A Photo-Guide & Dictionary of Water Pump & Well Controls InspectAPedia® -
What are the controls, switches, valves found on well water tanks and well water pumps, what do they do, how are they repaired?
What are the functions of the well water pump pressure control switch, water tank relief valve, water tank gauge, water pump relays, water tank valves
Well pump & water tank diagnosis & repair procedures
This article describes and identifies the switches, controls, and safety devices used on water tanks and water pumps such
as the pump pressure control switch, pump motor relays, water tank relief valve, water tank pressure gauge, water
tank air volume control, and water tank air valve.
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A Dictionary of Water Pump & Water Tank Controls, Switches, & Attachments
This article uses sketches and photographs to assist in locating and identifying all of the controls and switches found on
residential water supply systems including the well, water pressure tank, water pump, and their associated valves and devices.
We also provide maintenance and repair and emergency water shutoff tips throughout these descriptions.
How to Identify Water Well, Pump, & Tank Components & Switches
In addition to the individual well, pump, and tank component photographs provided in the article below, our photograph at left has a number easy-to-identify water system components that happen to all be in one place:
The Well Casing itself is visible at the right of the photo, in the floor, to the right of the yellow shutoff valve
The black plastic well piping leading from the well casing top to a connection to galvanized piping which
then passes by the pressure control switch to a "tee" where water can flow both into the pressure tank bottom (to the
right at the tee) and into the building water supply piping (to the left of the tee)
A well casing vent can be seen as the vertical copper pipe which forms an upside down "U" shape and is
connected to a fitting on the cover of the well casing. This well vent permits air into the well during water draw-down
during pump operation.
A water treatment chemical connection, probably from a chlorine injection system (this well water
is probably contaminated with bacteria) can be seen as a clear plastic small diameter tube which is fed through a
gray plastic tee in the black plastic well piping that connects the well itself to the galvanized pipe
leading to the water tank and house supply piping. At the upper right in the photo se see two treatment
tank bottoms (black and white smaller diameter tank-like objects partly shown).
Well pump wiring is also visible: twisted wires can be seen entering the well casing cap at the 1-o'clock
position on the cap - so we know that this water system uses a submersible (in the well) water pump.
A water softener or other water treatment system is probably installed besides a chlorine injection system, since
we see in the photo's upper right the bottom of two treatment tanks, and because in the upper left of the photo
we see a somewhat larger diameter clear plastic tube running right to left and probably serving as a backwash drain
tube for a water softener or other water treatment device
Water on the floor around the water tank and equipment looks like more than we'd find from simple
condensation drips - we suspect there's a leak somewhere or a basement water entry problem that needs to be corrected.
NO RELIEF VALVE is visible in this photo - one should have been installed and may be missing. This is a safety defect and in some jurisdictions a plumbing code violation.
Guide to Identification of the Water System Components Shown in the Page Top Sketch
The page top sketch is expanded by detailed photographs as we explain each of the components and controls of wells, pumps, and water tanks.
In our sketch (sorry the author is a technician but not an artist), you can identify the basic components of a private well system (listed next)
but as you'll see in our detailed articles and photos which follow, these components are not always located where they're as easy to
spot and name as in our drawing.
Air valve (Label #7) or "Schrader valve" (looks like a tire valve). The water tank air valve shown in this photo is one that you should not normally have to use as it's installed on a captive air or bladder type water tank.
On water tanks that do not use an internal bladder, the air valve, or Schrader valve, used to add air to the water tank can be seen in this photo. Details are at TANK AIR INLET VALVE. At WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD we discuss adding the right amount of air to a non-bladder steel or glass-lined well tank. And at WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT we discuss fine tuning the pump pressure control switch to work perfectly with the exact air pressure pre-charge in a bladder type well tank.
Air volume control(Label #6) and copper or plastic tube connecting the AVC to the water pump or a fitting nearby.
Check Valves on water piping, well pumps, wells. Check valves prevent back-flow of water through piping for any of several reasons such as preventing loss of well pump prime by a check valve located at an above-ground water pump or at the water pressure tank - see CHECK VALVES
Foot Valves on well piping are located on the bottom of the well piping, inside the water well. The foot valve helps prevent loss of prime in the well pump and piping system when the pump stops running - see FOOT VALVES
Gauge (Label #3)- Water tank pressure gauge. The water pressure gauge on home water systems is one of the most helpful and simple devices used in diagnosing poor water pressure and pump, well, or pump control problems.
