Private well water problem diagnostic questions & answers.

These FAQs can help diagnose and cure weak water pressure or no water pressure from a private well and pump system.

This article series explains how to diagnose poor well water pressure or total loss of water pressure from all sorts of causes.

Well Water or Pump Water Pressure or Flow Diagnostic FAQs

These questions & answers on troubleshooting water pressure and flow problems were posted originally

at WELL WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS - topic home.

Be sure to review the diagnostic and repair help given at that page.

On 2018-08-20 by (mod) - water pressure slow to build

Fire

I agree that the problem could be at the pump - dirty or damaged impeller for example, or low voltage to the pump, or a clogged foot valve, or even low water flow into the well.

Start by checking the current draw at the pump, and if that's ok and if voltage to the pump is normal, then you may need to pull the pump to look for a damaged impeller.

See the diagnostic guide at WATER PRESSURE TABLE 2: PUMP RUNS, WEAK or NO WATER PRESSURE

On 2018-08-20 by firecap04

Also when pump kicks on, the pressure rapidly drops to zero

When the pressure falls below cut-in, the pump turns on. Water pressure is weak to non-existent but does build slowly.

If you close the outlet(faucet), pressure tank fills again in around 3 minutes.

Is there a way to test the pump to rule that in or out?

On 2018-08-20 by (mod) - bad pressure gauge does not directly affect pump operation

A pressure gauge ONLY measures pressure. It does not control anything. So a bad gauge might read pressure incorrectly but that's it.

Watch what happens when the pressure falls below the pump CUT-IN pressure of 30 psi.

Does the pump turn on?

If not replace the pressure control switch.

IF the pump turns on but water pressure is weak - there is a problem with the pump, well piping, or a lack of water in the well.

On 2018-08-20 by firecap04

I have a point well with bladder pressure tank and jet pump on a house I recently bought. The pump kicks in around 30 and shuts off at 50psi.

The tank has been emptied and has 28 psi. When a faucet is opened the pressure is good for a few gallons, until the pump comes on.

The gauge rapidly drops to zero and water barely flows.

The pressure will slowly build again but takes a long time. We have to shut off the water for the tank to refill and it repeats...

Could I have an issue with a bad gauge, plugged line from gauge to switch, clogged or faulty pump? I appreciate any help...

On 2018-08-05 by (mod) -

Shayla try the succinct diagnostic table of diagnostic steps for NO WATER PRESSURE at https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Pressure_Table.php

On 2018-08-05 by Sharla Bayles

I have a well. This morning I have no water. What could be the reasons?

On 2018-07-03 by (mod) - Pump turns on every three minutes as it loses pressure.

Yes, John (though I don't have a clear understanding of your set-up). It's common for a leaky check valve at a pump or anywhere in the pumping system to leak water back into the water source, losing pressure and causing the pump to cycle.

A similar effect is seen if the leak is in the water piping.

On 2018-07-03 by John

Have a spring 400 gallon holding tank with a submersible pump pressure tank just above tank. Distance from tank to home is about 500 feet with.

A 50 foot elevation rise. Pump turns on every three minutes as it loses pressure. When I shut the valve at the pressure won't leak down, I can't locate any leaks, is there a chance it could be a foot valve?

Thinking the addional pressure from the house might cause a problem

On 2018-06-12 by (mod) -

https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Pressure_Improvements.php

On 2018-06-12 by Levelman1

I replaced my pump, pressure tank and switch a couple of months ago. We had good pressure (40 -50 lbs I don't remember) All of a sudden, we only have 20. I have checked for leaks, none apparent. WHAT could make this happen?

On 2018-05-29 by Ed

Changed foot valve on my well. I have shallow well jet pump system. All is good except that pressure falls rapidly after a faucet is open. Never had this problem before.

On 2018-05-22 by Randy

My well pressure switch goes to 50 lb and then drops to15 lb. How do I do increase the drop off pressure to 30 instead of 15 lb?

On 2018-05-22 by (mod) -

Look for a debris clogged pressure control switch and replace it.

