The signs are classic. The washing machine takes forever to fill. Your shower sputters half-heartedly. The dishwasher isn’t cleaning like it should, and forget washing the car. Your water pressure is falling, yet your electric bills are probably rising. Something just isn’t right with your well pump. If you don’t figure out what that something is, strain may cause it to fail entirely. That means no water at all.
Symptoms of a Problem
Normally, a ½-horsepower well pump should move about 5 gallons of water per minute, or about 600 gallons in a 2-hour period. Typically, however, change is gradual, and home owners don’t realize anything is wrong until the water supply:
– Becomes intermittent, with stops and starts or ebbs, gushes and air spurts.
– Perceptibly slows.
– Ceases completely.
– Takes a long time to recover following water use.
– Is not as clear and sparkling as it should be.
When water flow becomes an issue, the first item to check is the pressure gauge on the water pressure tank. Under normal working conditions, the gauge indicator should range between 40 and 60 pounds per square inch. If it’s low, it’s time to take a look at your well pump.
Identifying Well Pump Problems
A number of problems may be causing your low or intermittent pressure problems:
1. The static water level may have dropped. Your pump may run, but the water supply no longer matches the pump’s depth placement.
2. Your pump and associated piping may be clogged with oxidized iron, sand or silt due to a lack of filtration or faulty valves.
3. Over time, stages of the pump can separate from the shaft. The pump may still run, but it’s no longer functioning efficiently.
While these are three of the most common issues, faulty valves, controls and switches as well as leaks can all cause water pressure problems.
Professional Well Pump Solutions
Unfortunately, well pumps are not easy do-it-yourself weekend projects. Pumps sit hundreds of feet deep, and repair can be a painstaking process of:
– Assessing and testing the system to diagnose the problem.
– Replacing parts to ensure system compatibility.
– Sanitizing and disinfecting the well to ensure a clean water supply free of bacteria and other contaminants.
Aqua Solutions is here to help—quickly and with the parts that you need. We even have 24/7 emergency services. Whether it’s installing a new system or repairing an existing well pump, we provide water filtration and well pump services for all of New Jersey’s Monmouth County, Ocean County, Mercer County and Burlington County. Call us today for more information. With Aqua Solutions, you’ll have as much clean, sparkling water as you want—when you want it.
