Owning a well can be great for people that want to be self-sustaining and have a great source of clean water. However, this also means that you need to take care of all the problems associated with a well.
Fortunately, we are here to help you fix the problems that you might experience.
8 Common Well Pressure Problems (Troubleshooting)
1. What Should You Do If Water Is Coming Out of the Air Valve of Your Pressure Tank?
If water is starting to squeak or squirt out of the pressure tank’s air valve, it likely means that it has burst or turned. It’s also possible that the device has a leak rather than a burst.
If that is the case, you will need to take a different approach.
Furthermore, your diagnosis will be different for a burst and a leak. If water is squirting out of the tank top air valve, it has burst.
Conversely, a small leak will send water in one direction away from the tank bladder, and into the tank’s air space.
Unfortunately, a quick fix is not practical if this has happened. The reason for this is that if it is leaking, it is likely that the valve will start to rust soon after. When this happens, the water in your well will no longer be safe to drink.
As a result, you must assess whether you can replace the air valve of your pressure rank. In many cases, you can disassemble your water pressure tank and replace that section.
However, depending on the damage you might need to have the entire tank replaced.
2. Why Isn’t Well Water Coming Out of Your Faucet?
The first thing you should do if water is not coming out of your faucet is check to make sure that the power is on. Check the valve switch near your pressure tank to ensure that it has not been switched off. You can then check the circuit breaker to ensure that it has not been tripped.
If neither of those things is the case, you can check the pressure switch. You can locate the pressure switch on a quarter-inch tube near the pressure tank. It senses when the pressure of the water has fallen to the level where the tank needs more water.
If the switch is in bad condition, it is possible that it hasn’t detected a lack of water, and there is no water in your pressure tank.
If the switch is in a bad state, you need to replace it. Fortunately, this should not be much of a problem. It can be replaced for around $25, and you can install it on your own without any problems.
Furthermore, you might need to replace the pump controller. If you find that your pump controller is faulty, you need to screw off the bottom section to the cover of the pump control and take it off the box to remove it.
You should then take the old controller to a store near you so that you can get a replacement that will align with the model that you have exactly. When you have a new controller, snap it onto the old box.
Another thing you can do is check the pressure tank’s air valve. Take off the plastic cover of the air valve that is located on the top of the tank.
Then, use a small screwdriver to depress the valve and look and see if there is any water that is being released. If water pulses, it likely means that you have a waterlogged tank. If that is the case, you need to replace your tank.
The final thing you can do yourself is push the tank back and forth. If you are unable to do this, the tank has deteriorated, and you need to replace it.
Finally, if none of these solutions have worked, you need to call a professional to take a look.
3. Why Is There No Water in Your Pressure Tank?
If there is no water in your pressure tank, the most likely problem is that the pressure switch is faulty. We discussed this above, but if that is the case, you need to replace the pressure switch.
However, before you replace it, you should conduct a test to make sure that it is the issue.
To conduct this test, you need to remove the cover on the pressure switch. Once you have done this, take a screwdriver and bang the handle sharply against the tube below the switch. This should jar the electrical contacts.
If you see a spark and then the pump starts to work, it means that the pump is the issue.
You might think that you have fixed it, but that is only a temporary fix. As a result, we recommend that you replace your pressure fix. Do not worry, a new switch should not cost you more than $25, and it is easy to install.
4. Why Is the Well Pump Losing Pressure?
There are several reasons that your well pump could be losing pressure. Some reasons include a failing well pump, stuck check valve, partially closed gate, and leaking pressure tank.
There are even some cases where bacteria can clog the pipe and prevent water from getting through at the desired rate.
The best thing you can do is adjust the pressure switch to accommodate higher pressure. As long as the pressure switch is still in a functional state, you do not need to replace it.
The reason it had not been working before is that most pressure switches are set to turn on at 30 PSI and off at 50 PSI. Unfortunately, this is too low for most modern homes. Instead, you should set it to turn on at 40 to 50 PSI and turn off at 60 to 70 PSI.
5. What Should You Do If Your Water Pressure Tank Is Leaking?
While a leak is not as dangerous as a massive burst, it can lead to the same problems. It can lead to rust, which can destroy your entire water pressure tank.
As a result, we recommend that you replace your air pressure valve as soon as possible if it starts to leak.
The fix isn’t as urgent as it would be if it burst, but you should still address the problem quickly so that your water pressure system holds up over time and you can avoid even more costly repairs to your system.
6. Why Has Your Electricity Bill Skyrocketed?
A big problem that many people run into when they have a water well is a high electricity bill. While a high electricity bill is not a direct problem with your water pressure tank, it is a sign that it has structural issues.
You see, when a water pressure pump wears out or gets blocked by debris, it needs to work harder than it would if it were in good condition.
Overworking takes more power, which increases your electricity bill. Additionally, your electricity bill might increase when the check valve goes bad. When this happens, water from the pressure tank can go back into the well.
As a result, the pressure switch activates to get more water back in the well, causing more electricity to be used.
7. Why Has Your Water Quality Changed?
If you notice a significant drop in water quality, it can be an indication that something has gone wrong with your well pressure tank. The most likely scenario is that something has happened to your well shaft, casing, pump, or drop pope.
There is also a chance that debris like sand or dirt has gotten into your well, contaminating your supply.
If your water quality drops, you should get your water tested. If you notice the water pressure is lower than normal or you see lots of debris, you should contact a local well driller or pump contractor.
8. Why Are There Dissolved Gasses and Bubbles in Your Water?
The final thing we want to discuss today is the possibility that gasses or bubbles have started to appear in your water supply. If that is the case, you need to contact a professional well or pump contractor.
Bubbles and dissolved gasses are not an immediate danger to your health, but they can cause problems down the road.
Notably, these problems can cause water to squirt or burst out of the top. If this happens, as we discussed above, you will need to replace the entire tank.
Fortunately, most problems can be treated by a professional using aeration and degassing systems.
Great information! Trying to figure out why water pressure is low at faucets. Wondering how the Challenger air tank works, and if it could be bad.
My pressure tank turns on for approximately six seconds without any water being used like about every three hours.