How to Adjust a Pressure Switch

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

Is the pressure on your pump too low? Or, maybe it’s too high. No matter what kind of pump you’re working with, adjusting the PSI to raise or lower the range is easy, and can be done with just a standard wrench. Keep reading to learn how you can adjust the pressure switch on your pump to get the pressure you need in your home.

1

Turn off the breaker connected to the pump.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/03\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Working on a pressure switch that’s still connected to power is extremely dangerous. Either turn off the breaker or disconnect the power before getting started. [1]
    2. Advertisement
2

Take off the cover to the pressure switch.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Look for the cover of the pressure switch, which is usually a small black or gray cube made of plastic. Loosen the nut with a wrench or untwist it by hand, then lift the cover straight up. [2]
3

Check the inside of the cover for the pre-set settings.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/d\/dd\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Most pumps come with a factory set range of PSI. Turn the cover over and look on the label inside to see what the range of your pump is. [3]
    • Most well pumps have a range of 30 to 50 PSI, meaning they turn on at 30 PSI and turn off at 50 PSI.
    • If you have a submersible pump, it will probably be set to 40 - 60.
    • Some smaller jet pumps are set to 20 - 40.
    • These ranges are also sometimes called the “cut-in and cut-out” pressures, meaning the pump will “cut-in” (turn on) at the bottom of the range and “cut-out” (turn off) at the top of the range.
    2. Advertisement
4

Adjust the PSI range with the center nut.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/71\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Take a look at the pressure switch: you’ll notice 2 separate nuts. The larger, center nut adjusts the range of PSI, meaning where it starts and where it ends. This is usually the nut you’ll be working with to adjust the pressure of your pump. [4]
    • For instance, if your pump is set to 30 - 50, you could use the center nut to raise it to 35 - 55. Or, you could lower it to 25 - 45.
    • Lowering the PSI range will lower the pressure, meaning your water won’t come out as forcefully. Raising the range will raise the pressure, meaning your water will come out more forcefully.
5

Adjust the highest pressure with the right nut.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/90\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This is a less commonly used part of the pressure switch, and you’ll only want to adjust this one if you have a very specific reason to do so. You can turn this nut to raise or lower the high number in your range. [5]
    • For example, if your pump is set to 30 - 50, you’d use the right nut to change it to 30 - 45.
    • Raising the pressure of your range can damage the pump, especially if you adjust it a lot. You’d only want to do this if your range was already too low (meaning you had less than 20 PSI in your range).
    2. Advertisement
6

Turn 1 full turn for a 2 to 3 PSI difference.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-6.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-6.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/47\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-6.jpg\/v4-728px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-6.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In general, 1 full turn will adjust the PSI by 2 or 3. To raise the PSI, turn the nut clockwise. To decrease the PSI, turn the nut counterclockwise. [6]
    • Unfortunately, the pressure switch won’t tell you how much you’re adjusting the PSI until you turn it back on. Do your best to raise or lower the pressure accurately, but be prepared to do some adjusting.
7

Check the pressure by turning the pump back on.

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-7.jpg\/v4-460px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-7.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/9a\/Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-7.jpg\/v4-728px-Adjust-Pressure-Switch-Step-7.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>\u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This image is <b>not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.<br>\n<\/p><p><br \/>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Put the cover back on and switch the breaker to bring power back to your pump. Check the readout on your pump: the lower PSI will be when the pump turns on, and the higher PSI will be when it turns off. Turn the pump on to see where the range is and decide if you need to adjust it anymore. [7]
    • When the pump turns on, that’s your new cut-in pressure. When it turns off, that’s your new cut-off pressure.
    • If you do need to adjust the pressure switch again, be sure to turn the breaker off before doing so.
    2. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Video

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      8 Easy Ways to Repair a Leaky Pipe
      How to
      Detect Water Leaks in Walls
      How to Calculate and Measure Water Pump Horsepower
      How to Check Your Water Quality with or without a Kit
      How to
      Prime a Water Pump
      How to
      Boil Water
      How to
      Turn Water Back on
      How to
      Raise the pH of Water
      How to
      Find a Leak in Your Swimming Pool
      How to Increase Water Pressure
      How to Chug Water Safely: Tips and Tricks
      How to
      Troubleshoot Low Water Pressure
      How to
      Remove Calcium from Water
      How to
      Soften Hard Water
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbqtXF-MtLk&t=68s
      2. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbqtXF-MtLk&t=94s
      3. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVqLgafEgvE&t=116s
      4. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh_hfD3rCA0&t=121s
      5. ↑ https://dabpumps.us/sites/dabpumps.us/files/2016-07/Pressure%20switch%20instruction.pdf
      6. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zh_hfD3rCA0&t=132s
      7. ↑ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jVqLgafEgvE&t=653s

      About This Article

      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 123,342 times.

      Did this article help you?

      Advertisement