Date: 201708
Local time of day: 1801-2400
Location: EWR.Airport, NJ
Flight conditions: VMC
Light: Dusk
Aircraft: EMB ERJ 145 ER/LR
Operator: Air Carrier
Operating under: Part 121
Flight plan: IFR
Mission: Passenger
Flight phase: Climb
Airspace: Class E N90
ATC / advisory: TRACON N90
Aircraft component: Pressurization System
Component problem: Improperly Operated
Reporter organization: Air Carrier
Reporter function: Pilot Flying; Captain
Reporter qualification: Flight Crew Air Transport Pilot (ATP)
Human factors: Troubleshooting; Time Pressure; Distraction; Workload; Confusion
Second reporter function: Pilot Not Flying; First Officer
Anomaly: Aircraft Equipment Problem Less Severe; Deviation / Discrepancy - Procedural Published Material / Policy
Detector: Person Flight Crew
When detected: In-flight
Result: Air Traffic Control Provided Assistance; Flight Crew Landed in Emergency Condition; Flight Crew Requested ATC Assistance / Clarification; Flight Crew Returned To Departure Airport; General Maintenance Action
Contributing factors: Aircraft; Human Factors
Primary problem: Aircraft

Narrative: Taking off I noticed that the CA side window was squealing and I made a note to check it when we got to EWR.  At the gate in EWR I opened my window and I noticed that the window seal was in need of replacement. I called maintenance and wrote the window seal up. After a short delay maintenance lubricated the window and did an on the ground pressurization check. He signed the issue off and mentioned that the seal will need to be changed at a later time. We began boarding; my FO and I ran the receiving checklist; before start and engine start checklist and pushed off the gate. We also did have a jumpseater (JS) on board. After a long taxi we took off and I was the pilot flying. As we were climbing through 10;000 feet the JS mentioned that the cabin altitude was amber. My FO had also noticed it and was pointing at it; but hadn't mentioned it yet. I immediately reduced the rate of climb and the maximum altitude that we hit was around 11;500 feet. I told the FO to tell ATC that we need to descend; he did.  ATC asked us to maintain 11;000 feet for traffic at 10;000 feet. The cabin altitude then came through 10;000 feet and went red; it maxed out at 10;100. I told my FO to [advise ATC] so that we would get priority handling and we need to descend immediately. I immediately grabbed my oxygen mask and the FO did the same. I called for the loss of pressurization QRH. My FO was looking for it and at the same time trying to communicate with ATC; so the JS offered to find the checklist in the QRH. I said yes please. The FO handed the QRH to the JS and he began to read off the CABIN DEPRESSURATION QRH. There was no EICAS indication present; we did get a master caution when the cabin went through 10;000 feet. At the same time my FO had [advised ATC] and said we have a pressurization problem and we need to descend.  ATC cleared us to descend to 8;000 feet. As we came through 10;000 feet the cabin altitude went back to amber and the FO and I removed our oxygen masks.The JS was running the QRH and asked to set the pressurization manual controller to the 11 o'clock position.  I reached down and noticed the knob was pointed to the green indication; I first turned it down to make sure it was in the auto mode; it did turn about 1/8 turn; but this did nothing to the cabin altitude. After waiting about a minute or so we went to manual mode the 11 o'clock position and depressed the guarded MANUAL button and waited.  The cabin altitude was about even with our current altitude and stayed there.  At this time I told my FO to tell ATC that we need to return to EWR.I sent dispatch a message that said 'AIR RETURN EWR' 'PRESS FAIL'.  I also called my FA and told her that we are going to return to EWR; she said yes I do feel some kind of pressurization issue; I said yes the plane isn't pressurizing. I had the JS also run the overweight landing QRH; he did. The JS offered to make an announcement to the PAX and I thanked him for doing so. Coming through 200 feet my FO began to read off the VSI indications.  When we touched down it was less than 500 feet so there is no digital read out but he estimated it was around 100-200 feet per minute and it was a smooth landing. We parked at our gate; and they found another plane for us to take down to ZZZ.  Due to the circumstance my FO and I agreed that it would be best for customer service to find another crew to complete the turn.Threats: aircraft did not pressurize; rushed cockpit environment due to cabin altitude climbing rapidly. Errors: the pressurization knob was not turned all the way to auto; but it was in the green; I have doubts if this caused the issue since going to manual mode did not pressurize the plane at all.


Second narrative: [Report narrative contained no additional information.]


Synopsis: EMB145 flight crew reported a loss of pressurization while climbing through 10;000 feet; accomplishing the relevant checklists; and safely returning to the departure airport.