Monday, January 10, 2011
UNDER PRESSURE
My water pressure is terrible.
A few months ago, I went to Home Depot and inquired and ended up buying a pressure switch that was rated 40-60 to replace my 20-40. Saturday, I went out to install it. First step was to turn off the pump and drain the pressure tank. Well, when I turned on the spigot to do that, I noticed that the pressure coming out of it was fantastic!
Change of plan.
Between the pressure tank and the line to the house, all new, replaced earlier, is the big water filtration system. Thinking now that this was what was killing my pressure, I decided as I had thought to do many times before, to plumb in a bypass on it.
Finally got out to do that today after having gotten the needed bits of fittings and such on Saturday.
Turned off the pump, drained the tank and started layout and cutting and fitting and then time to glue. Well, seems all my cans of PVC cement had dried up to one degree or another, so back to the store for a new can of cement. Fine.
Got home, glued it all up, everything fit just right, quite satisfied, turned on the pump and waited for the system to refill.
Pump kept going. And going and going... I threw the breaker. Did a few experiments and confirmed that the pump was now not working! Arg! Tried a few things, but nothing changed.
Totally bummed, I faced the fact that I was now going to have to go back to Home Depot and buy a new pump and install it, not a quick thing, and it was now 4:30, and I had barely gotten through the glue up, but no water, had to go on.
Gathered up my tools and put them in the house, got ready, and as I was going out the door, decided to give Home Depot a call. I know a couple of the plumbing guys up there and they are quite good. I got through quickly and spoke to Gary and after a moment, he said it sounded like I had lost the prime on the pump.
Uh huh...
He then quickly and clearly explained exactly where it was, and what to do, and about 5 minutes later, pump is working!
Phew.
Wrapped things up, came in, turned on the water, and all is good. Except, it is still low pressure!
Arg!