This gauge has broken cover and needs replacement. See WATER TANK PRESSURE GAUGE for water pressure gauge explanation and repair advice.
Piping (Labeled "from pump & well" at left) - Well piping bringing water from the well to the water pressure tank and building. See WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING
Piping (Labeled "to house fixtures" at right )- Building water supply piping a main water line leaving the water pressure tank and bringing water to the building and its fixtures. See Water pipe clog diagnosis and Water pipe clog repair guide
Low Water Cutoff for the Well Pump - Many sources, including the Penn State School of Forest Resources recommend installing a low water cutoff device to protect a well pump that has to operate in an inadequate or low-yield well. That resource describes an electrical low-water cutoff switch. A low water sensing device to protect a well pump may be installed in an intermediate water storage tank, for example. If your well pump has stopped running and an electric low water cutoff switch is installed you'll want to check that the switch is working properly. Details about electric and other low water cutoff devices to protect the well pump from damage are described in detail at WATER PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
Pump- Water pump either at or close to the water pressure tank or located separately in a well pit (not shown in this sketch) or in the well itself (shown as pump at far center right in sketch at the top of this page). the water pump shown in this photo is installed right on top of the water tank and it is easily identified as a "one line jet pump" since we see only a single pipe entering the pump from the well - the black ABS piping coming into the pump from its lower left.
The outlet of this one line jet water pump is the copper pipe at upper right of the blue pump assembly. If you do not see a water pump anywhere in the building, and if the property does not use an outdoor well pit or well house, then your well water pump is probably a submersible unit.
Relay Switch - Pump relay (Drawn as box at right center in sketch) turns on and off a higher-voltage water pump such as some submersible pumps (not present on all water systems).
The water pump relay switch is a heavy-duty switch that turns on and off a submersible water pump. Some lower ampacity submersible well water pumps may be switched on and off directly by the pump pressure control switch.)
Shown here is a Homart submersible well pump relay switch. You can see a Gould™ submersible water pump relay switch mounted on the wall in the photograph below titled Tank (Label #1) - water tank.
For details about the water pump relay switch, its use, inspection, and repair, See WATER PUMP RELAY SWITCH
Relief Valve (Label #2) - pressure relief valve on the water tank.
Water tank relief valves (red arrow in photo) were omitted by lots of plumbers installing pump, tank, and well systems, but most plumbing codes and local codes require a pressure relief valve on any tank which contains something under pressure, including a home water tank.
Should the water tank rupture, even at fairly low pressures, a bystander could be hurt or even killed.
This happened to a plumber in New York state, making pressure relief valve believers out of plumbers in the area.
Shutoff (Label #5) - Main water shutoff valve.
A main water shutoff valve, in this case the blue lever labeled "WATER" with white tape is shown to the left of the pressure gauge and pressure tank drain valve in our photograph (white arrow).
Switch, pressure (Label #4) - Water tank and pump pressure control switch. The well water pump pressure control switch is the "brain" of a home pump and well system, sensing the water pressure in the building and controlling the turn-on (at low pressure or "cut-in" pressure) and turn-off (at high pressure or "pump cut-out" pressure) of the water pump itself.
All home water pumps use some type of pressure control switch to turn the water pump on and off.
How to Adjust Water Pump Pressure: The detailed, step by step procedure for inspecting and adjusting the water pressure control switch is
discussed in detail at ADJUST PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL.
Diagnosing Water Pump Short Cycling on and off: If your water pump is clicking on and off too often or quite rapidly see SHORT CYCLING.
Diagnosing Water Pressure Drops without explanation when the pump stops, see Water Pressure Falls Slowly, Erratic Pumping: bad pressure control switch, building water running or leak, bad pressure gauge, bad check valve, bad foot valve.
Diagnosing & Repairing Lost Air in the Water Tank: The problem of lost air in the water pressure tank along with how to correct that condition are discussed beginning at SIGNS OF AIR LOSS. At WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD we discuss adding the right amount of air to a non-bladder steel or glass-lined well tank. And at WATER TANK BLADDER PRESSURE ADJUSTMENT we discuss fine tuning the pump pressure control switch to work perfectly with the exact air pressure pre-charge in a bladder type well tank.
