MCO_970
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Hi,
I'm a new member who has been browsing your site to learn about well issues. I am trying to determine if the water pressure problem we have is the pump or the waterlines, so please bear with me.
We have a 3' deep well on a spring with a 3/4 HP Jacuzzi jet pump. The well is about 500' from our house, and it also feeds the neighbor's house (she's about 800' from the well). The line is 50+ year old galvanized pipe, probably 1". The line goes up a hill (~40' lift) then it flattens out as it goes toward the house - so maybe 50' of lift max.
We have a pressure tank at the house with a booster pump - I just figured out that it it runs way too much (kicks on about every 15 seconds when water is used).
The outside irrigation water pressure, which is not boosted, is really bad. Anytime someone turns on water anywhere, the pressure drops to zero and a single sprinkler will barely function. The standing pressure on that line is about 20#, and it's the same on all the irrigation spigots. If I run one low-flow sprinkler, the standing pressure will drop to about 12-15#.
So I went down the hill and looked at the pump. It shows pressure at all times from 55# to 70#. It does not cut on very often. The pump is, however, about 10 years old. I am going to have it checked soon just in-case. There is a big Well X-trol pressure tank at the pump.
I considered insufficient supply, but even during our worst drought, the well level never dropped more than 12" despite the area water table falling pretty low. And that was with my neighbor watering her lawn 24x7
I am thinking the problem is the 50+ year old galvanized water lines, and that the booster pump is spending too much time trying to suck water though blocked lines. And the irrigation pressure falls to zero because there is insufficient flow to the house. Is this correct? Is there anything else I can do to diagnose the problem before I spend all my dough on a new waterline?
Thanks!
Michelle
(who used to live on Union Hill in Redmond when I worked for the Empire)
I'm a new member who has been browsing your site to learn about well issues. I am trying to determine if the water pressure problem we have is the pump or the waterlines, so please bear with me.
We have a 3' deep well on a spring with a 3/4 HP Jacuzzi jet pump. The well is about 500' from our house, and it also feeds the neighbor's house (she's about 800' from the well). The line is 50+ year old galvanized pipe, probably 1". The line goes up a hill (~40' lift) then it flattens out as it goes toward the house - so maybe 50' of lift max.
We have a pressure tank at the house with a booster pump - I just figured out that it it runs way too much (kicks on about every 15 seconds when water is used).
The outside irrigation water pressure, which is not boosted, is really bad. Anytime someone turns on water anywhere, the pressure drops to zero and a single sprinkler will barely function. The standing pressure on that line is about 20#, and it's the same on all the irrigation spigots. If I run one low-flow sprinkler, the standing pressure will drop to about 12-15#.
So I went down the hill and looked at the pump. It shows pressure at all times from 55# to 70#. It does not cut on very often. The pump is, however, about 10 years old. I am going to have it checked soon just in-case. There is a big Well X-trol pressure tank at the pump.
I considered insufficient supply, but even during our worst drought, the well level never dropped more than 12" despite the area water table falling pretty low. And that was with my neighbor watering her lawn 24x7
I am thinking the problem is the 50+ year old galvanized water lines, and that the booster pump is spending too much time trying to suck water though blocked lines. And the irrigation pressure falls to zero because there is insufficient flow to the house. Is this correct? Is there anything else I can do to diagnose the problem before I spend all my dough on a new waterline?
Thanks!
Michelle
(who used to live on Union Hill in Redmond when I worked for the Empire)