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Q&A about bad water pressure #4

Water pressure problem diagnostic FAQs:

This set of well pump & bad water pressure diagnosis & repair questions or water pressure FAQs help to diagnose poor water pressure or total loss of water pressure.

This article series explains how and why to distinguish among intermittent water pressure loss, total water pressure loss, and poor water pressure or flow in a building. We give diagnostic and repair procedures for both municipal water supply problems and well water supply problems.

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Poor Water or Pump Water Pressure or Flow FAQs

One Line Jet Pump (C) Daniel FriedmanThese questions & answers on troubleshooting water pressure and flow problems were posted originally at WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home - where we list each cause of water pressure problems and link to detailed diagnosis and repair steps for each of those.

If you have no water pressure at all, see NO WATER PRESSURE

On 2019-04-20 by (mod) - how to know when the well pipes are successfully primed

Al

I think you are describing a deep well (i.e. deeper than 27ft) using a 2-line jet pump with a venturi in the well at the bottom of the well piping and a jet pump above ground.

If there are no leaky check valves you'd know that you've filled the well piping (presumably through a prime opening in the jet pump impeller casing) by noticing that as you pour water into that opening and into the impeller chamber it no longer disappears - the chamber simply fills to the top and stays there.

You're right that it can be difficult to prime a well pipe IF the check valves in the system including in the well are leaky - as then water poured into the piping leaks out into the well and it's difficult to prime the pump.

A temporary solution is to prime the pump using an external source like a garden hose from a neighbour or to pour water like mad into the prime opening and turn on the pump to see if it can draw water and maintain flow.

If those problems of water and prime loss are recurrent you'll need to replace the leaky check valves.

Details are at WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE

On 2019-01-02 by Al

I have a deep well setup
Two questions

1. how do I know when my pump is full including the suction line.

2. Will the water leak down the return/pressure line.

Please send answers to hammond4713@gmail.com
Thank you

odd and sporadic water pressure issues.

Watch out: you should have turned OFF power to your pump control immediately as you describe a fire hazard and electrical short circuit.

On 2018-12-16 by Darrell

Why is my control box smoking

On 2018-05-19 12:53:32.615246 by richard

water running free in craw space ruglater is out of pipe,don't know if it can be screwed back into pipe electal wires need to be disconnected

On 2018-05-06 23:20:15.345431 by Murray

Pressure guage reads above 40. But water pressure is low coming out of faucet...ehy

On 2018-02-28 by (mod) - odd and sporadic water pressure issues at some fixtures

Bug

Try un-screwing and cleaning out the debris-clogged faucet strainers first; let me know how that works.

On 2018-02-28 by bugnutz odd and sporadic water pressure issues.

Earlier today I had to cap off an outdoor hose bib pipe that broke off under ground. Pretty straightforward. More digging will be required to replace the hose bib, but it's capped.

After I turned the water back on at the meter, had some very odd and sporadic water pressure issues. I will describe them in inline order first to last.

Next in line hose bib, had good water pressure that dwindles after it has been on for a few minutes. I think there might be a Tee here that feeds the house and goes out to another hose bib.
Third in line hose bib, (end of the line outdoors) great water pressure. (Possibly it doesn't feed from that line, but I didn't dig to find out. It looks like it would from the placement of it.

In the house, laundry room, great water pressure.
Shower, great water pressure. (hot and cold)

On the outside wall from here is another hose bib that had almost no water pressure, until I disconnected the hose that was on there, and now it is fine.

Toilet. weak water pressure.

Bathroom sink. Almost no water pressure. Trickle (Both hot and cold)

Here's where it gets baffling.

Kitchen sink. Good hot water pressure (not as good as it used to be, but that was previously almost too strong), so-so cold water pressure.
Kitchen sink is end of the line.

I checked the leak detector on the water meter and it was not spinning, but jumped a couple of times, like there was a momentary leak.

My plan is to monitor the water meter over night to determine if I do have a leak.

Thinking maybe sediment got in the line from the underground break and is clogging stuff up, but not sure how to flush it all out.
Wondering if the bathroom faucet would suddenly and coincidentally have gone bad, but that doesn't explain the toilet. If sediment was in the line there in the bathroom, then I would think the kitchen sink would also be slowed to a trickle?

(Stumped) Also concerned now about my water heater getting sediment in it, but for the moment it seems ok.

Your insight is appreciated.
.

On 2018-02-03 by (mod) - the toilet water supply riser pipe is blocked

Hiteshkumar

If I understand correctly that the toilet water supply riser pipe is blocked, it would perhaps be easiest to simply remove and replace that part. You might need to replace the toilet tank fill valve at the same time.

On 2018-02-02 by Hiteshkumar Satasiya

I have facing problem in my one toilet flush pipe from main pipe line to my house. Our builder gives separate pipelines to all houses of our appartment. But i have problem of poor water pressure due to blockage in my main outlet of my toilet pipes of toilet flush.

On 2018-01-24 by (mod) - clear or replace a pressure control that won't turn on the pump

Thomas

Turn on the shower and watch the pump - if pressure drops below the cut-in pressure and the pump isn't turning on, replace the pump pressure control switch and clean or replace the tube or nipple that conducts water to the switch.

