Posted on 10/10/2006 1:09:01 AM PDT by Miztiki
We have well water and the pressure is low. Hubby is away on an extended business trip and I don't know anything about wells. What should I do?
I have no idea how old or deep the well is. The pressure is low throughout the house. I went outside and looked at the thing but I don't know what I'm looking at. There's a red button and I pushed it and water squirted out of it and hit me in the face. I don't know if I should have pushed that button or not.
I have no clue about these things. Can anybody help me out or point me to a site that can? Please??
It has been a while for me, but if you know the pump to otherwise be in good shape, you may have an air bubble in the system. This could manifest itself within one of the filter housings, so you should be able to see this. Get the air out via similar buttons if possible.
However, it is possible you have sand that has filled in around your intake. This would be likely if you've known your husband to have to dig it out in the past.
I'm not sure Miztiki, but I can tell you that:
1. At the end of the summer, some wells tend to have to work harder (less water).
2. Your pressure tank may need cleaning/draining (CALL A PROFESSIONAL) or may be going on the blink.
Some insights:
Popular Mechanics:
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/how_your_house_works/1275136.html?page=3
Another source:
http://www.inspect-ny.com/water/pumprepair.htm
Here you go.
Click on this link and see if this is helpful:
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=well+%2B+low+water+pressure&btnG=Google+Search
I will look at those links, thanks!
If anyone has any more info for me then please do share. I hope it's nothing serious or costly.
Another possibility is that you have a leak in a line. You might want to check for any unusual dampness around where your lines run.
My first thought as well! Over the years I have had to replace my pressure switches far more often than any part of well systems. They are a very inexpensive item, available at Home Depot/Lowe's, etc. and are very easy to replace with simple tools (just make sure you kill the electric power first since you are dealing with 220+ volt wiring!)...
I can't even figure out which parts are which.
There's a tall tank-like thing with a dial near the top, there's a "water filtration" thing, there's a box with a sticker that warns of high voltage, and then there's a cylinder shaped plain thing going into the ground.
I'm guessing the latter is the pump?
I'll go back out and look for a pressure switch at the bottom of the tank but I think it was just a plain tank sitting on the ground.
Do you have a holding tank?
Call for water to be hauled in untill hubby gets home.
Call the local well pump guy and ask for references.
Do you have a filtration system, may just need to change the filter I have my pump guy come out every 4 months to change mine and it works out to be just about the time the pressure drops.
Did you check the water pressure gauge? If that drops to zero you are not getting water for what ever reason.
I have lived with a dry well for 20 yrs as a single woman.
Had to get in the right local network of decent guys who work together on jobs as pros to have things run smoothly.
My only neighbor that I know is "too friendly". I don't want him to know that my husband is away. I'd rather pay out the nose for a repair man.
Ditto I my gauge go on the blink about every 3-4yrs. that the easy need to fix its.
Hubby won't be home for another 4 weeks.
I'm going to take a picture of it and maybe y'all can tell me what I have.
brb...
Pressure switches are typically a small rectangular plastic box (black or gray). They will be connected by a very thin metal pipe to the piping and will have wiring entering them. You should run your water and time the length of time that your pump is running (you'll hear a humming while it is running). That info and the size of your water tank would help in diagnosing the problem.
I can appreciate that. It has been my experience that if you diagnose the problem first and ask for estimates you "May" cut down on the folks who will just sell you all kinds of additional things!
I can appreciate that. It has been my experience that if you diagnose the problem first and ask for estimates you "May" cut down on the folks who will just sell you all kinds of additional things!
LOL I concur.
And remember yellow is mellow....
Here are some pictures.
The whole thing:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Miztiki/Sept2006044.jpg
Water filtration thing:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Miztiki/Sept2006046.jpg
Gauge (@65) and pressure switch?:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Miztiki/Sept2006047.jpg
Pump??:
http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y181/Miztiki/Sept2006045.jpg
There's some sort of high voltage box in the bottom left of the second picture too.
Do I have the different parts right?
I'll read through your comments again and see what I can find. I really appreciate the help.
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