[VAC] Re: Water Pump

[Matt Worner <wornmatt@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Don,

If you are pumping into a capped line it sounds like the pump is working
properly.  There is a pressure switch within the pump housing, or immediate
vicinity that stops the pump when proper pressure is reached in the plumbing
system.  Since the "plumbing system" of a capped line is minute, the amount of
pumped water will be proportionally small and the pump will just run for about a
turn or so and stop, probably too short to be noticed unless you are looking for
it.  It won't re-start until the back pressure goes away, like if you un-cap the
pipe.  There should be an accumulator tank of about a gallon and a half or so
under the sink or near the pump someplace that acts as a small storage place for
water pressure so the pump doesn't have to come on for every time the tap is
opened.  Sort  of a "hydraulic shock absorber", this tank should be about 50-50
air/water.  If you notice your pump "short cycling" every time you use any water
it means this tank has run out of air, usually by air having dissolved into the
water.  This is referred to as "water logged".  You'll have to turn off the
pump, open a tap, and pump air back into the accumulator.  There should be a
Schraeder valve in the top of the tank.  It looks like a tire valve.  If you
have to winterize where you are, this airing out of the accumulator tank should
be part of the process, and I doubt that you would water log in a single
season.  If you are in warmer areas not requiring winterization, this could be
an issue.

Matt