On 2018-01-24 by Thomas Dayton

I have a well which the pump was replaced 14 years ago...I now have a problem. At 1st when taking a shower, pressure is awesome and then there is a trickle of water. Doesn't happen each time...maybe twice a week. Any help is appreciated

On 2018-01-11 02:07:43.168653 by (mod) -

Noel

Sorry but I don't quite understand the question. Perhaps this article's diagnostics will help

https://inspectapedia.com/water/No_Water_Pressure.php

On 2018-01-10 23:29:43.486991 by Noel under

water just wont start up and shut off when it should to slow starting and cutting off

On 2017-10-16 by Mark Walker

I have poor water pressure at one end of my home. I have private well and pump. Pressure into and out of the water tank appears normal @ 60psi. Hot water pressure at fixtures seems fine.

Cold water pressure at fixtures seems very low. Well pump seems to cycle normally. I’m stumped

On 2017-09-26 by (mod) - water pressure is reduced when the water softener is not in bypass mode

Mike,

That sounds as if you're seeing too much pressure drop across the water softener, right? Or is it a problem? How much pressure drop?


On 2017-09-26 by Mike

i have a eco water softener and the pressure out of it is less than if i by pass the softener. ?

On 2017-09-19 by Calvin

I have just bought a house and had the water turned on. As a precaution, I checked the water pressure at an outside faucet at the point the water enters the house from the meter. My reading was 110 PSI. So I tried to adjust the pressure regulator valve.

I turned it both clockwise and counter clockwise and the reading of 110 PSI remained.the same. So I bought a new regulator that supposedly is preset to 50 PSI. Put it on and check the pressure again. Still 110 PSI. Adjusted the valve both ways with no change in the pressure reading. So I bought a new test valve. Still got the same 110 PSI. I don't know what I am missing.

On 2017-08-21 by (mod) - what to do if there is no water pressure at all

Beth, as I don't have any information about your pump or water system, my best advice is to look through the NO WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSTIC TABLE at https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Pressure_Table.php

Check that out and ask for more help as you may need it.

On 2017-08-21 by Beth

Our home water pump is producing no water to our home. It just stopped and I have no idea why or how to go about fixing.

On 2017-08-19 by (mod) - pump runs but no pressure

Bonnie

What does the pressure gauge say at the pump or pressure tank?
The pump motor may be running but not able to develop any water pressure.

The water pressure diagnosis table at https://inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Pressure_Table.php
might help.
CHeck out that article and let me know what you find.

On 2017-08-19 by Bonnie Simmons.

My pump seems to work ok. Have hardly any pressure all thru the trailer.

On 2017-08-09 by Matt

I have very little pressure i put a new switch on and it didnt help my tank shows only 10lbs of pressure.

On 2017-08-04 by (mod) -

I suspect the gauge is debris-clogged and isn't reading accurately.

On 2017-08-04 by Noel Ruiz

dir all,
I have my fire waterline I have my jockey pump, fire pump and diesel pump from the pump.To the area where gate valve located is 600 meter.s when ever I have testing jockey cannot accomodate the pressure the fire pump will run . the problem is during testing my pressure gauge is normal after a munite it drop to 0 rapidly. what do you think is the problem.

On 2017-06-09 22:07:18.074298 by (mod) -

Steve

The most-common cause I find for the delay in response of a pump to a pressure drop, particularly if we see pressure fall below the previously-set CUT IN pressure is debris clogging of the pressure control switch or the pipe nipple or tubing conducting water pressure to the switch. Try replacing those.

On 2017-06-09 00:03:19.229714 by steve

turn on tap water pressure good then reduces until pump kicks in about 10 seconds later

On 2017-05-12 22:42:18.621197 by (mod) -

If there's no short circuit in the pump wiring, that I suspect that the pump motor has seized, growing High courage and bringing your wires. I would leave that circuit turned off and pull the pump.

On 2017-05-12 18:00:25.953822 by Arthur Edwards

PUMP NOT WORKING,FOUND POWER WIRE @ RELAY BURNED INTO, REPLACED WIRE AND PUT NEW RELAY ON, PUMP STILL WILL NOT START. CHECKED WIRING WITH METER AN FOUND NO BREAKS.

On 2017-04-16 23:19:40.000435 by (mod) -

I'd start inside at the point where the water pipes tee off to bring water to the outside hose connection. Follow the cold water piping from that point into the structure to see what equipment, filters, treatments, valves, elbows it passes through. One of those may be clogged or even partly shut if it's a valve.

On 2017-04-16 21:25:01.879289 by Roger Esquivel

Hi... anyways I have poor water pressure inside the house but when I use the hose outside the water pressure is amazing ... so what can the problem be???

On 2017-03-19 10:55:00.341597 by (mod) -

When I've seen this problem often a section of well piping was still frozen.

Or your well foot valve or check valve is bad, allowing loss of pump prior prime.

