Turning the electricity off will hold the water supply from the source in place. This means that no new water will be fed into your tank. This will also prevent you from getting electrocuted if you have to touch the circuits in your control system. If you’re using a submersible system, make sure that you close the water line manually first. There should be a valve near the location where the pipe turns downward into the ground.
If you live in a residential area, you can run the hose out to the nearest gutter. If there is water dripping off of your spigot when you go to attach the hose, this could be your problem. Try tightening the valve on the spigot. If it’s still dripping when it’s tightly closed, replace it. This may solve minor pressure issues.
This should typically be done once every 6-8 months for maintenance. This process removes sediment and debris from your pipes.
Psi stands for pounds per square inch. It is the unit used to measure pressure. Once the pressure reads 0 psi, your tank is empty. Close the spigot once you’ve drained it.
Depending on your specific brand, the air fill valve may be on the side near the top. If the screw is screwed on too tight to remove, try using a wrench or channel locks to loosen it. The air fill valve is usually the smallest cap on the top of the tank. It is rarely in the center of the top though.
If you hear air coming out of the air fill valve either before or after you take the cap off, your air fill valve may need to be replaced. This typically requires a professional to install it.
The most common cut-in/cut-out configurations for pressure tanks are 30/50 and 40/60. These numbers refer to the pressure level at which your pump adds or releases pressure in the tank.
If the gauge flutters all over the place, make sure that your air pressure gauge is working correctly. Try testing it on an inflated tire to ensure that it is working correctly. Unless you installed the tank yourself, this typically requires a professional installation.
Never go over your cut-in pressure. This can create a dangerous scenario where there is too much pressure in the tank for the amount of water in it. If you add too much air, simply press lightly on the air fill valve from the side. If you hear air escaping, it’s emptying. If it can’t be pressed to the side, attach a compressor halfway until you hear the air shooting out. This is the most common problem with the water pressure in a well system.
Open the water shutoff once you’ve verified that your tank is cutting off automatically at the correct psi. If your well system had no shutoff valve to lock out the water in the building, it may take a while for the pressure to rebuild.
The pressure control switch sends the signal to the tank that it needs to turn on or off. If the switch is reading the pressure as being lower than the actual pressure, fixing the discrepancy should solve your pressure problems.
The pressure-reducing valve controls how fast the water is fed into your system from the water main. If it’s loose, it could be interfering with the amount of water that is supposed to be coming into your building. If the pressure-reducing valve is broken, leaking, or spinning in place, replace it. You may not have a pressure-reducing valve on your tank system depending where you live.
A plumber will be able to replace pipes and clear blockages. Unless you have experience replacing pipes and resealing walls, don’t open up sections of flooring or drywall to look for a problem in your pipes. Let a professional do it.
Some pressure boosters involve cutting out a section of pipe in between your regulator and the tank and to store a reserve of water. You will need to cut pipes and add threading to install these boosters. Many pressure boosters involve installing multiple valves and pressure gauges along your supply line to push water through at a faster rate. Some pressure boosters are all-in-one units, and replace a section of your control unit or regulator with a second pump system. If the pipe that connects to your water main is smaller than 3⁄4 inch (1. 9 cm), there won’t be enough room for the pressure booster to help. You can buy a pressure booster online or from a plumbing specialist.
Most constant pressure systems are installed on the submersible pump, in between the regulator and the water main, or on the control unit directly. If a constant pressure unit is installed on the submersible pump, you’ll need a plumber to access the pump underground. A constant pressure system basically turns your well system into a municipal system.
