Do I need a new water pump? (Lowes, tank, prices)

[mikelom]

I just recently up-graded my water pressure tank from a 20 gallon to a 62 gallon tank. I am now noticing that my water pump takes a very long time to build up pressure between 40psi and 60psi (approx. 10 min) do I now need a bigger water pump? I have a 1/2hp one right now.
(This is a driled deep well)

Thanks

[Cornerguy1]

That depends on a lot of factors and some missing information.

How deep is your well and how deep is your foot valve?

Is your pump a submersible or a suface-mounted jet pump?

Of course you're noticing the pump running a lot longer; you have a much larger tank that needs to be filled, but 10 minutes for a 60 gallon tank is a little lengthy. A pump with larger capacity will certainly fill the tank quicker.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by mikelom

I just recently up-graded my water pressure tank from a 20 gallon to a 62 gallon tank. I am now noticing that my water pump takes a very long time to build up pressure between 40psi and 60psi (approx. 10 min) do I now need a bigger water pump? I have a 1/2hp one right now.
(This is a driled deep well)

Thanks

Why did you need more storage? What was going on?
Your pump will not pump more then the well can produce.

Does this well have a screen? Many of these question could be answered by looking on the well log. Your county will have a copy, if there is one.

[harry chickpea]

I'm wondering if the well is slow in recovering. When ours is used a lot something similar happens.

Other than the better (and more expensive) solutions that driller1 might suggest, an alternative might be a small (500 gal) cistern and a timer system on the well that pumps water out for three or four minutes, then lets it rest for twenty, and repeats the process until the cistern is full. A second pump is then used to push the water from the cistern to the house.

[mikelom]

I just recently moved to this house so I dont know a lot about it. As far as I know, The well is a drilled well and is fairly deep. The pump is a surface mounted pump and its located in my basement. There is plenty of water, its just that the pump will not pump the pressure tank above 60psi and it also takes a long time for it to get to 60psi. The reason that I put the bigger tank was because there are a lot of people using the water at the house, as I have a few rental units. I thought that this would increase the pressure. I was thinking about getting a bigger pump but im not sure if this is what I need or if there is another solution. As far as the foot valve goes I am not sure what size it is or how deep it is.

[harry chickpea]

- Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices You could use this and a pressure valve set at about 50 lbs of pressure. Putting too much pressure into pipes is not good.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by mikelom

I just recently moved to this house so I dont know a lot about it. As far as I know, The well is a drilled well and is fairly deep. The pump is a surface mounted pump and its located in my basement. There is plenty of water, its just that the pump will not pump the pressure tank above 60psi and it also takes a long time for it to get to 60psi. The reason that I put the bigger tank was because there are a lot of people using the water at the house, as I have a few rental units. I thought that this would increase the pressure. I was thinking about getting a bigger pump but im not sure if this is what I need or if there is another solution. As far as the foot valve goes I am not sure what size it is or how deep it is.

A 1/2 pump with "a lot of people using it" won't work. How to you know the well produces enough water?? In most areas they don't drill that type of well anymore. Have not for 20+ years.

Before you put any more money in this, talk to a local driller.

[mikelom]

The strange thing is, when the pressure tank was completely empty it was very fast to fill it up to about 40 psi. But from 40-60psi it takes a long time, which gets me thinking that the pump is either not strong enough to produce that much pressure or I might have another problem. Im gonna try to get someone in to take a look at it so they can give me their best guess. If I replace the pump with a bigger one, do I have to get a bigger foot valve?

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by mikelom

The strange thing is, when the pressure tank was completely empty it was very fast to fill it up to about 40 psi. But from 40-60psi it takes a long time, which gets me thinking that the pump is either not strong enough to produce that much pressure or I might have another problem. Im gonna try to get someone in to take a look at it so they can give me their best guess. If I replace the pump with a bigger one, do I have to get a bigger foot valve?

No, the size of the foot value will not change. My guess is the screen could be starting to plug. (if there is a screen) Those old wells are just not worth putting money in.

Nothing will make the well product more water than it has.

[mikelom]

Thanks everyone for the advice! I have someone coming by this weekend to take a look at the pump and well. Ill keep you posted on the findings!