That is, IF your pump is an above ground jet pump

Search for PRIME THE PUMP in the box bove

On 2017-03-19 00:56:05.369780 by GuyWithNoWater

Single line jet pump, private country well... spent an unexpected nite in the hospital recently so I had no fire or other heat source on for about 16 hours, household lines, pump and main supply line coming thru the foundation froze, unthawed frozen lines turned pump on and it runs fine just no water, I primed it twice... is it a broken internal piece ? Thanks


On 2017-03-06 19:50:49.199050 by (mod) -

As we said to this question over at inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Water_Heater_Diagnostics.php

If the poor hot water flow is only at this one fixture then I suspect that a hot water pipe or elbow or control close to the tub itself is clogged or closed.

On 2017-03-06 19:19:46.854149 by Pete

I have cold water pressur but no hot water prusser water in the bath tub evert where else is ok can you help

On 2017-02-03 14:03:29.031287 by Joe Pruitt

Joe Pruitt I have a submissive submissive a water pump and it continues having no pressure. Have been using it for 25 years. The only time it's happened before is when someone leaves a water Fossett on or a busted water line. The last week he continues to be running out of water pressure

On 2017-01-17 01:28:28.774390 by Mia

Regarding my post about water after electrical outage - I should also add that we have a submersible pump.

On 2017-01-17 01:11:12.210902 by Anonymous

Over the holiday break our power went out. Once the power was restored, our water did not begin working again until an hour or more after. The pressure switch read zero as well. Last week, the power had been out for 3 hours or so when we got home from work. The same issue occurred and the water began functioning 2.5 hours later. Tonight, the power flickered and was out for less than 5 seconds total. Same issue. We have tested the pressure switch and it is getting power. We have reset breakers to the water pump and booster pump without improvement. This never use to be the case. Any ideas?

On 2016-11-22 23:13:52.924335 by (mod) -

Mike: do you think that your larger pump was thus delivering more water faster and so it exceeded the well flow rate? That could be what killed the prior pump too.

On 2016-11-22 21:27:49.626873 by mike

can anybody answer my problem. well pump went out changed it from half to 3/4 horse ran great then lost water changed bladder tank pressure switch cleaned water softner and changed filter have water low pressure pump kicks on at 42 and shuts off at 62. don't no what it might be please help.

On 2016-11-18 19:07:20.051540 by Don

Pump running but slowly making cutout pressure

On 2016-10-23 23:49:11.682810 by (mod) -

Denise

Please search InspectApedia.com (use the search box just above) for NO WATER PRESSURE to read the steps in how to diagnose and fix the trouble.

On 2016-10-23 20:50:48.206060 by Denise

We have no water. It was working fine and then just stopped. Checked well and do have electricity running to it, but the pressure reads 0.

On 2016-10-20 21:46:40.116031 by (mod) -

Kelli

You're right. But I can't know from your note if the problem is lost prime, a leaky foot valve, leak in well piping, or a pump that was damaged by having been run continuously for days or weeks or longer. Typically I'd try re-priming the pump and if that works and gets the system going I'd see if the pump can reach a normal cutoff pressure. If you can't prime the pump or it won't shut off it's time to call a plumber.

On 2016-10-20 17:00:30.519878 by kelli

my friend has a pump and the last couple of times i've been over there her pump has constantly ran non stop and very radical sounding. i kind of thought there must be a leak. when i mentioned her pump should shut off after the water filled the pump back up right? anyway something happened and no sound from the pump and no water. a hose was left on do you think it needs to be primed or is it burned up

On 2016-10-02 02:57:11.167526 by (mod) -

Check first for a sticking pressure control switch

On 2016-10-02 02:29:30.602469 by Kerri

For quite some time now every day that I run a shower or bath, within 5 minutes of starting it, the water stops running for approximately 1-3 minutes, then comes back on.
We have a newer pressure tank and the gauge appears to be at the correct pressure.
However we don't know anything about wells, ect. Can anyone help?

On 2016-09-16 14:52:39.701916 by (mod) -

Probably not; on most pumps tapping into the priming tap will give pump output pressure.

On 2016-09-16 04:33:48.913618 by John Giatras

can I use the pump priming tap to connect a vacuum gauge to measure suction pressure?

On 2016-09-09 16:38:24.182935 by (mod) -

Most likely a closed valve.

On 2016-09-09 16:30:38.131984 by Martha

We put a new well pump in we have good hot water pressure but no cold water at all what could be the problem

On 2016-09-03 19:36:04.875418 by (mod) -

There are a number of reasons for complete loss of water pressure, as we list in the article above, and diagnosed and discussed in detail at

https://inspectapedia.com/water/No_Water_Pressure.php

and

https://inspectapedia.com/water/Private_Well_Pressure_Diagnosis.php

On 2016-08-31 17:24:23.740908 by SamathaS10388

I need help!! Yesterday I was washing laundry, did a few dished and flushed the toilet.... When I flushed the toilet the back never filled with water, I realized the water stopped running in the washer and we have no water in our house at all. At first I thought that I had just used out water supply, but low and behold there's a good amount of water in the well. What could have caused this?



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