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CB in central NY 07-13-2012 10:39:53 216.81.94.78 Report to Moderator	I have a shallow-well pump in my house that brings water in from a concrete cistern about 200 feet away on the other side of a town road. The cistern fills from a spring by gravity and the excess goes to an overflow pipe. In the house there is a bladder tank. A few weeks ago I noticed what sounded like air in the system when the pump kicks on. It is especially noticeable at the start of the cycle (bottom of pressure) and then it goes away. The other strange thing is that when I run my garden hose the problem is worse than if I run a faucet or a shower. One time the pump stopped bringing in water altogether, so I took it apart, cleaned it, put it back together, and it has worked OK since. It's a Flotec 1/2-horse pump. I am getting an overhaul kit to replace the innards (gaskets, etc.) but I am wondering if there might be other issues. My first though was a break in the supply pipe, but I don't think so since it's all underground and I do not seem to lose prime. Ideas are appreciated. Thanks in advance. [Reply]   [No Email]
Chris Jones 07-13-2012 15:48:29 98.26.240.6 Report to Moderator	Re: O.T. - House water pump in reply to CB in central NY, 07-13-2012 10:39:53   If you have water running from the overflow pipe for the cistern then it shouldn't be low water level. But re-reading your post, you didn't actually say there was currently water running out the overflow. If there isn't then, I'd check to see that the inlet pip is well below water level when the pump is on. Of course I'd still think it would loose prime but it could be so close it's only getting a bit of air and not enough to loose prime. [Reply]  [No Email]
Russ from MN 07-13-2012 14:46:26 97.25.251.4 Report to Moderator	Re: O.T. - House water pump in reply to CB in central NY, 07-13-2012 10:39:53   I sounds like you are running out of water, you need to go look in the cistern when this happens. Our son had this happen last winter, his well was running low. He continued to use it until it damaged the seal in his pump, good-ol dad fixed it for him! He got by all winter by conserving water and now the well is full. [Reply]  [No Email]
Chris Jones 07-13-2012 12:57:31 98.26.240.6 Report to Moderator	Re: O.T. - House water pump in reply to CB in central NY, 07-13-2012 10:39:53   Are you sure the bladder doesn't have a leak and is letting air into the water? There are 2 ways I can think of to tell. First is to watch the pressure gauge while it goes down and the pump cuts in and it goes up and the pump cuts off. When the bladder fails and enough water gets above it in the tank--water being impressionable--the pump will only come on very briefly and then the pressure will be up to cut off then very little water will be used and the pressure will be down to pump cut in. If this is the case drain the tank. If you can feel water still sloshing in it or the weight of water in it but it's not coming out it's because it's leaked in and replaced air above the bladder. If a water line is broke before the pump I'm with you in that I'd think It'd loose prime. Then again the tank only holds so much air above the bladder. It doesn't sound like your well setup would be low on water and again if it dipped below the intake for the pump I'd think it'd loose prime. Good luck! [Reply]  [No Email]
El Toro 07-13-2012 11:01:16 108.3.148.85 Report to Moderator	Re: O.T. - House water pump in reply to CB in central NY, 07-13-2012 10:39:53   That cistern may be getting low on water causing the pump to suck air. It's very dry here in ne MD I think Baltimore gets water at times from the Susquehanna river. Hal [Reply]  [No Email]