Well, how often should that there well pump be cyclin’? That’s a question ain’t it? It’s like askin’ how many times a hen should peck before she lays an egg. It depends, see? But I’ll tell ya what I know, no fancy talk, just plain sense.
First off, what’s this cyclin’ business anyway? It’s just the pump turnin’ on and off, like a breath, in and out. It sucks up water from the ground and pushes it into your pipes, so you can wash your hands, take a shower, and water them tomatoes. But if it’s breathin’ too fast, too often, that’s trouble. Like a dog pantin’ on a hot day, somethin’ ain’t right.
Now, they call it “short cyclin’” when it turns on and off too much. It’s like a hiccup, it just keeps goin’ and goin’. And let me tell ya, that ain’t good for the pump. It wears it out quicker than a pair of cheap shoes. It’s like constantly slammin’ a door, sooner or later somethin’s gonna break. So, how often should it cycle really? Well, there ain’t a hard and fast number, but longer is better.
- A good long cycle, that’s what you want. Means the pump fills up the tank good and proper, then rests a while. Like a good nap after a hard day’s work.
- Short little bursts, that’s bad. Means somethin’s wrong, and you gotta figure it out quick. Like a baby cryin’, you gotta find out what’s ailin’ it.
So, why does this here pump go crazy and start short cyclin’? Lots of reasons, like a pot boilin’ over for different reasons. Maybe the water level in the well is low. Like a creek dryin’ up in the summer, not enough water to go around. If there ain’t enough water down there, the pump sucks it dry quick and then shuts off. Then a little bit seeps back in, and the pump kicks on again. And it keeps doin’ that, over and over, like a broken record.
Another thing, that pressure tank, the one that sits in your basement or well house, it could be the culprit. That tank is supposed to have air in it, like a balloon. The air cushion helps regulate the pressure and makes the pump run longer. But sometimes, that air leaks out, or the tank gets waterlogged. Then it’s like tryin’ to blow up a balloon with a hole in it, it just don’t work right. If the tank is full of water, the pressure builds up too fast and the pump shuts off quick. Then the pressure drops and it starts again. And so it goes, short cyclin’ all day long.
And don’t forget about that there pressure switch. It’s like the brain of the whole operation, tellin’ the pump when to turn on and off. If that switch is wonky, it can make the pump do all sorts of crazy things. It could be set wrong, or it could be just plain worn out. Like a light switch that flickers, sometimes it works, sometimes it don’t.
Sometimes, it’s just air in the lines, like a burp stuck in your pipes. That air can make the pressure go up and down, foolin’ the pump into thinkin’ it needs to turn on. It’s a simple fix, usually just gotta let the air out, like lettin’ the air out of a tire.
So, what to do if your pump is short cyclin’? Well, first thing, don’t panic. It ain’t the end of the world. But you gotta figure out what’s wrong. You can check the water level in the well, if you know how. You can check the pressure tank, make sure it’s got enough air. You can check that pressure switch, see if it’s workin’ right. And you can bleed the air out of the lines, if you think that’s the problem.
But if you ain’t sure what you’re doin’, best to call a well man. They know these things better than anybody. They got the tools and the know-how to fix it right. It’s like tryin’ to fix a car engine, if you ain’t a mechanic, you’re likely to make things worse.
And remember, regular check-ups are important, like goin’ to the doctor for a check-up. Have a well man come out every once in a while, take a look at things, make sure everything’s in good workin’ order. That way, you can catch problems early, before they turn into big, expensive headaches. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, that’s what my grandma always used to say.
So, to sum it all up, there ain’t no magic number for how often a well pump should cycle. But longer is better, and short cyclin’ is bad. If your pump is acting up, find the problem and fix it, or call someone who knows how. And take care of your well, it’s the heart of your home, keepin’ the water flowin’ so you can live comfortable.
