Does your home have a well water pump?
During a well pump installation, the water pump is installed along a well casing to push water from below the ground into your home. The size of your well water pump system is determined by the size of your home. Your well water pump is placed within the well below water level so that it will not be affected by periods of drought.
The water is pumped into a well pump pressure tank that compresses the air in the tank until it reaches a preset level. The amount of water that is delivered by the well pump pressure tank between the time the pump shuts down, and the time it starts again is called drawdown.
Here are some signs you may need water well pump service or replacement:
- Decreased water pressure
- No water at all
- Pulsing water
- Pump always running
- Dirty water
- Loud or unusual noises
- Air spitting from the faucet
- Unusually high electric bills
The purpose of your well pump is to maintain a constant supply of pressurized water inside your home and piping system. Typically, your well pump is switched on and off with a pressure switch. Meaning, the pump is turned on when the pressure switch senses the pressure is at a minimum point, and off at a pre-set high-pressure point. Another type of well pump and tank system is called a continuous pressure system. This type of system uses a variable speed pump, allowing the pump motor to rotate more rapidly and slowly, pumping more or less water based on the pressure sensing unit.
Replacing a well pump – If your well pump is pumping air, or if your electricity bill has increased dramatically recently, these could be signs that it is time to think about well pump replacement. If when you are turning on your faucet, a mixture of air pressure and water is coming out, this is an indication that something is seriously wrong with your well. One explanation for air leakage could be that your water table has dropped to a point that is below the well pump. If this is not the case, your well pump drop pipe may be broken. In some cases, air spraying from your faucet may not be caused by a change in water table or a broken pipe, but your water table may contain gases. The gases dissolve within the water and later cause water to pray out of the tap. If this is the case, your well pump can often be treated to eliminate the gases.
If your pump is worn down, or blocked, it needs to work much harder which can result in increased energy bills. Additionally, if your check valve is broken, this leads to water flowing back into your well from your pressure tank. This reduces pressure and signals the pressure switch to turn back on, basically resulting in your well pump running constantly.
Your water supply in your home depends on having a properly functioning well system. Whether you need well pump repair or well pump replacement, Kulk’s Plumbing can help! Whether we are repairing, replacing, or digging a new well pump on your property, we will provide you with well water pump services that keep long-term future performance in mind.
