Introduction
Did you know that water possesses varying pressure influenced by factors like weight, flow direction, and surroundings? Whether you live in the city or suburbs, you’d notice the disparity in water pressure.
Typically, city water maintains around 60 pounds per square inch (PSI), significantly higher than well water, which hovers below 40 PSI.
Understanding the importance of water pressure is crucial; it’s often overlooked but plays a significant role in daily activities. Optimal water pressure enhances efficiency in household chores, making cleaning and washing more effortless.
Moreover, it ensures comfort and upholds living standards, preventing compromises in shower quality.
Maintaining an optimum water pressure is essential to safeguard the flow rate of your pipes, ensuring instant water supply to all your home appliances. Ever encountered a situation where turning on a tap affects the water pressure in neighboring appliances?
While seemingly minor, such issues can disrupt daily life, especially in a busy household.
Fortunately, we’ve prepared a guide on increasing well water pressure, offering insights into improving this aspect. If you’re new to the topic, read on, as many have found these tips beneficial in boosting well water pressure.
Solutions are available in the market, albeit with a cost, or you can explore simple home-based troubleshooting methods to address low pressure in your well water.
Let’s delve into these solutions below without further delay.
Inspect Your Pump and Pressure Tank
You can start troubleshooting your low water pressure by inspecting your well water pressure tank and well pump which are crucial components to maintain optimum water pressure.
This may be more straightforward than expected, start the inspection by looking for apparent signs of damage or wear and tear of the pressure tank and well pump.
Otherwise, you can consider engaging a plumber if this seems too complicated for you and if you think you are in need of further insights into the issue of your well pump and pressure tanks.
Check Pressure Tank Settings
A quick fix for low water pressure is to proceed to check your pressure tank settings and make the necessary changes to your pressure tank if required.
For your information, the optimum pressure in the pressure tank lies between 40/60 PSI so you could easily change your settings if a low reading of water pressure is shown by your pressure gauge.
Besides that, you could observe your pressure switch which would indicate the pressure settings.
To explain further, the pressure switch is able to automatically gauge that there is a change in well water pressure in your pressure system.
More often than not, the pressure tanks have 30/50 PSI which means that the well water system has a cut-on pressure at 30 PSI and a cut-off pressure of 50.
For this reason, it is best to change your tank settings and set it to 40/60 PSI if it has a low setting to counter this tank pressure issue. Start by following the steps listed below to allow you to change the settings of your tank pressure.
Switch off the power source of the pressure tank and drain the compartment.
Take a pressure gauge, which could even be a tire pressure gauge to read the air pressure. The pressure of your tank should be 2 PSI below the cut-off reading of the switch.
As an example, if you have set your pressure switch to 40/60 PSI then a reading about 38 PSI should be shown.
If you are looking to increase pressure within your tank, you can resort to utilizing an air compressor but exercise caution as excessive pressure will render the tank ineffective.
Check the Air Fill Valve
Another quick fix is to check the air fill valve as well. Switch off the circuit that is connected to your well pump then use a pressure gauge to obtain the reading of the air fill valve.
As discussed above, the ordinary water pressure would range between 40 – 60 PSI.
If low pressure still persists, start by adjusting the pressure switch. Once adjusted, switch on the circuit again and test your flow rate from a faucet. You can adjust the pressure switch again if necessary.
Inspect Your Pipes
People often overlook inspecting their pipes that may be filled with sediments and form debris as they may lead to low water pressure issues.
This occurrence of high sediments is pretty common in houses that utilize well water as their water source as compared to city water. Besides that, water pressure can be decreased by the hardness of water such as limescale or mineral deposits.
This is explained as friction present in the water will arise from the limescale in the piping system which can reduce the flow rate quite substantially.
But you may wonder how do you check if you have limescale being built up in your pipes? Simply engage an expert to assist in checking your piping system.
This is explained as plumbers can prevent costly replacement repairs as they just clear the build-up within the pipes and you are good to go.
Other than that, you can opt for a high-quality sediment filter or even installing water softeners at your house at the point of entry of your house.
This will assist in managing hard water problems and prevent any damage or early wear and tear to your piping and plumbing system.
Confirm the Size of Water Filter or Water Softener
For those who own a water filter or use a water softener at home, the funny thing is that these items can lead to well water pressure issues.
This is mainly due to the incorrect or improper size of the respective systems and this would require flow rate which you cannot afford.