Replace or clean the tube conducting water pressure to the switch.

On 2018-05-19 by Ericka

We have a Wellxtrol WX203 was installed in 2011. Recently we will temporarily loose water pressure in the shower for up to 40 seconds then the pump kicks on and we have full pressure. At the tank when this happens the pressure drops to 40 slowly then as the water cuts off we have no pressure until the pump kicks on and the full pressure is restored.

The tanks is holding pressure and only kicks on when the water is drained below 40 in the tank.

On 2018-03-27 by Dick

I think the foot valve is failing or we have leak in the lines to the well.

But if both the supply line and return line to the deep well are closed, how could we be
losing pressure. There are no leaks in the house and lo toilet leaks (they were shut off).

The pressure drops from 53 PSI to 20 PSI in less than an hour. If we
let the pressure drop to 0 we lose our prime. Help

On 2018-03-03 by tyler

our power was out for 24 hours when it came back on the pump was running but wouldn't build up pressure so I thought it had lost it prime I put 20 gallons of water in it and its still not full do I need to keep adding

On 2018-01-09 by (mod) -

Anon

If the checkpoints in the article above did not help you fix the water problem you describe - or if you found that just too wordy - see the succinct list of causes and cures found at https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Pressure_Table.php

On 2018-01-09 by Anonymous

I have a well and lost water pressure. I have power at both ends from the switch to the pump. And my water has never stopped...it just doesnt have any pressure behind it. And when you run the water the switch doesnt kick on or off and tank shows 60ilb
...so I am at a loss

On 2018-01-09 by Heather

Ok we've been having water issue for two weeks. We are on a community well and the first day we had problem someone new had hooked onto the well. The first solution was a vapor lock which was fixed and water came back on. That lasted one day and then it went out again. Found a broke pipe at the well and that was fixed.

Had water for 3 days and then it went out again. This time water was going under the house in the pipe but not coming in the house. Changed the pressure point in the pump. Water came back on lasted for a couple of days and then went out again. Believed there was something in the line so the line was cut in multiple places all showing water flowing under the house but not in the house.

The line was blown out and water started again. Today we have had water but this evening got home and flushed the toilets and now there is very little pressure not enough to take a shower and barely enough to have any flowing. The air tank i believe was showing 60lbs last time we checked. Any help or ideas would be greatly appreciated

On 2018-01-06 by (mod) -

Sounds like s someone shut a water main valve

On 2018-01-06 by Donald

Had pressure at house then lost it after replacing pressure switch. Pump seems to be working good will pump up to 50 pounds an shut off . Now there is no water at house an tank is still holding its normal pressure. Is it possible for a line to airlock? Has also been extremely cold here but never had any issues before

On 2018-01-02 1 by (mod) -

So perhaps the old pump was damages nd could not deliver water?

On 2018-01-02 by Candy W.

We ended up replacing the tank AND having to have a new pump installed. Thanks for your input, though.

On 2017-12-04 by (mod) -

Candy,

It's not unusual for well yield to decline over time. That would be consistent with what you have described

This article includes procedures to try to increase well yield.

On 2017-12-04 by Candy W.

We are on a private deep well that has a 40 gallon pressure tank. Pressure switch is set to recommended factory setting.

We have an under-sink reverse osmosis system and a whole house sand filter system. Two weeks ago while doing laundry and running the dishwasher we ran out of water. This usually only happens if a toilet malfunctions and runs continuously OR we have a water leak.

All toilets were checked and were fine at that time, automatic waterers for pets and livestock were checked and were off and not leaking. No other leaks found.

After checking all of this, shutting the electric off to the well house and doing a brief visual of connections there, we turned the power back on and the pump was running. It took about two hours for the tank to fill up and to hit the set 40 lbs of pressure. We have had sporadic bouts of low pressure since then, after replacing a leaking toilet tank and replacing the "innards" on another.

We have extremely hard water and have a lot of calcium build up so we expect that. We woke this morning to very low pressure again. No toilets running and no visible leaks can be found. Any suggestions of what might be going on?

