Well Pump Foot Valve

ss foot values are about 20.00 bucks if you pull it replace it. Mine is a shallow well about 20 foot pump is in the house.

I don't understand how a bad foot valve would result in air entering the system? Where would air come from? The foot valve should always be under water.

Perhaps the bladder in your accumulator tank has hole in it? I could also see how cracks in pipes might allow air in also.

Semipro said:

I don't understand how a bad foot valve would result in air entering the system? Where would air come from? The foot valve should always be under water.

Perhaps the bladder in your accumulator tank has hole in it? I could also see how cracks in pipes might allow air in also.

Click to expand...

It lets the water seep back down in to the well and gets replace by air on the top side. Mine done this and lost water a couple weeks later on Thans Giving Morning! Two weeks later I found the well under my deck and a lawn full of back-hoe trench.....Wow how I would like to forget about that 2 weeks!

Some older pumps actually put some air into the line in order to keep air in the bladderless tank. It can be adjusted. It's a long shot, but still a possibility if you have an older pump.

Submersible pumps don't have a foot valve, they do have an integral check valve, but all I have seen are built into the submersible pump and not replaceable. You could cut into the line above the pump and add another check valve, however I would just do that in my basement (or wherever your service comes in) As long as your polypipe is intact then it should work just fine. You can get a swing check, which will sometimes (more times than not) make a slamming noise when the pump cuts out, or you can get what they call a non-slam spring check, little more money and a little more restriciton but no noise.

For a test, just shut the water off to your house, and watch the pressure at your pressure tank, if it drops than yes your check valve is bad, if it holds than you have other problems......the more I think about this I don't see how it could happen, once you pressure drops to 30psi or whatever your cut in is your pump should come on and pump your tank up to 50psi. There is no opportunity for air to enter the system if it remains pressurized. Maybe you already have a check valve up top and the air is entering between the 2 check valve with the lower being faulty, if this is a case you have a leak, if air can leak in, than water can more than likely leak out.

Sorry about being all over the place, mind was wandering a little while typing, any extra details you can provide may help me trouble shoot it a little more for you

-Morgan

Morgan is correct no foot valve in a submersible pump. there is a screen that could be plugged. Pump running out of water sucking air? Google is your friend. Gould did have a great trouble shooting guide on there web site a few years ago. If you cannot find anything let me know and I will try to scan the guide and post or email it to you. Good luck .

smokinjay said:

Semipro said:

I don't understand how a bad foot valve would result in air entering the system? Where would air come from? The foot valve should always be under water.

Perhaps the bladder in your accumulator tank has hole in it? I could also see how cracks in pipes might allow air in also.

Click to expand...

It lets the water seep back down in to the well and gets replace by air on the top side. Mine done this and lost water a couple weeks later on Thans Giving Morning! Two weeks later I found the well under my deck and a lawn full of back-hoe trench.....Wow how I would like to forget about that 2 weeks!

Click to expand...

I understand now. Thanks.

If your screen is plugged or your water table dropped the pump will suck air. The water can't enter fast enough.

It depends on what type of system you have. If you have a solid system with a bladder tank you should not be getting air even if there is a bad check valve or a hole in the pipe. If you have an aereated system with a galvanized tank there would be an air release valve on the side of the tank about in the middle that releases excess air. I used to work on pump systems, if you e-mail me([email protected]) your phone # i could call you and help figure out your problem.

Scott

you could also have a hole in the pipe leading down to the pump in the the casing. pull off the well cap shut off the water and listen. IF the leak is above the water table you will hear it a trickle back or hissing sound.

CT,

If the check valve at the pump is stuck open, the water in the pipe should bleed back until the pressure drops below the "turn on" setting at the pressure switch, then the pump would kick in, pressurize and shut off. This would continue to cycle in this fashion without any faucets open, and there should be no air introduced.

That is UNLESS there is a check valve placed between the well and the pressure switch. This would cause the pressure switch to "think" everything is OK and remain off. Meanwhile on the other side of the check valve the water is leaking back down and sucking air in to replace it. This type of set up is unsanitary, and illegal in Wisconsin. Check valves are not allowed between the well and the pressure switch.

You are right though, if this was caused by a clogged screen or low water level you would get the air after periods of high use, not after long rest periods.

Look for a check valve in the basement.

If you don't find one, you could pull the pump after a long rest period and see if there is water in the pipe. The water in the pipe should be right there at the pitless. If it is some feet below the pitless the check valve could be buried (ugh).

Once you've ruled out the possibilty of a misplaced check valve, I'd begin to suspect the pressure tank.

CT,

If you can imagine that air is getting into the water line, ask yourself where is the leak that is allowing the air in? And what else might be getting sucked in as well as air?

In some cases this might be fairly harmless. In other cases you have livestock manure, pet waste, septic pipes, and such that can be in the viscinity of that leak which is sucking air in, and then down into the well. Of course, what goes down one well can then show up in a neighbor's well.

As long as the pump and pressure switch are communicating properly, even if the foot valve were to stick open, the pressure in the water line will always be positive. Therefor any leaks will result in clean water squirting out rather than filthy junk getting sucked in.