[Jae G]

I rent property from a friend with a well. For some time there has been a problem with inconsistent water pressure, weak showers, not enough pressure to run a small drip irrigation system. And sometimes after running the water for just a few minutes it will slow to a tiny trickle, even from the house taps. Is it possible the well bladder has a leak? What else should we check?

[creahands]

What are the settings on the pressure switch? Should be either 30/50 or 40 /60. This means the pump goes on at the lower number and off at the higher number.

The bladder tank should be set 2 PSI below the turn on pressure. If the turn on pressure is is 30 PSI then the tank should be set at 28 PSI. The bladder tank has pressure has to be set with the water off and the tank empty.

When pressure goes below turn on point, can u hear or feel the pump running? U should be able to do this at the pipe coming into house.

Get back to us and let us know about these settings.
We will be able to help u from there.

Chuck

[jlisenbe]

There is a small air valve at the top of the tank. Press the valve stem a few seconds. If water comes out, the tank should be replaced.

However, I doubt that the tank is your problem. If water slows to a trickle, then that is all your pump is delivering. Is the pump above ground or in the well? Do you know how old it is?

[speedball1]

I rent property from a friend with a well. For some time there has been a problem with inconsistent water pressure, weak showers, not enough pressure to run a small drip irrigation system. And sometimes after running the water for just a few minutes it will slow to a tiny trickle, even from the house taps. Is it possible the well bladder has a leak? What else should we check?

How's the rainfall been lately? Dry" Real dry? Could be the water table's falling. What could be happening is that when you shower you run the water table down and the flow stops. Then you let it set and the water table replenished itself and the whole bit starts over. Does that work for you? Let me know, Tom

[jlisenbe]

I think Speedball is on target. You have a well supplying water for two families. If the pump is OK, and that is not yet certain, then the well itself becomes a question mark.

[Jae G]

Thanks so much for the suggestions. The pump is underground. I suspect that neither it, or the well have ever been serviced.

Right now we are in a drought, but we had the same problem last year when we had plenty of water, so I don't think it's the water table.

We actually rent land, and use some of the water for a vegetable garden and very small landscape company. The building on the property contains 3 bathrooms, 1 dishwasher and 1 washer, using the water when the house is fully occupied. Right now it is not, and still we have the issues.

We're at a very basic (or less! ) level of knowledge, and need to figure out what to look for as soon as we open the well. The property owner does not know much about it, other than it is a bladder system. Anything else to add before we tackle this project?

[Jae G]

What are the settings on the pressure switch? Should be either 30/50 or 40 /60. This means the pump goes on at the lower number and off at the higher number.

The bladder tank should be set 2 PSI below the turn on pressure. If the turn on pressure is is 30 PSI then the tank should be set at 28 PSI. The bladder tank has pressure has to be set with the water off and the tank empty.

When pressure goes below turn on point, can u hear or feel the pump running? U should be able to do this at the pipe coming into house.

Get back to us and let us know about these settings.
We will be able to help u from there.

Chuck

Chuck and others - See my post below, did not know how to properly access this string! I also tried to click the "helpful" button on each of your responses but it said I do not have access. I'll look into this, because you were all very helpful, thanks!!

[creahands]

The bladder tank and pressure control switch are usually located where water from well enter the house.

A typical set up is as follows.

Water comes into house. Pressure control switch follows. This is a grey or black box with 2 electrical lines to it. One line from the well and one from the power.

Next there will be a T in water line. One side of T goes to bladder tank and the other continues into house. The bladder tank has an air valve on top and is usually blue. This valve is to test and adjust the pressure.

Next in line to house would be a pressure gauge. This will show u the on/off settings of the pressure switch.

The water line then continues into house to feed all water using components.

This is a general set up. There are variations.

Good luck

Chuck

[Jae G]

The bladder tank and pressure control switch are usually located where water from well enter the house.

A typical set up is as follows.

Water comes into house. Pressure control switch follows. This is a grey or black box with 2 electrical lines to it. One line from the well and one from the power.

Next there will be a T in water line. One side of T goes to bladder tank and the other continues into house. The bladder tank has an air valve on top and is usually blue in color. This valve is to test and adjust the pressure.

Next in line to house would be a pressure gauge. This will show u the on/off settings of the pressure switch.

The water line then continues into house to feed all water using components.

This is a general set up. There are variations.

good luck

Chuck

Thanks!! Can anyone tell me how I need to change my settings here on Ask Me to allow me to hit the thumbs up button?

[jlisenbe]

OK. It sounds like you are planning on trying to tackle this yourself. Just one word of caution. You can probably handle a great many things with your system, but if you plan on pulling the pump yourself, then be really careful. Worst case scenario is it gets away from you and ends up at the bottom of the well. That's trouble. So be careful if that's your plan.