Having a well at home and no access to city water can sometimes be very problematic. We all know that the well tends to create specific problems from time to time, and “no building pressure” is one of them!
It also becomes essential to fix the issues because all your house faucets or taps are running from the same well and motor. Another crucial aspect of having access to well water is that you are solely responsible for maintaining the well. Moreover, there is no way that the municipality department of your area will hear your complaints. So you’ve only got yourself and a huge problem to solve!
In this article, we will discuss why you are suffering from the no pressure in your well! We will discuss how you can solve this problem and inform you about essential aspects that will help you to prevent such issues in the future.
What Are the Components of a Well?
Before jumping directly into why your well is running but cannot get the appropriate pressure, first, we must discuss the parts or components of the well that may create such issues. You need to know the details of a well to rectify or solve the problems.
You need to remember one specific point while encountering modern wells because today, there are plenty of styles of digging a well. But they all perform the same job! The other factor that plays a vital role in determining the type and shape of the well is water availability on the surface.
There are around five essential components of a well, and these are listed down below:
- The well
- Pressure tank
- Power supply
- Waterline
- Pump
The above-listed five components play a vital role in keeping well water running through all the faucets or taps of your house.
The Power Supply
The power supply is another important factor, but this varies from region to region. For example, the American wells primarily run on 120v or 240v.
The deeper the well, the higher the power supply to draw the water out. There are at least three different wires categorized into different colors red, Red, White, and Black. These wires are surrounded by another wire generally used for the grounding and have a green color.
Pressure Tank
The pressure tank is responsible for extending the life of a pump in the well because it maintains the pressure of water. It is made up of Steel which generally works as a rubber bladder to keep the appropriate pressure in different taps in the house.
Most homeowners typically prefer to set the lower and upper limits, i.e., 40 psi and 60 psi. When the pressure is low, the taps are off, and there is no water use at home; this pressure will increase when the tank refills. As soon as the water is drained out or any tap is open in the house, the pressure will start dropping.
Pump
There are different styles of pumps available in the market today. Generally, there are two most widely used power models and have a variant of small (4 inches) and large diameters (30 inches).
The main work of these components is to supply the water to the pressure tank; it has to be run constantly. That is why it has a very high chance of a short lifespan, but it generally prevents the options of the pressure tank from getting affected.
Waterline
Another critical component is the water line, and generally, the home well has water lines that supply water to every faucet or tap at home. A “pitless adapter” device is connected to the pump and the waterline, which helps to maintain the water supply.
The pump exerts the pressure and forwards the water to the vertical water lines so that they can keep the proper supply. The majority of the houses have a 90-degree angle coupling.
Reasons Why Well Pump Running But Not Building Pressure?
There can be many reasons you face the pressure problem in your well water. In the article, we will discuss plenty of reasons and solutions to this problem so that you can figure out the best possible way to overcome this problem. Furthermore, we will also discuss what you should do to help you to prevent such problems with wells in the future.
To save you time, below is a list of all the common issues that we are going to discuss in this article:
- Water Line breakage
- Pressure tank
- Pump
- The water level in the well
- compromise power supply
- Clogged impeller
1. The Pressure Tank
The pervasive problem with the pressure tank is that it can quickly be filled with sediments, which reduces its effectiveness. Sometimes the deposits can be so harsh and dangerous that they can rupture the pressure tank easily.
We all know that the well water generally comes from the surface of the earth, which is why it has a lot of sediments. The problem of deposition impacts the lifespan of a pressure tank and also plays a vital role in supplying contaminated water to the house.
In a few instances, the pump is running fine and will constantly run to fill the tank, but all the water will be spilled outside due to the rupture in the pressure tank. The pressure tank must maintain the appropriate pressure, which is one of the wells’ most common problems.
2. The Water Level
We all know that the well water comes from the surface of the rock on the earth’s surface. Generally, people prefer well water because it has little chance of contamination from industrial pollution and other contaminants. But there should be enough water on the earth’s surface to supply it outside and maintain pressure so that the water can be provided to every house tap.
The pressure drops when the water level in the Well drops, a common problem faced by the well owners, who live in a very drought-conditioned area. Due to the extreme weather conditions, the water level in the well also drops, which is why the well will not produce enough water to fulfill the family members’ demands and meet the pressure.
If you are facing this problem, then the only solution to this problem is to call for professional help and ask them to dig a deeper well to maintain the water supply. This will not solve your issue if you live in an extremely drought area. You can always contact professional help because they will guide you further based on your situation.
