Your New Well Source Has Lots Of Water. So Why Is Your Water Pressure So Low?

Your own private well should give you plenty of water, and if you're tapped into a water source that is known to be abundant and easy to reach, you should have all the water you want to use. However, if your water pressure at your faucet is low, you need to find out why. Reasons for low water pressure can range from the mundane and temporary to more involved issues.

It Might Be the Faucet Aerators

Check your faucet aerators. These are the connections on the ends of the faucets that turn the blast of water into a manageable stream. Water restrictions in many states have reduced the allowable gallon-per-minute (gpm) flow, and in some cases, this flow does not seem very strong, even though you can still use it to wash your hands and clean items. For example, California adopted standards that stated bathroom sink faucets would be restricted to 1.2 gpm after January 1, 2016. That's not the traditional full-force stream that many are used to.

Remove the aerators and try switching the flow restrictor inside for one that's got a slightly higher rating. You will have to replace the lower flow restrictor to stay in compliance with your state's laws, but temporarily testing a restrictor with a higher rate can show you if the water pressure is just due to the restrictors. You might also have a flow restrictor in your showerhead, too.

Hard Water in Your Well

If the water source you use has hard water, scale buildup in aerators, pipes, and in the pump could be the problem. Scale can be cleaned out of faucet aerators with vinegar and elbow grease, and you can ask your well drilling company about how to clean out the pump. Removing the scale, which can build up faster than you may realize, can increase the water flow by a noticeable amount.

Fixture Distance

If the water pressure gets lower on one side of your home, and it's the side that's farthest from the well pump and where the water lines enter your home, you might just be looking at a supply issue. A booster pump added to the lines can help.

It is also possible that the well pump is defective or has sustained damage somehow. That's an issue for the drilling company and pump installer to look at; don't try to take apart the pump yourself lest you void the warranty. For more information, contact a water well pump service.