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-   -   Real low water pressure with well system (https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/showthread.php?t=69498)

  • Mar 6, 2007, 07:20 PM
    Homeowner21
    Real low water pressure with well system
    I have a well system that has a drilled well in the middle of a dug well. Rare for this type of well from what I am told. About a week ago my water pressure was great. I could fill the kitchen sink in a matter of minutes. Now that same sink registers barely a trickle through it. I have not changed any settings nor has my demand for water increased. I do have a water softening system and some older pipes. The affected areas seem to run in just the kitchen and bathrooms. I have hot water base board heat that is connected to the same pipe from the water softener as the kitchen and bathroom pipes; however, the heating system still seems to have pressure as I have turned on a faucet that is just above the furnace and had good pressure there. I have also turned on a faucet just off the water pump and tank and the pressure at that section is good as well. The bathroom and kitchen water go to the left on a "T" connection and the water going to the heating system goes off to the right. The bathroom downstairs and upstairs has considerably more water pressure than in the kitchen, but are getting the supply from the same pipe as they split off later in the plumbing. My water pressure in the bathroom is about one-third to one-half of what it used to be while the kitchen is at less than 10 percent of its usual flow. The pump registers between 30-50 and seems to be running normal. From the pump the pipes go to the water softener unit with just the tank and one faucet in between. Both the tank and the faucet seem normal. I have a spot to open cold water to the kitchen and bathroom and bypass the water softener, but this still registered the same low pressure. From the water softener it goes to the "T" mentioned above. What I do not understand is why doesn't this seem to affect the heating system, yet getting hot water from the kitchen sink is impossible AND why would both hot and cold water trickle at the sink and be about half the flow as normal in the bathrooms? For this to happen I would think that you would need mineral buildup in both the hot and cold water pipes blocking most of the kitchen pipes and only part of the bathroom pipes while not being blocked heading to the heating system or the water softener. I hope you can make sense of my ramblings and help me find a solution. I appreciate any wisdom on this matter that can be offered.

    Sincerely,

    Homeowner21
  • Mar 7, 2007, 12:57 AM
    nmwirez
    [QUOTE=Homeowner21]I have a well system that has a drilled well in the middle of a dug well.

    First up, the well pump output must overcome static height and pipe diameter and water flow frictinal loss.

    Secondly the well pump motor cycles off and on depending on the supply demand being used at 'busy times' in a house. One of the major failures is waterlogging of the storage tank if it is not a captive air type storage.

    Third, and most important, is the use of water softener equipment that has been found to be a major heart health problem from drinking the water.

    Can you see anything mentioned that commenting on would help my next questions about drawdown and pipe distance from the well? Nm
  • Mar 7, 2007, 07:56 AM
    labman
    Pipes don't lime up over night. Sometimes crud breaks loose and blocks something. Start with the easiest thing, the faucet aerator screens. Unscrew the end of the faucet, note how it is put together, take it apart and clean it. If that doesn't help, try shutting the stops off and removing the cartridges and checking for junk behind them. Sometimes it helps to cover the hole with a towel and give a shot of water from the stop. The going gets tougher from there, it that doesn't work. Post back.

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