3. The Pump
The pump has a widespread problem of getting impacted every time. We recommend that whenever you feel something is wrong with your well, always check the pump before thinking about any other reason.
This is a principal reason, and if the well water has very high sediment, you will constantly have to change the pump because the contaminated water influences the pump’s lifespan. There is a wheel present inside the pump, which tends to move in a circular motion continuously when it does not grab the water properly. Your pressure tank cannot maintain the appropriate pressure, as it needs more water.
Your pump will constantly spin, and the only solution to this problem is to change the pump for the whole pumping system. There will be some visible signs that will help you predict that something is wrong with your pump. For example, there will be no water in this pump, and you will constantly face the problem of low water pressure.
You can easily hear that the pump is continuously running; however, it cannot maintain the water’s force and supply it to another pressure tank. You will find a wet spot in the yard and water sprays around the pressure tank. If you see these visible signs, the problem is definitely in your pump and not anywhere else!
4. The Water Line
The waterline is the main component responsible for connecting the well and your home’s tap. It plays a vital role in supplying water. You must reconnect this waterline to maintain the proper supply whenever it is broken or damaged.
This generally happens when there is a sudden earthquake, freezing weather etc. It is the common reason if someone has cut the line or someone is digging nearby your house. In such a situation, the main problem lies in the water line, not in the pressure tank or the pump.
To solve this issue, notice the pump’s pressure at the start. Turn on the power and drain the water in the tank. Leave every faucet in your home open until and unless the water is completely drained out, which means there will be no water supply.
Now with the help of a barometer, you need to check the air pressure. A typical well has an air pressure that is less than 2 lbs. If the air pressure is higher than this, then the problem lies with the water line.
We will always recommend you to call the professional service. You cannot solve this issue by yourself because you will require certain tools from professionals who know how to handle it.
5. The Power Line
The power line easily gets broken, sliced, or corroded quickly. If you have an ancient power supply or line, we recommend you check it before checking the pumping system. You should make changes to your power light and change it with the new one.
If there is any wrong with the power supply, we will always recommend you call professional help. It is a mechanical or electrical problem, and the electrical municipality department of your area will also come into action.
6. Clogged Impeller
It may be possible that your water pump has suffered from internal damage. In this situation, the pump will not be able to develop the required pressure; instead, it will be very low pressure. The other damages may include debris, scale, impeller blade, and clogging.
A terrible internal pump seal will always cause a problem, and you will have to face the pressure problem continuously. So we always recommend you check the gasket seal and rubber O-ring between the pump case and the diffuser.
Notice that the side of the pump is leaking. If the cycling continues, the problem is related to the pump impeller. In this situation, call the professional service, and I will help you.
How Can I Protect the Well from These Problems in the Future?
Other factors should be considered if you want your well to run smoothly for a very long time.
Generally, the well pump does not require any kind of maintenance. Still, other components must be checked regularly, like the power control box, pressure tank, and pressure switch. These components can require replacement within a few months.
As a well owner, you are fully responsible for periodically maintaining the well and checking the different parts of the well. Your municipality department will not help you in maintenance situations. Ensure that you are running a periodical checkup and maintain the water quality and equipment.
The well water generally has a very high amount of sediment, which can easily harm the pressure tanks and the good pump. We recommend you ask for professional help if there are plenty of residues (you will constantly notice them during your periodical check-up).
The sediments will easily harm the water line, pump, pressure tank, and other components of the wells.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are wells continuously facing different problems?
The only reason your well constantly faces different problems from time to time is that you need to maintain the well correctly. Make sure that you are running periodical maintenance not only for the water quality but also related to the sediments and other stuff that may be present in the water and are harming the components ( like the water line, the pump, and the pressure tank) of the well.
Shall I replace all the components of the well?
You should only replace the components of the well if you are sure what the exact problem is. If you cannot figure out the problem, we recommend you seek professional help. They will check the well and let you know so that you only replace the particular component.
Who is Responsible for Maintaining the Well?
As a well owner, you are fully responsible for maintaining the well. The municipality department of your area does not have anything to do with the maintenance. So make sure you are running a periodical test.
Conclusion
We all know how the well can create problems after a specific time. But you can always figure out the solution and prevent specific situations by running a simple periodical maintenance test.
It not only helps to solve most of the problems but will also give you an idea of how to improve the water quality; thus, it will directly prevent your health.
This article has discussed most of the common causes of no water pressure. We hope that this has helped you and solved your issue. Remember to check out the other blogs on our website to know more about the well-related information.