If you live in a home with a well, you may have experienced low or fluctuating water pressure. Having weak or poor water pressure can be frustrating and inconvenient, especially when you’re trying to take a shower, wash dishes, or water your lawn. In this guide brought to you by the Master Tradesman of Austin Plumbing, Heating & Air we will walk you through some of the things you can do at home to increase your water pressure.
Determine if you have low water pressure, low water flow or both.
If you’re completely happy with the water pressure when you are only using one fixture in your home but become very unhappy with the pressure when someone in the house flushes a toilet or is using water at the same time, this may indicate that your problem is more related to water flow than it is water pressure. Do some troubleshooting at home and see if you are noticing a water flow loss or if the pressure is bad no matter how many faucets you are running. If you determine that your issue is poor water pressure from the well, read on.
There are a few things you can do to increase water pressure from your well.
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Check the pressure switch
The pressure switch is a device that controls the pump on your well. If the pressure switch is set too low, it will not turn on the pump until the water pressure drops below a certain level. This can cause low water pressure throughout your home.
To check the pressure switch, you will need a tire pressure gauge. Turn off the power to the pump and then remove the cover from the pressure switch. The pressure switch will have two ports, one for the water line and one for the air line. Attach the tire pressure gauge to the air line and check the pressure. The pressure should be between 40 and 60 PSI. If the pressure is too low, you will need to adjust the pressure switch. For step by step instructions visit {how to check and recharge your pressure switch}
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Install a larger pressure tank
The pressure tank stores water and helps to regulate the water pressure in your home. If the pressure tank is too small, it will not be able to store enough water to provide adequate well pump run time, water volume or pressure.
To determine the size of pressure tank you need, you will need to know the flow rate of your well pump, the yield of your well and the number of people in your household. The flow rate is the amount of water that your pump can deliver per minute, the well yield is the amount of water your well can produce. Ideally the well will be able to produce more water than what the well pump can pump out of it. The number of people in your household will determine how much water you use on a daily basis.
Austin Plumbing, Heating & Air is licensed by the state of Wisconsin in both plumbing and well & pump work and can insure your well pressure tank is properly sized and installed properly to increase the water pressure you get from your well.
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Install a booster pump
A booster pump is a device that can be installed on the water piping in the basement that increases the water pressure in your home. Booster pumps are not very common in Wisconsin for several reasons, but they are an option. The main reasons we avoid using a booster pump are cost, noise and additional energy consumption. Booster pumps can also provide additional problems if the well has a lower yield.
To determine if a booster pump could help solve your well pressure, you can use a water pressure gauge to check the water pressure at different faucets in your home. If the water pressure is lower than 40 PSI at any faucet, you may benefit from a booster pump, but be sure to read on because there are other well pump options that are much better choice for Wisconsin well owners.
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Replace the well pump
If your well pump is old or damaged, it may not be able to provide adequate water pressure. If you have tried all of the other suggestions and you are still having problems with low water pressure, you may need to replace the well pump.
When replacing the well pump, it is important to choose a pump that is the right size for your well and your household needs. You should also choose a pump that has a high enough flow rate to meet your needs.
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Upgrade to a constant pressure well pump
If you go the route of replacing the well pump and you’re doing so because you are looking for better water pressure from your well, then you should consider a constant pressure well pump. These systems are designed to deliver maximum water flow and pressure and are able to ramp up and down with water usage. Check out our complete guide where we compare standard well pumps and constant pressure well pumps.
By following these tips, you can increase water pressure from your well and enjoy the benefits of a well-functioning water system.
Pro Tips:
- Check for leaks. Leaks can cause low water pressure. If you have any leaks in your plumbing system, they should be repaired as soon as possible.
- Flush the water lines & clean aerators. Over time, sediment and debris can build up in the water lines and get caught in aerators and shower heads. Over time, plugged aerators and plugged pipes will restrict water flow and cause low water pressure.
- Upgrade the plumbing. If your plumbing is old or outdated, it may not be able to handle the water flow from your well pump which in turn reduces the water pressure in the home. This is because of a plumbing principle known as pressure loss due to friction. The more friction the piping has, the lower the pressure you get out of the faucet. If you are experiencing low water pressure and have old water piping, you may need to upgrade the plumbing in your home.
How Austin Plumbing, Heating & Air helps Wisconsin well owners who want better pressure.
Low water pressure can be a frustrating problem, and diagnosing the exact cause of the low water pressure requires a skilled and experienced well expert and plumber. Rest assured that low water pressure on a well can happen, but it can be fixed if you’re dealing with a company that can help troubleshoot and provide options to resolve both plumbing & well repairs. The Well Wizards at Austin Plumbing, Heating & Air are not only well experts, but also plumbers which means no matter what is causing your low well pressure, we can help. For help with any plumbing, well or well pump service, call 262-367-3808 today.