On 2017-11-20 by Dane Ewing

We get water from deep well, recent Flow of water into the house is lost. It started out no water flow for 30 seconds now has progressed to 7 minutes of no flow. Bladder has air pressure so what is the problem. Please help I have no funds for plumber

On 2017-09-24 by (mod) -

Fred,

I suspect that the water tank bladder is stuck to itself and is not admitting water into the tank at all. Sometimes you can unstick the bladder by temporarily pushing the pressure a bit higher in the system. Just take care not to exceed the rated maximum pressure of the tank or you could cause a burst and an injury

On 2017-09-24 14:42:52.843564 by Fred

Bladder tank feels as if it is empty I can still pick it up ?

On 2017-09-24 14:28:54.024563 by Fred

I just replaced the bladder tank & now we have no water pressure. we only have pressure when pump is running. pressure never reaches shut-off point until water is shut off.

On 2017-08-31 20:31:42.430243 by (mod) -

Jamie

Start by telling me if, when water pressure is weak or zero, if the pump is running or not.

Then see NO WATER PRESSURE at https://inspectapedia.com/water/No_Water_Pressure.php

On 2017-08-31 12:54:39.857432 by Anonymous

@Jamie,
The problem is bad water pressure sometimes no water at all both cold and hot whole house

On 2017-08-31 12:50:03.692019 by Jamie

I just replaced my hot water tank in my home. I have a private well and water softener. Pressure tank holds pressure i heard water running into softener. I think the problem is with my hot water tank. Plumber that installed it told me it could only be my well pump.. Can anyone help?

On 2017-08-19 2 by (mod) - pump doesn't turn on at 40 and that pressure continues to read 40

Brett

I think you're said that your pump doesn't turn on at 40 and that pressure continues to read 40 even if water is running. From that I suspect your pressure gauge is faulty. I'd replace the gauge.

About the water itself, murk might suggest a problem in the well that includes both water quality (testing for contaminants) AND water quantity or supply source (damaged well casing, low or diminished flow rate into the well, a sediment problem)

On 2017-08-19 by brett

water was very grey for days and now still a little murky
no ecoli and whatever else they tested for

i have water coming in to house from well.
pressure says 40

manually flip the electrical part that gets weak . doesn't turn on stays at 40 even if water running
y does this not have pressure to taps if tank shows pressure?

On 2017-08-16 by (mod) - The pressure at the top of the well pipe

Bill,

The pressure at the top of the well pipe - meaning the water pipe delivering water from the well - will be determined by the pump.

In turn, the pump develops pressure inside the piping system according to the setting of the pressure control switch. So if your switch is set to a CUT in CUT OUT of 20/40, then the pressure will normally always be somewhere within that range.

Don't confuse "lift" the height to which a pump needs to be able to raise water to get it out of a well, with "pressure".

At WATER PUMP CAPACITIES TYPES RATES GPM https://inspectapedia.com/water/Well_Pump_Capacity.php we explain that for a given pump, such as your Gould's 3/4HP well pump, the pump's ability to deliver water at some flow rate (measured in gallons per minute or GPM) will vary depending on the lift height the pump has to overcome.

For example, a 3/4hp pump rated at 10 GPM capacity, and at a 40 psi discharge pressure, might in fact deliver: 9.4 gpm at 150 ft of lift and 15.5 gpm at 60 ft. - these numbers will vary by pump brand and model.

I hope this clears up the terminology and makes clear that there is not one "pressure number" at the top of a well.

Ask if you need more.

Mod

On 2017-08-16 15:06:48.528710 by Bill

What should the pressure be at the top of the well pipe? 200 ft deep, new 3/4 hp goulds pump. No pitless adaptor

On 2017-08-07 13:51:31.247373 by (mod) -

I'd first check to see if, when pressure drops, the switch is turning on the pump; if that's not happening I'd replace the pump switch.

