Well Question on vibration/shaking

[JoyfulLiving789]

Hi, I live in a cottage on a large property and we share a well that is up the hill from the cottage. the lines for the well run under the cottage and distribute through the property. I've lived here 10 months now and a few months ago, the area where they run under the cottage has been more active. My couch is above it and often throughout the day and night I feel shaking for 5-10 min usually and then it stops and sometimes a few min later will start again for another round, sometimes longer, sometimes not. Could this be a problem with a valve or something? When I turn off the well pump at the circuit it seems to happen less but still happens. Thanks much!

 

[Valveman]

Gonna need more info. You share a well, but you can turn it off, and the pipes run under your house before they go to the neighbors? Have you looked at the pump and what the pressure gauge is saying when this happens? Is the pump cycling on/off, or is it just off or just on when this happens?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[JoyfulLiving789]

You are so kind to respond, thank you, I'll try to offer more info:

- I'm a renter on a property with 4 units all separate on the property (ie. not connected) yet all of the circuits are under my unit for the property so the well pump circuit is here luckily so I can test.

- the well is up the hill from my place, another unit is to one side 1/2way up the hill, another to the other side, another below me to one side.

- when I turn off the well pump circuit it doesn't seem to run as much, it seems to cycle more when it's on. Also, when I first turn it off I feel the shaking for about 10 min if that makes any sense.

- I cannot see the gauge myself, I'd need to find out where that is but I can check it. What should I look for or just get you the info?

The maintenance person on the property insists the well pump should only run every few days as we have a very big well that he said only refills every 3-4 days though I'm feeling movement consistently daytime and nighttime, at times the shaking wakes me. When the pump turns off, the noise is rather loud too, it didn't used to feel this way or sound this loud. when I turn the pump off, I don't hear the loud noise.

Hope that makes sense, thanks so much, I'm beyond grateful.

 

[Reach4]

when I turn off the well pump circuit it doesn't seem to run as much,

By "circuit" do you mean circuit breaker? How would it run at all if the breaker is off. Perhaps you mean that even if the pump is not pumping, somebody drawing water from the pressure tank makes the sound you are experiencing.

 

[JoyfulLiving789]

Hi,

Yes I mean the breaker. Yes, I mean that even when the pump is not pumping, I'm feeling some shaking. I don't hear the noises and it's much less shaking when the circuit for the pump is turned off and when it's on, it's consistent throughout the day/eve. Thank you for asking for clarification.

 

[Valveman]

If the well pump only runs every 3-4 days, you must have a really large pressure tank or elevated tank somewhere? If the water is coming from the well, the pump would have to come on when you use water. If the banging sound stops when you turn off the pump, I am guessing you have a small pressure tank that is watterlogged somewhere?

 

[JoyfulLiving789]

So if the pump is off and I turn on water for days without an issue of pressure and we have a very large tank (which is what I was told) would it make sense that the house shakes when water runs underneath? Could this be a valve issue? I don't think we have a small tank anywhere, I was told only one large one that feeds the property. Thank you!

 

[Valveman]

If your getting water from a tank, and the pump is off, the hydraulics of the plumbing between the houses is probably the issue. Houses above or below you can effect your plumbing, especially if the water lines are small, have a partially closed valve somewhere, or if the supply cannot keep up with demand. Usually if you can figure out what taps are open when this happens, it will help you find the problem.

 

[JoyfulLiving789]

Thank you so much, apologize for the delay, couldn't respond at work. I appreciate your response. Any chance you could explain how I check if taps are open and figure out if it is a valve issue? Thanks so much.