The Georgia state Department of Public Health estimates that about one out of every five people in the state consumes water from a private well, according to Georgia Health News. This single number is enough to show just how many people go to the tap and expect to see good water available at an ample pressure in spite of no public water connections to their home.
Unfortunately, one of the biggest complaints people who rely on private wells have about their water system is a lack of water pressure. Low water pressure can make showering a hassle and using a water hose a challenge and can even cause your water-related appliances to act strangely. Here’s a look at a few of the most likely reasons you have low water pressure from your water well.
Your Water Lines Are Filled With Sediment
Well water is especially known for its high levels of minerals like calcium and magnesium. Unfortunately, this hard water collaboration causes buildup inside of your water delivery lines over time. If you are suffering from a lack of water pressure from your well, your pipes may simply need a good cleaning because of the mineral sediment that has accumulated inside of them.
You can check for sediment accumulation inside your water delivery lines by disassembling a pipe and taking a good look with a flashlight. But, most of the time, you can tell there is a lot of mineral sediment inside of the lines by grabbing a clear glass and running some water from the tap. If the water has bits of floating debris, it could be coming from inside of the line.
Your Well Pump Is Not Properly Positioned in the Water
When a well pump is installed in your well, it should be placed about 10 to 20 feet from the bottom of the well to harvest the purest water. The problem with this is that well water levels can change intermittently and quite drastically at times, which means that your well pump could only be reaching the water’s surface level. At water surface level, the pump picks up some water and a lot of air.
When the well pump is not deep enough in the well’s water, water pressure is inhibited. Because most modern pumps are designed to release trapped air that gets pulled up in the suction line before it goes through the delivery lines, you won’t necessarily see spitting and sputtering and a lack of water. What you will see is a far lower flow rate than usual.
Your Household Water Demands Are Too Great for the Setup
In some cases, there isn’t really a problem with the well or the well pump at all; instead, your household is asking too much from the well water delivery system, and it cannot accommodate the load. For example, if you have multiple people in the household, someone may be showering, the dishwasher may be running, and someone in the kitchen may be using the sink all at one time.
If you only notice a drop in water pressure when multiple outlets of water are being used, you may need a basic constant pressure system installed on your water delivery line. This small pressure regulator kicks in to push more water through when the demands for more water inside the house grow so large that the usual flow rate is not enough.
Overall, having a private well can be a really rewarding and cost-efficient way to supply your household with water. If you have issues with your water well or well pump, reach out to us at Billy Bell Plumbing for advice.