Erratic Pressure in a Water Well

Slowing Water Supply

• On some older wells, erratic water pressure may be caused by slowdowns in the water supply reaching the well. The water supply in the ground becomes diminished in general when the area where you live experiences a span of unusual dryness, or reduced precipitation. If your area has been receiving a normal amount of precipitation, then the water source may be constricted or interrupted by mineral deposits building in the passageways the water passes through before reaching the well.

Water Storage Tanks

• More modern well systems use a water storage tank, instead of the water being pumped straight into the house’s plumbing system. This means that the pump does not run each time you use a plumbing fixture in the house. Instead, the water storage tank captures water from the pump until the water inside the tank reaches the set pressure level created by an air bladder in the tank. The water pressure in the tank drops as the water level inside it lowers, until finally the tank signals to the pump that is needs more water. You may look at the water pressure gauge located on or near the storage tank at any given time to see the water pressure.

Constant Pressure Valves

• A constant pressure valve is a device you can have installed on the line between your well’s pump and the water storage tank. The valve controls the flow of water coming from the pump, adjusting the water’s flow so that it meets a specified pressure. If you want to change the amount of pressure, you need to install a different valve, because each one comes with a preset pressure amount.

Variable Speed Pumps

• Some water well pumps work at only one speed, which can vary depending on the pump type and its model. These pumps do not increase the flow of water when demand inside the house has increased, such as when a washing machine is running, leading to a drop in water pressure. Variable speed pumps measure the demand for water inside the house, increasing or decreasing their speed accordingly. Because of their ability to change speeds, a variable speed pump does not need as large of a water storage tank as a traditional pump requires.