Diagnosing & Repairing a Water Pressure Control or Water Pump Control Switch: We discuss diagnosing and repairing a water pressure control switch that sticks "on" or "off" or simply won't operate, at water pump Pressure Switch Repairs
Tailpiece - in the well: The tailpiece is an extension on the bottom of well piping (blue) in our drawing at left.
When the well pump's capacity is known to exceed the flow rate of the well, a tail pipe, tail piece, or low water cutoff control is installed to protect the pump from damage such as that caused by well pump cavitation or motor overheating.
Tank (Label #1) - water tank: The water pressure tank showing air in the upper portion and water in the lower portion of the tank. The water pressure tank in most buildings has the job of smoothing the pressure and flow of delivery of water to the building.
At a property whose water well has very limited recovery rate or flow rate, the water tank may be larger, or there may be several of them installed.
In this case the water tank is also storing a buffer quantity of water for use in the home so that the poor well delivery rate does not directly affect the occupants in the building.
Tee (Label #2) - Bronze tee and water tank pressure relief valve (not always present, but a relief valve should always be installed - add one if it's missing.
You can see the bronze water tank tee (blue arrow) attached to the bottom of a water tank, and providing a plumbing connection point for a water tank gauge (green arrow), pressure relief valve (red arrow), and a tank drain valve (yellow arrow) all mounted in this photograph. See TANK RELIEF VALVE
Detailed descriptions of individual water system parts and controls, valves, switches, pumps, piping, etc., how they work, how to diagnose, repair, or replace them are provided in the remaining chapters of this article and are listed just below.
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Additional technical contributors & reference sources for this article are listed below.
Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.
Class 9013 Square D Commercial Pressure Switches: Water Pump Pressure Control Switch Class 9013, Type F, G, Manual, Square D Company, 8001 Highway 64 East, Knightdale, NC 27545-9023, USA, (919) 266-3671, www.squared.com,
web search 02/24/2011, original source: stevenengineering.com/tech_support/PDFs/45COM.pdf. Quoting:
The Type FSG, FYG, FRG - PUMPTROL® Water Pump Pressure Switches are used to control Water Pump Pressure Switches are used to control
electrically driven water pumps and have the following features:
The Type FSG is the standard water pump switch, suitable for all types of pumps: jets, submersible,
reciprocating, etc.
The Type FYG is designed to meet higher horsepower and pressure requirements.
The Type FRG is reverse acting: the contacts open on falling pressure.
All are diaphragm actuated.
The Type G - PUMPTROL® Commercial/Light Industrial Pressure Switch is used to control electrically
driven water pumps and air compressors. It has higher electrical ratings for direct control of motors in
pump and compressor applications. The Type G switch is diaphragm actuated and has contacts that
open on rising pressure.
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Water Supply & Drain Piping, Wells, Pumps, Water Supply Equipment
Access Water Energy, PO Box 2061, Moorabbin, VIC 3189, Australia, Tel: 1300 797 758, email: sales@accesswater.com.au Moorabbin Office: Kingston Trade Centre, 100 Cochranes Rd, Moorabbin, VIC 3189
Australian supplier of: Greywater systems, Solar power to grid packages, Edwards solar systems, Vulcan compact solar systems, water & solar system pumps & controls, and a wide rage of above ground & under ground water storage tanks: concrete, steel, plastic, modular, and bladder storage tanks.
Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
Smart Tank, Installation Instructions [ copy on file as /water/Smart_Tank_Flexcon.pdf ] - , Flexcon Industries, 300 Pond St., Randolph MA 02368, www.flexconind.com, Tel: 800-527-0030 - web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://www.flexconind.com/pdf/st_install.pdf
Typical Shallow Well One Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect_Jet_Pumps_1.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Typical Deep Well Two Line Jet Pump Installation [ copy on file as /water/Jet_Pump_Grove_Elect.pdf ] - , Grove Electric, G&G Electric & Plumbing, 1900 NE 78th St., Suite 101, Vancouver WA 98665 www.grovelectric.com - web search -7/15/2010 original source: http://www.groverelectric.com/howto/38_Typical%20Jet%20Pump%20Installation.pdf
Water Fact Sheet #3, Using Low-Yielding Wells [ copy on file as /water/Low_Yield_Wells_Penn_State.pdf ] - , Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences, Cooperative Extension, School of Forest Resources, web search 07/24/2010, original source: http://pubs.cas.psu.edu/FreePubs/pdfs/XH0002.pdf
Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.