If the water filter or water softeners that are too huge, you would require a relatively high flow rate to allow water to channel through the system at a sufficient speed required.
Similarly, this applies if your flow rate is on the lower side then the flow of water will be difficult to channel through the systems.
It is important to note that a small water filtration system is more ideal and will not affect the water pressure.
However, there is a risk that the filters become quickly damaged by stronger water flow or even possess insufficient pressure for contaminants removal.
Check Faucets, Aerators, Showerheads & Fixtures
Well, checking your faucets, aerators, shower heads and fixtures are quick ways to troubleshoot your low well water pressure issue. The thing about these appliances is that they would be filled up with debris and sediment over time.
Hence, it is best to replace these appliances once you have used them for an extended period of time as they are not as clean as before.
For instance, if you are experiencing low pressure with a showerhead, there is a high chance that your shower head is filled with debris which cannot flow through. For this reason, you could opt to clean these problematic appliances.
For those limescale issues in your water line, try to soak the said appliance in a pail with baking soda and also vinegar overnight to clean it. As mentioned above, you could opt to replace your appliance if your appliances are experiencing signs of deterioration.
One of the most effective ways to increase well water pressure is by installing a higher flow capacity pump. The pump is responsible for drawing water from the well and pressurizing it for use in your home.
If you have a well pump with a low flow capacity, it may struggle to provide adequate water pressure, especially during peak usage times.
By upgrading to a well pump with a higher flow capacity, you can significantly increase the water pressure in your well system.
A higher flow capacity pump will be able to pump more water per minute, resulting in stronger water pressure at your faucets, showers, and other outlets.
It’s important to consult with a professional well pump technician to determine the right size and capacity of well pump for your specific well system to ensure optimal performance.
Install a Booster Pump
Another option to increase well water pressure is to install a booster pump. A booster pump is a secondary pump that is installed in your well system to increase the pressure of the water before it reaches your home.
Booster pumps are typically used when the well water pressure is too low due to factors such as a deep well, long piping distance, or other hydraulic challenges.
A booster pump works by increasing the pressure of the water as it passes through the pump, providing a boost in water pressure to your home. Booster pumps can be installed in various locations in your well system, such as at the wellhead or at specific points along the waterline.
They can be set to automatically activate when needed or manually controlled, depending on your preference.
Install a Constant Pressure System
A constant pressure system is another effective solution for increasing well water pressure. A constant pressure system uses a variable frequency drive (VFD) to automatically adjust the speed of the pump based on the water demand in your home.
This means that as you use more water, the pump speeds up to maintain a constant pressure, and as you use less water, the pump slows down to conserve energy.
With a constant pressure system, you can enjoy consistent water pressure throughout your home, regardless of the level of water usage.
This can be particularly beneficial during peak usage times when multiple faucets or appliances may be in use simultaneously.
Constant pressure systems are energy-efficient and can help reduce pump wear and tear, resulting in longer pump lifespan and lower maintenance costs.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Good Water Pressure for a Well?
Good water pressure for a well system typically falls within the range of 40-60 pounds per square inch (psi).
However, the ideal water pressure may vary depending on factors such as the size of your home, the number of water outlets, and your personal preferences.
It’s important to ensure that the water pressure in your well system is sufficient to meet your daily water usage needs without causing strain on your plumbing system or appliances.
How Do I Measure Water Pressure in My Well System?
You can measure the water pressure in your well system using a gauge. A pressure gauge can be installed at a convenient location in your plumbing system, such as at the pressure tank or at a point where the waterline enters your home.
Simply attach the gauge and open a faucet to allow water to flow. The gauge will display the current water pressure in psi, allowing you to determine if it falls within the desired range.
Do I Need a Professional to Increase Well Water Pressure?
While some well water pressure improvement methods, such as installing a booster pump or a constant pressure system, may require professional installation, other methods, such as adjusting the pressure switch or installing a higher flow capacity pump, can be DIY projects for those with plumbing experience.
However, it’s always recommended to consult with a qualified well pump technician to assess your specific well system and ensure that any modifications or upgrades are done correctly and safely.
Can Increasing Well Water Pressure Affect My Energy Bills?
Yes, increasing well water pressure may have an impact on your energy bills.
Methods such as installing a booster pump or a constant pressure system may require additional electricity to operate, which can result in increased energy consumption and higher energy bills.
However, the increased water pressure can also provide greater convenience and comfort in your daily water usage activities. It’s important to weigh the benefits against the potential energy costs and determine the best solution for your needs and budget.