Why Does My Pump Keep Kicking on and Off?

January 26, 2021 4:58 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Many people in North Carolina rely on wells to provide their homes with water. If you have a well, you’re bound to notice something is wrong if the well pump is constantly cycling on and off. This is called short cycling. Before you can repair a short cycling well pump, you have to know what’s causing it. Here are some of the common causes so you can schedule well pump repair in Monroe, NC.

Loss of air charge

If you notice your well pump is short cycling, chances are you have a loss of air charge. This is probably the most common issue people have that causes their well pumps to short cycle, especially if you have an older, non-bladder kind of water pressure tank. A good way to tell if this is what is causing your problem is to check out the condensation line. If the condensation line is in the upper 70 percent of the tank, you don’t have enough air, and that’s probably what’s causing your pump to kick on and off.

Air volume control valve issues

A loss of air charge in your tank is most often caused by an air volume control valve that is dirty or leaking. If you have a short cycling well pump caused by loss of air charge, the first thing you should do is check your air volume control valve and clean it if it’s dirty. Once it’s clean, you can pump air into the tank using a bicycle pump on the water tank air inlet valve. You may also need to drain some water so you have enough air space. Doing all of this should stop your well pump from short cycling.

Overcharging

If your tank is not low on air but you still have short cycling issues with your well pump, there’s a chance you have too much air. This is called overcharging. Overcharging can damage your water tank or even break the bladder, so if you think your system is overcharged, make sure you turn it off, release the water and reset the air charge to the proper pressure.

Faulty water pump control switch

Sometimes the problem is not with the air pressure at all. If your air levels look good, you might have a clogged or broken water pump pressure control switch. This happens when your water has a high mineral content or has a lot of silt or other debris floating in it. You may need to replace the switch if this happens, but you should check with your well pump repair technician in Monroe, NC to see if they can repair it for you.

Pipe problems

Water supply piping can also become clogged, causing your well pump to short cycle. Check the water filter to see if it’s dirty or blocked. If so, replacing it might help your well pump to stop turning on and off in a short cycle.

Don’t wait to address the problem

If your well pump is short cycling, be sure to address the issue as soon as possible so it doesn’t get worse. If none of these solutions work, or if you don’t feel comfortable messing with air pressure or pump parts, you should contact the professionals at Love Well & Pump Supply. We offer inspections and emergency services for well pump repairs in North Carolina if you need them. Contact us today to learn more or schedule service.

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