Why Do I Have Low Water Pressure From My Water Well?

 

Many homeowners have gone through the inconvenience of having low well water pressure disrupt their day. Water pressure is something we rarely think about until it’s on the fritz, but the truth is that it is an integral  part of our everyday lives. Constant water pressure is the corner stone of a comfortable household and building.

Water is able to travel through our various faucets and pipes because of water pressure created by the well pump. The rate at which this water flows is directly connected to pump capacity. Pump capacity can be hindered  by many different things. The water system is exposed to problems and mishaps that can cause you to have a lack of pressure. The good news is that low water pressure is not something you have to live with for long and it can be fixed by the trained professionals at Sunaqua. When dealing with low water pressure, it is best to know the causes to better handle the situation.

Low Water Pressure After an Electrical Power Loss

 

Many homeowners are unaware that an electrical storm can cause them to have little to no water pressure. Lightning causes damage to electrical wiring that supports the submersible pump and it can even damage the pump itself. In that case, you might need to have your well pump repaired or replaced. Another threat to your water pressure during lightning storms are complete power outages. Power failure can irritate dormant problems in the system, for instance, a failing pressure tank  or well foot valve. A well foot valve is installed near the bottom of the well. It prevents water from flowing out of the jet pump and into the well when the jet pump stops operating.

There are rare cases when lightning can trigger half of a 240-Volt circuit breaker or short circuit one of two fuses powering the 240-volt electrical circuit, leaving a pump that runs at its minimum capacity or that doesn’t run at all.

Air Bubbles in Faucets

 

Air bubbles in your faucets  and showers could be the signs of a short term or long term problem. In some cases, air bubbles in your plumbing fixtures are a sign of a deteriorating water well. When the  well water pressure drops, the pump sends up a mix of water and air into your home’s pipes. Air will cause your water to spurt out at an uneven rate. It can also cause your pipes and valves to give off a banging sound when flushing.

One of the most likely causes for air in your water system is that your water heating system may be too hot. Air naturally transforms from a dissolved gas to a bubble structure in water heaters. When your water heating system is too hot it can create air in your faucets, resulting in low water pressure. In extreme cases, it can even cause the water heater to explode.

Improperly Installed or Defective Well Water System Check Valve

 

Another likely cause of low water pressure is a failing check valve. Check valves that are installed improperly can cause air to discharge from your homes faucets. It lets water drain into the well and causes suction that introduces air into the well piping.

Leaks in Your Water Well Piping

 

Leaks in your well piping can be another culprit for having air in your system, causing low water pressure. When your pump shuts off, air can travel into  your piping through any  cracks or holes that are present.

Damaged well pumps can bring air into your water supply due to a process called cavitation. Cavitation is simply the formation of a bubble or empty space within a well pump. When installed, if an air pump is oversized , the amount of water in the well may be pulled at too fast a rate which will cause air to be brought into your water system.

Build Up Within Water Well Pipes

 

A fracture within the water main can cause debris such as dirt, sand, and other pollutants to build up in your system, causing low water pressure. There are also cases where there can be build up of debris without any fractures or holes within your water system.

Water can carry and leave deposits behind when traveling through your home, also causing a build up. There is a small amount of algae within our water and the amount that water carries with it can be seasonal. The algae is only the size of sawdust but it can build up. It only takes a modest amount of debris to cause blockage. This can travel to your piping and plug up your fixtures.

Another place where a blockage can occur is the plastic pipe inside the water heater. Plastic within water heaters can dissolve overtime. When this happens, that dissolved plastic debris can plug fixtures, causing a water blockage.

Water Pump Short Cycling

 

When your water pump short cycles it means that your pump is turning off frequently while water is running. To be more specific, it means that your water pump is switching on and off around every 30 seconds. When short cycling gets really bad it can even turn on and off every second. This can damage your pump and the controls. Short cycling of your water pump will cause your water pressure to teeter from strong to weak.