Owning a private well comes with a lot of wonderful advantages, but one downside is that you’re more likely to run into low water pressure issues than people who are on municipal water systems.
But no need to worry. In today’s blog post, we’ll take a look at a handful of possible reasons you’re not getting adequate water pressure from your tap. This list is by no means comprehensive, so we recommend consulting with Goold Wells & Pumps if one of the culprits below doesn’t seem to fit the bill.
We hope this helps. Now, let’s jump in!
Clogged Sediment Filter
The simplest problem to fix is a clogged sediment filter. Most likely located near your water shutoff valve (though every system is designed differently), the water filter is designed to catch sediment so it doesn’t get into your drinking water or appliances. However, the filter will get clogged up over time and therefore needs to be cleaned or replaced routinely.
Luckily, this is a super-easy DIY fix. So, fingers crossed this solves your water pressure problem and you don’t have to do anything further!
Faulty Pressure Switch
Your well tank has a water pressure switch that monitors the tank’s pressure and tells your pump to increase the pressure whenever it drops below 40 psi. However, there could be internal faults within the switch that prevent it from triggering the pump to increase pressure.
To troubleshoot, you can check if the spring inside the switch is weak or broken. You can also check the electrical components for signs of damage.
Clogged Plumbing
If your home’s pipes are clogged with sediment, sludge, and/or mineral buildup, that would explain why you’re experiencing low water pressure. This is more common for folks who have hard water, which is prone to mineralization, but it can happen to anyone.
Unfortunately, this is a little more difficult to troubleshoot, as you’ll need a licensed plumber or well contractor to inspect your pipes for you.
Low Water Yield
Have you experienced recurring water pressure and water flow problems for the last few years? This may point to a more complicated cause, which is a reduced supply of groundwater. This is often seen when a well’s water supply comes through fractures and fissures in bedrock. Over time, those fractures can narrow as mineralization develops, thus blocking the flow of water.
If this is what’s happening underground to your well water supply, then you may need to consider hydrofracking. We’ll explain this procedure in next month’s blog post, so stay tuned!