Books & Articles on Building & Environmental Inspection, Testing, Diagnosis, & Repair
Our recommended books about building & mechanical systems design, inspection, problem diagnosis, and repair, and about indoor environment and IAQ testing, diagnosis, and cleanup are at the InspectAPedia Bookstore. Also see our Book Reviews - InspectAPedia.
The Home Reference Book - the Encyclopedia of Homes, Carson Dunlop & Associates, Toronto, Ontario, 2010, $69.00 U.S., is available from Carson Dunlop, and from the InspectAPedia bookstore. The 2010 edition of the Home Reference Book is a bound volume of more than 450 illustrated pages that assist home inspectors and home owners in the inspection and detection of problems on buildings. The text is intended as a reference guide to help building owners operate and maintain their home effectively. InspectAPedia.com ® author/editor Daniel Friedman is a contributing author. Field inspection worksheets are included at the back of the volume.
Crystal Clear Supply provides portable ceramic water filter purifiers and portable reverse osmosis water treatment equipment - see http://www.crystalclearsupply.com/category_s/7.htm
Handbook of Disinfectants and Antiseptics, Joseph M. Ascenzi (Editor), CRC, 1995, ISBN-10: 0824795245 ISBN-13: 978-0824795245 "The evaluation of chemical germicides predates the golden age of microbiology..." -
This well-focused, up-to-date reference details the current medical uses of antiseptics and disinfectants -- particularly in the control of hospital-acquired infections -- presenting methods for evaluating products to obtain regulatory approval and examining chemical, physical, and microbiological properties as well as the toxicology of the most widely used commercial chemicals.
Potable Aqua® emergency drinking water germicidal tablets are produced by the Wisconsin Pharmacal Co., Jackson WI 53037. 800-558-6614 pharmacalway.com
Principles and Practice of Disinfection, Preservation and Sterilization (Hardcover)
by A. D. Russell (Editor), W. B. Hugo (Editor), G. A. J. Ayliffe (Editor), Blackwell Science, 2004. ISBN-10: 1405101997, ISBN-13: 978-1405101998.
"This superb book is the best of its kind available and one that will undoubtedly be useful, if not essential, to workers in a variety of industries. Thirty-one distinguished specialists deal comprehensively with the subject matter indicated by the title ... The book is produced with care, is very readable with useful selected references at the end of each chapter and an excellent index. It is an essential source book for everyone interested in this field. For pharmacy undergraduates, it will complement the excellent text on pharmaceutical microbiology by two of the present editors."
The Pharmaceutical Journal: "This is an excellent book. It deals comprehensively and authoritatively with its subject with contributions from 31 distinguished specialists. There is a great deal to interest all those involved in hospital infection ... This book is exceptionally well laid out. There are well chosen references for each chapter and an excellent index. It is highly recommended." The Journal of Hospital Infection.: "The editors and authors must be congratulated for this excellent treatise on nonantibiotic antimicrobial measures in hospitals and industry ... The publication is highly recommended to hospital and research personnel, especially to clinical microbiologists, infection-control and environmental-safety specialists, pharmacists, and dieticians."
New England Journal of Medicine: City Hospital, Birmingham, UK. Covers the many methods of the elimination or prevention of microbial growth. Provides an historical overview, descriptions of the types of antimicrobial agents, factors affecting efficacy, evaluation methods, and types of resistance. Features sterilization methods, and more. Previous edition: c1999. DNLM: Sterilization--methods.
U.S. Army Field Manual 21-10, Field Hygiene and Sanitation, 1988, web search 07/02/2010, original source: http://www.enlisted.info/field-manuals/fm-21-10-field-hygiene-and-sanitation.shtml The purpose of this manual is to assist individual soldiers, unit commanders, leaders and field sanitation teams in preventing disease and environmental injuries. The manual provides information on preventive medicine measures (PMM) to the individual soldier as well as essential information for the unit commander, unit leaders, and the unit field sanitation team on applying unit level PMM.
When Technology Fails, Matthew Stein, Chelsea Green Publisher, 2008,493 pages. ISBN-10: 1933392452 ISBN-13: 978-1933392455, "... how to find and sterilize water in the face of utility failure, as well as practical information for dealing with water-quality issues even when the public tap water is still flowing". Mr. Stein's website is www.whentechfails.com/
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