to get a backhoe involved to dig this up.

I plan to contact the well company, but thought I'd ask here first.

[gonfishn95]

Not sure on your system, so here is what it sounds like, if you have a check valve that is by tank or pump I would first check it. It is designed to hold pressure in system when pump not running, sounds like leaking back into well.

A foot valve is the other check in a system only problem with that it is down on the end of well if you have a casing.

Then the worst case you already know.

[Hot Runr Guy]

If you have a deep well (submersible) pump, go see if the area around the pump head is wet. A few years ago, I had the plastic pipe fail at the connection to the pitless adaptor, which is where the piping makes the 90 degree turn to head toward the house. The good news is, the pump did not need to be pulled, the bad news is I had to dig a big enough hole to reach it for the repair.
HRG

[jrems]

I would not necessarily trust the shut off valve, as they can erode and allow a small amount of water through. You could check at closest valve. If the tank is in the house, that could also be the issue. There should be an air valve. Check it to see that there is no water coming out when Schrader valve is depressed. If you have water the tank is shot (diaphram has ripped making a waterlogged tank) the air pressure in the tank at the Scrader valve should be 2# less than the cut in of the pressure switch. As you let air out to check for water, you would have to pump back upThis will cause cycling as well. You could have had an air leak, little gremlins listening to the cool hiss, or a bad air valve> I guess I should have started with if its a diaphram type tank which the greatest bulk have been for the last 20 years.

About 10 years ago (my house and well was 30 yr. old at the time) I had a similar problem.

When I opened the top of the well head I could see a small stream of water leaking from one of the galvanized fittings connecting the plastic pipe to the pitless adapter. It was spraying water against the inside of the well pipe. Pump would cycle about every 5 minutes.

Well repair man had to pull the well and pipe up a few feet to replace some rusted fittings which took care of the problem. Cost about $150 if I remember correctly.

[wallymn99]

could be your pressrue tank too i would think. Those bladders don't last that long. I would check that first as its an easy cheap fix. Take a tire gauge and see what its pressure is and if it falls.

[Modog]

Originally Posted by MK lowly guest

About 10 years ago (my house and well was 30 yr. old at the time) I had a similar problem.

When I opened the top of the well head I could see a small stream of water leaking from one of the galvanized fittings connecting the plastic pipe to the pitless adapter. It was spraying water against the inside of the well pipe. Pump would cycle about every 5 minutes.

Well repair man had to pull the well and pipe up a few feet to replace some rusted fittings which took care of the problem. Cost about $150 if I remember correctly.

I had the exact same thing happen to mine. Must be a common problem...

[Jerryv]

You say you closed the main valve. Is that between the well and the pressure tank or between the pressure tank and the house? If it is between the well and the pressure tank then the leak is probably in the house somewhere. If it is between the pressure tank and the house then the leak is probably in the well.

If the pump turns on every 5 minutes then it is a substantial leak unless your pressure tank is waterlogged. I think you would have found a flooded area unless it is in the well. I had a well pipe rust through in the old well at my house. A friend of mine had the check valve in his pump fail. Both caused similar symptoms.

Jerry

[ChuckD]

The main valve is beyond the pressure tank...between the pressure tank and the plumbing to the entire house.

The house lines are not the issue. I lose pressure with the main valve turned off.

I don't see a check valve anywhere, so it's either in/near the well or I don't know what to look for.

I haven't had time to pull the cover off the well to have look, but I will soon.

The air bladder inside the pressure tank is fine. It's holding good pressure when there is no pressure in the entire system. I'm losing complete pressure shutting the well pump down with the breaker switch.

Time for a professional if I can't find the obvious. Thanks for the help and all the suggestions!

Most submersible pumps have an integral check valve but there is often a second check valve near the inlet of the pressure tank. The one on my system is brass, about 2" diameter and 4" long and is installed in line with the black plastic line from the pump about a foot or two back from the P-tank.

If you don't have a check valve between the basement wall and the pressure tank, you may only have the one in the pump. The system may be draining back into the well if the pump check valve is faulty or if it has sucked up sand or debris.

Good luck.