On 2017-08-07 12:49:52.454564 by Shelly

Over the weekend, our well is acting up. The water would suddenly run out. We go outside and turn the well back on, but noticed the pressure gauge is wet. We would have water for a while and barely use it before it ran out again. My husband thinks it's either the pressure gauge or the bladder. Any suggestions would it be? How much does it cost to replace either one?

On 2017-08-07 by (mod) water suddenly runs out

I'd first check to see if, when pressure drops, the switch is turning on the pump; if that's not happening I'd replace the pump switch.

On 2017-08-07 by Shelly

Over the weekend, our well is acting up. The water would suddenly run out.

We go outside and turn the well back on, but noticed the pressure gauge is wet. We would have water for a while and barely use it before it ran out again. My husband thinks it's either the pressure gauge or the bladder. Any suggestions would it be? How much does it cost to replace either one?

On 2017-07-24 by (mod) - pressure of water drops after 3 minutes on cycle then stays low the next 7 minutes

Cathy,

That sounds to me as if your pump is not turning on when it should. Check the water pressure gauge cut in and cut out pressures against to the pump pressure control switch settings. You may need to unclog the water pressure tubing that conducts water pressure to the switch or you may need to replace the switch.

On 2017-07-23 by cathy

getting good water pressure from Well after replacing air tank. However, pressure of water drops after 3 minutes on cycle then stays low the next 7 minutes. Once cycle complete I wait 5 minutes well pump do its thing, and go to next cycle getting pressure at 1st and then drops......Please someone out there tell me what to do?

On 2017-07-15 by (mod) - we have to change the filter everyday or we have no pressure

The folks who write the terms of warranties know perfectly well from field data what parts have what failure rates on their products, thus they are able to determine which items are most-likely to cost the insurer and thus which they may prefer to exclude from warranty coverage.

For this reason in my OPINION I'm not a big fan of home warranty policies, viewed more as a comfort-giving marketing tool than extensive protection from expensive surprises.

More about the limitations of some warranties is in this example: WARRANTIES for ROOF SHINGLES at https://inspectapedia.com/roof/Roof_Warranties.php

It's unfortunate that no water test or septic test (that would have run some volume of water) found the condition of the well earlier - not as a reason to avoid buying the home but rather to reduce the surprise that was coming.

Let me know what you're told about the well and we may be able to offer other suggestions.

On 2017-07-14 21:38:00.347824 by Jessica Davidson

Thanks for the reply and yes we're gonna have to get someone out here to look at it. It's just frustrating because we just bought the home and the well is not covered under warranty. We have only been in home 2 weeks :/

On 2017-07-14 by (mod) - we have to change the filter everyday or we have no pressure

Jessica,

I suspect that there is a problem with the well or its water supply, or less likely a well piping leak. Sediment will quickly clog a water filter unless it is properly sized for the building's whole water supply, and sediment may also be clogging your faucet strainers and shower heads.

Before installing a larger fancier sediment filter I would want a well expert to look over the well itself to see

- if there is damage to the well casing (admitting mud and sand)

- if the water level in the well is sufficient that the pump or water pickup is sufficiently above the well bottom so as not to pick up sediment from the very bottom of the well

- that there is no piping damage

Then we can decide (if the water supply is adequate in quantity or flow rate but dirty) what water treatment is needed.

Meanwhile try cleaning some faucet strainers and shower heads.

On 2017-07-14 by Jessica

Hi there, (I have a filter in my home but do not have a filter at the well)

We just bought a home and it seems that we have to change the filter everyday or we have no pressure at all.

When we change the filter it's disgusting in mud and sediment. Then we have pressure for a little bit of the day then goes back out. What would cause the well to not be working properly. When I cut the faucet on I have no water, but I go out to well and I turn it on the water comes out there.

...

Continue reading at WELL WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS or select a topic from closely-related articles below, or see our complete INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES below.

Or see WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSTIC FAQs-3 - more recent questions & answers on bad water pressure

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• WELL WATER PRESSURE IMPROVEMENT - steps to improve water pressure & flow from a private well water supply
• WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE

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