Pump delays to kick in

[barunal]

Hi All,

When the fresh water tap is turned on in our head (either the basin or shower), it takes a while for the fresh water pump to kick in. This results in starting with low water pressure so one turns the tap fully on, and when the pump kicks in the pressure gets very high, then one is struggling to turn the tap down.

What are the possible causes you can think of?

Thank you!!

Barunal

[hpeer]

If you have a filter clean it out. Not sure it will help but is easy.

[smac999]

Accumulator Tank?

[sailormed]

Size of plumbing hoses or a stoppage in the lines.

[wrwakefield]

Barunal,

You didn't mention which kind of pump you have.

What you describe is also symptomatic of a variable speed model that needs to have the pressure adjusted. [Ignore this if you don't have a variable speed pump.]

Best wishes solving this issue.

Cheers! Bill

[Jetx]

Need some more info. If you don't have an accumulator tank, it's likely a bad pressure switch on the water pump itself. Most are field replaceable.

What make/model of pump do you have?

[Shrew]

This sounds like there is an accumulator tank installed. The water pressure from the accumulator tank is lower than the water pressure from the pressure pump. The tap is opened, and the accumulator tank begins pushing water to the open faucet until pressure on the pump side drops and triggers the pressure switch on the pressure pump. The pump begins to run and pushes higher water pressure.

The other hint would be that once you close the tap, the pressure pump continues to runs for a few seconds as it repressurizes the accumulator tank.

The other thought is if you have a variable speed pressure pump. It is supposed to alleviate the need for an accumulator tank. I installed one this year and hate it. Water pressure drops in the shower and drives me crazy.

[Cadence]

Originally Posted by smac999

Accumulator Tank?

With a shot or airless bladder or no dead air space in the tank. I bicycle pump might solve your problem.

[Adrian Chen]

We had a similar sounding issue. One of our taps/faucets had an airator gauze, over time this had become clogged with limescale, removed it and soaked in limescalee remover and all was fine. Even with the pump running though the throughput was low beforehand.

[Tellie]

What kind of plumbing lines are used, for example 15mm pex or 5/8" braided line? Enough braided line, especially if older, will act like an accumulator tank is installed.

[a64pilot]

Originally Posted by Tellie

What kind of plumbing lines are used, for example 15mm pex or 5/8" braided line? Enough braided line, especially if older, will act like an accumulator tank is installed.

Yes, but he has widely variable pressure.
I think he has a bad or maladjusted pressure switch