Had a similar issue a couple years back, gauge was jumpin' around like crazy. Thought I'd have to replace the whole pump at first, but turned out the air pressure in the tank was just way off. Drained it, recharged the air, and it settled right down. Pretty simple fix once I knew what to look for... beats calling a plumber for something minor.
"Drained it, recharged the air, and it settled right down."
Interesting, hadn't considered the air pressure angle before. I've been noticing some minor fluctuations lately—did you use a standard tire gauge to check pressure, or is there something more accurate for tanks?
Standard tire gauge works fine, but I prefer a dedicated pressure gauge for tanks—more reliable readings. Just be careful not to overfill; a little under recommended psi is safer than going too high.
I've used a tire gauge in a pinch, but honestly, a dedicated tank gauge is worth the investment. Tire gauges can vary quite a bit, especially cheaper ones. Learned that the hard way when I thought my tank was fine, but pressure was actually way off—ended up with weak water flow for days. Agree on keeping it slightly under recommended psi; better safe than sorry, especially if your plumbing's older like mine...
"Tire gauges can vary quite a bit, especially cheaper ones."
Yep, learned this myself a while back. Had a homeowner swear his tank was fine because he'd checked it with a tire gauge. When I double-checked with my own tank gauge, pressure was way lower than he thought. Swapped out the gauge, adjusted psi slightly below recommended, and problem solved. A dedicated gauge isn't pricey and saves you headaches down the road...