[crescere]

I have a house on a well. It is the type that has a PVC pipe exiting from the ground in the back yard, and a blue holding tank in the crawl space. There is a gauge attached to the tank. My sump pump is eliminating water every two minutes and the water level in the crawl space does not seem to be diminishing. I know there is spring runoff, but this is extreme.

Is there a way to tell if my well has a leak somewhere and the water is coming up from the ground in my crawl?

 

[joecaption]

With no one using the water is the gauge dropping, and pump turning on and off on the well?

 

[Bondo]

My sump pump is eliminating water every two minutes and the water level in the crawl space does not seem to be diminishing. I know there is spring runoff, but this is extreme.

Ayuh,..... If the gauge ain't droppin', 'n the well pump ain't cyclin',....

Odds are yer grade outside the house is poor, 'n yer gettin' surface run off into the crawl space,....

 

[joed]

Turn off the breaker and shut the well pump down for while. See if the sump can catch up.
Might be a good overnight project.

 

[oh'mike]

This might mean spending a few minutes in the crawl space.

Turn off all faucets---check that the toilets aren't running.

Go down to the blue tank---there should be a pressure switch---remove the cover and watch the switch---if the pump is cycling on and off---you will see the switch moving--and you may be able to feel some vibration from the incoming pipe.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

This might mean spending a few minutes in the crawl space.

Turn off all faucets---check that the toilets aren't running.

Go down to the blue tank---there should be a pressure switch---remove the cover and watch the switch---if the pump is cycling on and off---you will see the switch moving--and you may be able to feel some vibration from the incoming pipe.

Unless the OP's hearing has failed worse than mine, the contacts are normally audible enough to hear then make and break so he probably won't need to remove the cover. oh'mikes's method is certainly more reliable than a sticking pressure gauge.

 

[crescere]

I have had well off for a week and water is still in crawl as bad as ever. The well gauge is at 14 without being on. I had my wife run all faucets, flush toilet etc. The pump clicked a couple times, but number on gauge stayed at 14. Is my gauge broken.

 

[oh'mike]

Yes, your gauge is shot---

Do you hear the pressure switch click on and off when there is no demand on the system?

 

[crescere]

Yes, your gauge is shot---

Do you hear the pressure switch click on and off when there is no demand on the system?

The only time I hear a loud CLICK, or really more of a TICK, sound is when the sink or bathtub has been on a while.

Is the gauge easily replaced? I know a little plumbing, but not much about wells.

 

[crescere]

I looked at some of the ground near where the blue tank is placed and I can actually see water streaming into the crawl. There is an actual CURRENT of water heading to the low area where I have my sump pump.

 

[Bondo]

I looked at some of the ground near where the blue tank is placed and I can actually see water streaming into the crawl. There is an actual CURRENT of water heading to the low area where I have my sump pump.

Ayuh,.... So where is it comin' from,..??

A gusher like that oughta be easy to follow to it's source,....
Much easier than the Nile, I'm sure,.....

It's either comin' from outside the house,....
or yer water pipe,....

 

[crescere]

Ayuh,.... So where is it comin' from,..??

A gusher like that oughta be easy to follow to it's source,....
Much easier than the Nile, I'm sure,.....

It's either comin' from outside the house,....
or yer water pipe,....

It is streaming up from the ground as far as I can see. The water pipe from the well comes up from the ground to the tank, and it looks fine. However if the pipe is ruptured underground I would not see it.

 

[oh'mike]

The gauge is simple to change---and available from Menards or a local plumbing shop--

You need two crescent wrenches and a roll of Teflon tape--
Turn off the pump--open a faucet to relieve the pressure--
unscrew the old gauge--Teflon tape the threads of the new one and screw it in--

Have you noticed any change in the flow of the water after the pump is shut off for a while?

 

[crescere]

Have you noticed any change in the flow of the water after the pump is shut off for a while?

No, but the water is actually streaming in a rippling current out of the ground near where the tank is. The sump is barely keeping up. The well has been off for a week.

 

[SeniorSitizen]

No, but the water is actually streaming in a rippling current out of the ground near where the tank is. The sump is barely keeping up. The well has been off for a week.

With the well being off for a week it's looking as if an Artesian has found a convenient place to surface.

But I'm no expert in that field either.

 

[Bondo]

Ayuh,... I'm still bettin' the problem starts Outdoors,....

Could be near the house, could be the whole lot or subdivision,...