Water pump - adjusting sensitivity

mrcheez

I have a water pump in my external boiler house that directs water up from a water tank to the sink/toilet in the bathroom.

Normally I turn the tap on a little and it takes about a second for the pump to kick in, but I was away for 3 weeks and on my return it seems that I have to turn the tap on quite a few turns before the pump kicks in (at which point I have to be prepared to turn it back down quickly as it shoots through at speed).

Is there any reason why the sensitivity would have dropped after my 3 weeks absence?

Can I tweak the sensitivity myself?

mrcheez

Please move this to the plumbing forum if it's more appropriate. Thank you.

bonzodog2

Is it a well pump with a pressure tank? If so maybe the bag needs more air in. They usually have a car tyre valve thing on them.

mrcheez

bonzodog2 wrote: »

Is it a well pump with a pressure tank? If so maybe the bag needs more air in. They usually have a car tyre valve thing on them.

It's a pump similar to the one in this illustration:



Not a well, pushing water around the house from a water tank situated outside the house.

Calahonda52

Post some details of the actual pump.

Are u 100% certain that when u opened the tap before that the pump kicked in or was it that the water flowed immediately?

The answer is important in context of post 3 above

mrcheez

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Post some details of the actual pump.

Don't have the details on me at present but I can get them at the weekend.

The pump looks something like this though:

Calahonda52 wrote: »

Are u 100% certain that when u opened the tap before that the pump kicked in or was it that the water flowed immediately?

The answer is important in context of post 3 above

When I used to turn on the tap, the water would come through weakly at first for about 1 second before the pump turns on (you can hear it) and the water starts shooting out in force.

Now when I turn the tap to the same degree (about 1 full revolution) the pump doesn't kick in until the water drips to almost a trickle (about 20 seconds)

I now have to turn the tap about 4 revolutions before the pump kicks in and the tap has to be quickly turned back to the 1 revolution to avoid water splashing over the sides with the force.

So it seems to me that during my 3 week absence the lack of use of the pump seems to have affected the sensitivity (i.e. it needs a strong pull before the pump kicks in). I would normally have used the pump every day while in the bathroom using the sink.