Even if you’ve had your house for a long time, it’s possible that you’ve never used a well pressure switch. In fact, you may not even be aware of it until something goes wrong and you find yourself without water, you may need pump maintenance.

Concerning well pressure switches for pump maintenance

Depending on the pressure measurements inside the water system, a well pressure switch instructs the well pump to either begin or cease pumping water. The major pressure settings for these pressure switches are cut-in and cut-off. On the actual switch, these values often read 40-60, 30-50, or 20-40 in psi (pounds per square inch). The lowest value in the range is the pressure at which the pump will begin filling your water storage tank. The figure at the top of the range represents the pressure at which the pump will cease operation. You can modify these amounts based on your water supply requirements.

Depending on where and how your well system is installed on your property, the pressure switch may be positioned outside your home, in the basement, the garage, or the pool housing. Well systems with a submersible pump, for instance, will have a switch situated elsewhere than the pump, often on a line leading to the pressure tank. However, if you have a jet pump, the pressure switch will likely be located to the pump’s side.

What causes the failure of pressure switches?

Each pressure switch has a set of springs that adjust the device’s pressure, as well as wire that delivers the signal to the pump to turn it on and off as required. Over time, these springs might loosen, causing the switch to fail, or the wire can corrode, resulting in an electrical failure. The accumulation of rust or dirt might hinder the system from operating properly.

How precisely can you determine whether your pressure switch is malfunctioning and needs to be repaired or replaced?

There are three most frequent concerns with pressure switches that are faulty:

  • There is no water, and the pump does not activate to add water to the system.
  • The pump continues to cycle without ceasing its operation.
  • The pump is operational, but the water pressure is low and you are not receiving sufficient water.

Other problems than pressure switch difficulties might be causing these issues, but only a skilled well pump specialist can confirm this. Therefore, if you have any of the aforementioned issues, the pressure switch may be the cause (or part of the problem). For additional information on scheduling an appointment for North Carolina well pump maintenance, please contact our experts at Love Well and Water Works now!