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VIKKKY · Apr 9, 2012, 08:27 AM

Need help! Have very low water pressure in my house-upstairs is worse! Looked into the shallow well and it looks like something is on the pump-debris/algae? Can't really tell as it is so far down. Any suggestions? Who do i call? Plumber, or well company? Help!

jlisenbe · Apr 9, 2012, 08:42 AM

A well company would be best. Are you just wanting to call someone, or do you want to try to look into this yourself? Just asking.

speedball1 · Apr 9, 2012, 09:06 AM

Originally Posted by VIKKKY

NEED HELP! HAVE VERY LOW WATER PRESSURE IN MY HOUSE-UPSTAIRS IS WORSE! LOOKED INTO THE SHALLOW WELL AND IT LOOKS LIKE SOMETHING IS ON THE PUMP-DEBRIS/ALGAE?? CAN'T REALLY TELL AS IT IS SO FAR DOWN. ANY SUGGESTIONS?? WHO DO i CALL? PLUMBER, OR WELL COMPANY? HELP!

Hi Vickky and Welcome to The Plumbing Page. At AskMeHelpDesk.com.
First off, LOSE THE CAPS! It's impolite and we don't yell at one another in here.
How old is your home and what material are the water pipes? Do you have a surface or submersible pump? Did this just start or did it come on gradually? Back to you, Tom

VIKKKY · Apr 9, 2012, 11:29 AM

Hi Tom-sorry about the caps! My home was built in 1973. The pipes in the well are black pvc. I think the pipes in the house may be copper. The pump is a submersible pump. And this just started like yesterday. I had a new pressure tank installed about a year ago and had no problems since it was installed. I had someone tell me who looked at the pressure tank tell me that the pump is constantly running as well. Doesn't sound too good to me. Time for a new pump I guess?? Let me know your thoughts. Thanks for the quck reply!

VIKKKY · Apr 9, 2012, 11:31 AM

Originally Posted by jlisenbe

A well company would be best. Are you just wanting to call someone, or do you want to try to look into this yourself? Just asking.

Thanks for your insight! Will do-I had a plumber check my pressure tank a few minutes ago and he says that is fine. He did say that my pump is running all the time and that he suggested a new pump. I hope he knows what he is talking about! Thanks for your imput!Vicki

jlisenbe · Apr 9, 2012, 12:56 PM

If the pump is running all the time, it would come down to three things:
1. The pressure switch is bad and is not turning the pump off. Unlikely, but possible. But if that was the case, you would have a LOT of pressure, not a little.
2. Could be a worn out pump. That would seem to be the direction your plumber is going in.
3. Could be the water level in your well is dropping. Let us hope that is not the case.

Is the pump above ground? If so, how many pipes go into the well?

VIKKKY · Apr 9, 2012, 01:35 PM

Hi-the pump is in the well. It is like on a rope that goes way down into the water of the well. The pipes/fittings that hook into the pvc pipes of the pump is about 6' down into the well-no where near the water. I lost water probably 10 years ago when we had a really bad drought here in Virginia-and when you tried to run the water, it was like a muddy color-even kind of sandy mixture in the water through the pipes in the house. This is different from then. No discoloration in the water, just no pressure. I too, hope it is not the well gone dry! I am sure that to have a new well ddug would cost a fortune! I would rather it be the pump-as I am sure the pump is way less expensive than having a new well done! Thanks for your imput! vicki

speedball1 · Apr 9, 2012, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by VIKKKY

Hi-the pump is in the well. It is like on a rope that goes way down into the water of the well. The pipes/fittings that hook into the pvc pipes of the pump is about 6' down into the well-no where near the water. I lost water probably 10 years ago when we had a really bad drought here in Virginia-and when you tried to run the water, it was like a muddy color-even kind of sandy mixture in the water thru the pipes in the house. This is different from then. No discoloration in the water, just no pressure. I too, hope it is not the well gone dry! I am sure that to have a new well ddug would cost a fortune! I would rather it be the pump-as I am sure the pump is way less expensive than haveing a new well done! thanks for your imput! vicki

One more thing tom, check. %There's a small tube the runs from to the control box from the pump. If this tube were blocked then communication between the pump and control box would be lost. Without instruction from the pump by way of pressure the contacts would stay closed and your pump would run all the time. Open the control box and if the contacts are closed check the small tube for a clog. When your pump runs all the time what does the pressure gage read? Back to you, n Tom

jlisenbe · Apr 9, 2012, 03:49 PM

Slight correction. The little tube does not run from the pump to the box, it runs from the water pipe to the box. I know Tom knows that... just a miskey.

That would definitely be worthwhile to check. The big question is this: When you don't have much pressure in the house, check the pressure gauge to see how much pressure you have. If the pump is running at that point, when pressure is very low, then that control box is doing its job. You can tell if the pump is on by simply feeling the pipe where it comes out of the well. There is generally a slight vibration when the pump is running.

Just so you'll know, the control box, known as the switch, is a pressure sensitive device. As water is used, the pressure tank empties and pressure falls. When it reaches a set point, say 30# for example, the switch turns the pump on. The pump pumps until pressure goes up to another set point, for example 50#, and then the switch turns off the pump. Pressure goes back down until the switch turns the pump back on, and the cycle just continues. If the little pipe Speedball referred to is clogged, then the switch cannot sense pressure and doesn't cut the pump on.

speedball1 · Apr 10, 2012, 06:29 AM

Originally Posted by jlisenbe

Slight correction. The little tube does not run from the pump to the box, it runs from the water pipe to the box. I know Tom knows that... just a miskey.

That would definitely be worthwhile to check. The big question is this: When you don't have much pressure in the house, check the pressure gauge to see how much pressure you have. If the pump is running at that point, when pressure is very low, then that control box is doing its job. You can tell if the pump is on by simply feeling the pipe where it comes out of the well. There is generally a slight vibration when the pump is running.

Just so you'll know, the control box, known as the switch, is a pressure sensitive device. As water is used, the pressure tank empties and pressure falls. When it reaches a set point, say 30# for example, the switch turns the pump on. The pump pumps until pressure goes up to another set point, for example 50#, and then the switch turns off the pump. Pressure goes back down until the switch turns the pump back on, and the cycle just continues. If the little pipe Speedball referred to is clogged, then the switch cannot sense pressure and doesn't cut the pump on.

My bad!

Slight correction. The little tube does not run from the pump to the box, it runs from the water pipe to the box. I know Tom knows that... just a miskey

.
I was thinking of my surface pump which has a tubhe from the pump to the control box, Of course a submersible takes it off a pressure line. But it's still worth checking. Let us know, Tom