EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Flight Crew Instrument; Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP); Flight Crew Multiengine
Distraction; Time Pressure; Workload; Troubleshooting
Aircraft Equipment Problem Critical
Air Traffic Control Issued New Clearance; Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport
Aircraft; Human Factors; Procedure
While conducting our flight; we received an aircraft that had pressurization issues repaired. During climbout; the aircraft would not pressurize; so we descended and utilized the QRH. The manual mode of pressurization did not work; we contacted ATC and descended to an altitude for passenger comfort. We selected flaps 9 and lowered the landing gear to burn off fuel. We coordinated with ATC; company; maintenance; and crew member for the return to ZZZ. We landed in ZZZ and returned to the gate. The manual pressurization did not work; and we lost the readout of the cabin pressurization; rate of descent; pressure differential. When we got to the gate; the manual dump button did not release pressure. It took 30 minutes to relieve the pressure to open the cabin door for passengers to deplane.Several threats: low altitude in busy environment; air return with large quantity of fuel to burn off; passenger displeasure; added flying to an already long day; delays for the next flight; unable to evacuate passengers in case of fire on ground and could not open the doors or windows. Passengers included small children and babies and elderly that lack of oxygen will affect sooner than adults.Our maintenance at [company] seems to be declining; I have flown more 'broken airplanes' in the past 3 months than I have over my 16 year career.
[Report narrative contained no additional information.]
ERJ-145 flight crew reported a pressurization problem that resulted in a return to the departure airport.