Well Pump Short-Cycling Diagnosis — Chesapeake Beach, MD
A Chesapeake Beach homeowner noticed their pump running every 30 seconds and their electric bill climbing. We diagnosed a waterlogged pressure tank, replaced it with a correctly sized unit, and stopped the short-cycling before the pump motor burned out.
The Problem
A homeowner in Chesapeake Beach called us after noticing that their well pump seemed to be running constantly — they could hear it cycling on and off every 30 seconds or so throughout the day. Their electric bill had increased noticeably over the past two months. They were worried the pump was about to fail. The pump itself was only 4 years old, which made the homeowner even more concerned — they did not expect to be dealing with pump problems this soon.
Our Diagnosis
We tested the pressure tank by tapping it — a waterlogged tank sounds solid throughout, while a healthy tank sounds hollow in the upper portion where the air bladder is. This tank sounded solid from top to bottom: completely waterlogged. We confirmed by checking the air valve: no air pressure at all. The bladder had failed, and the tank was now a solid vessel of water with no air cushion. Without an air cushion, the pump must start every time any water is drawn — even a single cup of water triggers a pump cycle. At 30-second cycles, the pump motor was starting 2,880 times per day — far beyond its design rating of 100–300 starts per day. The 4-year-old pump was at serious risk of motor burnout from the excessive starts.
The Repair Process
- 1Tested pressure tank by percussion and air valve check — confirmed completely waterlogged bladder
- 2Measured pump cycle time: on every 30 seconds — 2,880 starts per day
- 3Checked pump motor temperature — elevated but not yet at failure threshold
- 4Calculated correct tank size for pump flow rate (10 GPM) and pressure switch settings (30/50 PSI)
- 5Installed Amtrol WellMate 44-gallon pressure tank — correct drawdown for this pump
- 6Pre-charged tank bladder to 28 PSI (2 PSI below cut-in pressure of 30 PSI)
- 7Tested pump cycle after installation: pump runs for 2.5 minutes, off for 4+ minutes
- 8Verified pressure switch operation: cut-in at 30 PSI, cut-out at 50 PSI
The Outcome
The pump now cycles normally — on for approximately 2.5 minutes, off for 4 or more minutes. The homeowner's electric bill returned to normal the following month. The pump motor was saved from what would have been an imminent burnout failure. The 4-year-old pump is now expected to reach its full service life. The homeowner was relieved to learn that the pump itself was fine — the problem was entirely the pressure tank.
Key Takeaway
A pump that short-cycles every 30 seconds or less has a waterlogged pressure tank — not a pump problem. Replacing the pressure tank immediately is critical to prevent pump motor burnout from excessive starts. A correctly sized tank should allow the pump to run for 1–3 minutes per cycle.
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