On Thu, 3 Nov 2011 19:06:45 -0700 (PDT), Harry K
wrote:


That is the symptom my ssystem had. Problem. The 1/4" riser pipe to
the switch was so plugged with crud I had to use a drill to clear it.
It would run, over pressure before it turned off and be very slow to
start again.

I'm suspecting the riser pipe too. This water does have a lot of
minerals, which I know from the toilet buildup, which requires an acid
to remove every few months. When I replaced the tank, I found that
pipe nearly clogged too. I'm not sure about OVER pressurem because it
never went above 50lbs (actually around 47 from what I recall). I
know I tried to get it up to 55 or 60 and it would not go that high.

The bit about "spits and sputter" sounds like your well may not be
recovering or keeping up with the drawdown.

Anything is possible, but I have never had a water shortage, and this
well is nearly 500 feet deep. There is no lack of water around this
part of the country either. The spit and sputter is the water going
backwards. I'm on a hill and the well is near the lowest point. I
know several times when i was filling livestock tanks and in the house
the toilet tank begings to start filling. I guess that the lack of
pressure on the toilet fill valve opens it. So, water from uphill
goes into the toilet.

One other thought, do submercible pumps have a foot valve? Maybe the
water is flowing back into the well??????

I guess if all else fails, they do sell inline one way valves that I
could try. But I'll start with the electrical stuff first.

Thanks

Harry K