Can air in line cause this problem and does pressure switch need to be reset by a tech.?

When you say pressure gauge I'm assuming you are talking about a we'll system. Depending on what type of we'll system you have it can be a simple fix. Hard to describe but check breakers first...if that's not it the pump will be plugged into a GFCI outlet. That circuit maybe protected by an outlet somewhere else on the line....an outlet with a test and reset button. In the garage or possibly kitchen or bathroom. Start at the pump outlet and work your way through the house to all with the reset. If that doesn't work... follow the power cord from the outlet to the pump. There will be a box that the cord goes into. Unplug the pump and remove the cover to the box which is your pressure switch. Make sure you are unplugged!!! Lethal electric shock is possible. Inside the pressure switch is a paddle type circuit connector/ interrupter. You will notice a spring on the back. Take a flat screwdriver and make sure the switch can move freely. Sometimes ants or water can cause a short and actually fuse the switch. Spray with some wd40. Once that is free plug power cord in. If nothing happens if you have a volt metter you can check your power leads. Could be that the switch is bad. This describes power failure to both jet style and submersible pump with a pressure switch. If you have an aerator tank with a submersible inside there should be two floats inside the tank. A fill float and a kill float. The fill float will be toward the top of tank and as water drops the float switch will drop and trigger the pump drawing water from ground to fill the tank. If there is a failure and no water fills tank the kill float switch placed low in tank will kill power to submersible pump to protect it from running dry. Not knowing your system I think the first part of my answer should be your solution. If you need more help or better explanation write back. Good luck

Your expansion tank is no good.Try replacing the air tank, but if this doesn't help, it sounds like you may have burned out the pump.
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Pump probably needs to be serviced. It probably pressurizes a tank and when that tank reaches a pressure the pump is turned off. But just guessing.

Have you measured the pressure or is it a faulty valve. Are the inlet and outlet valve open. There is a safety valve for thermal relief on top of the tank.

Pressure tanks do just that in a water system. They create pressure for water to flow when the water pump is on the off cycle. A manifold is plumbed into the tank from the main line coming from the well. The main water line continues to the house plumbing from the manifold. So it's line from pump to manifold - to tank, and from manifold to main into house. The manifold also has tappings for the pressure gauge and the pressure switch. The pressure tank creates water pressure. The water does not flow through the tank. Pressure tanks also have to be 'tuned' or adjusted to the low end pressure set by the pressure switch. Actually the tank pressure needs to be set 2psi below the low end pressure. Most residential water systems are set to operate between 20 -40, or 30-50 psi, which is set by the pressure switch, which in turn , turns the water pump on and off. So if a system operates between 20 and 40 psi, the pre-charged pressure of the tank should be 18 psi. Pre-charged means the tank is drained of water with the water pump OFF. The tank pressure is then checked adjusted by way of the air valve on top of the tank ( A tire gauge works). Pressure tank mainfolds are a common plumbing part.

Hi mid_age_elf
Your problem is that your "water bound"...
Your water tank must have a cushion of air for the pressure switch to work properly.
Turn off your pump and drain about 1/3 of the water from your tank.
Once you have an "air cushion" the pump and switch will work properly.
You can also add air pressure using an air compressor and an air valve installed on the top of your water tank or maybe on the side or bottom of the tank.
You would put air into the tank until about 1/3 of the water is gone replaced with the air.
Once that is complete your problem will be solved.
Please take time to rate me
Bud

Hi,
In most cases problems with the circulator pump boil down to two problems.
The most common is air in the lines causing an air lock.
The next problem is that the pump gets stuck and is not running even though itmay be hot and seem to be running. In this cause the pump can sometimes betaken apart, cleaned and it will work, but usually it needs to be replaced.

Here is a tip that I wrote that will explain circulator pump problems in moredetail.

Heating Circulating Water Pump Problems

heatman101

The pressure tank psi may be too high. To set it you get the system to pressure up and stop then check that water pressure. Whatever that is, is what the tank should be set at. Too much air pressure and the water pressure will suddenly drop before the pump kicks in.
To set the tank properly turn off the pump, drain all water pressure, then set the air pressure in the tank to the same as the water pressure was. Turn it back on and check again.

Check your water pressure tank air pressure, turn off pump, drain off all water pressure and using a air pressure gauge check pressure at the schrader valve on the water pressure tank. It should be 2 lbs below pump cut-in pressure, they come factory charged at 30 PSI...works for most residential systems. Most likely you have a bad bladder in pressure tank.

Other possibles are a broken line between pump and pressure switch/pressure tank or bad pressure switch.If you have a pressure gauge on the water system(should have one near pressure switch) see if it is cycling at the right points if it is the switch is good. If pressure is dropping with NO water uasge in house you have a leak.

Most likely a bad pressure tank bladder is the problem.

You have a pressurized system using a pressure tank.This is a case of an air logged pressure tank. Meaning there is more air than water in the pressure tank. The pressure tank must hold 2/3 water and 1/3 air of its total volume. Installed at the tank is the air volume control to take care of this proportion. Should the air volume control malfunction or becomes defective, the air-water ratio is affected. And then,
the pressure tank becomes either air logged or water
logged.
SOLUTION:
1. Shut the power off, and open the discharge line
gate valve to flush the water in the pipe lines.
2. Open the drain plug of the pressure tank to empty
all the water at the pressure tank.
3. Close the drain plug, and put the power on.
4. Start the pump, and set the flow control valve 1/4
open.
5. The pump will normally run.

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further assistance.