Water pressure problems?

kansteader · #1 01/13/08, 09:35 AM

We purchased a new energy efficient dish washer several months age. We were replacing all the plumbing in the house from galvenized to copper. The dishwasher never worked. We called the company and they sent a service person out. Apparently a rat chewed through the wiring. So they fixed that.

Now they say that there is not enough water pressure to open the valve on the dishwasher. We did not replace the line from the well to the house (about 250 feet). Would replacing this help with water pressure? The pump was replaced 6 months ago. Any ideas to increase water pressure?

big rockpile · #2 01/13/08, 09:43 AM

Are you running 40psi at the Pressure Tank?

big rockpile

Beeman · #3 01/13/08, 10:03 AM

And your water pressure measured in the house is???

Measure the pressure out at the well head and then measure at the house and compare. this will show if there is considerable presure drop. what type of piping goes from the well to the house? If it's galvanized too then I would replace it.

texican · #4 01/13/08, 10:04 AM

Do you have water pressure at the sink?

Can you put your finger over the faucet and stop the water? If you can, you have less than 5lbs of pressure, and probably not enough.

If you have lots of pressure at the sinks, you should have the same pressure at the dishwasher.

rambler · #5 01/13/08, 12:40 PM

You'll need to supply a lot more info, as others ask, to see what is going on.

Will help to know if it is deep well or shallow, what type & size of pump, what type & size of pressure tank, and what setting your pressure switch has on it.

--->Paul

watcher · #6 01/13/08, 04:02 PM

If there is a problem you can buy booster pumps that are specifically make to raise the pressure.

kansteader · #7 01/13/08, 04:27 PM

Sorry about the lack of info and the ingorance on the subject. I checked the pressure tank guage and it read about 35. I put more air into it which increased the water pressure inside the house but not enough to make the dish washer worke. However the water is surging which I have been told is a sign the pressure tank is going bad. I have a call in to the plumber,I think this problem is best handled by professionals. I am using the same plumber as has been used at this house forever so I will begin to gather pump info and other info for future posts. Thanks for the help, any further advise would bew greatly appreciated.

Beeman · #8 01/13/08, 05:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kansteader

Sorry about the lack of info and the ingorance on the subject. I checked the pressure tank guage and it read about 35. I put more air into it which increased the water pressure inside the house but not enough to make the dish washer worke. However the water is surging which I have been told is a sign the pressure tank is going bad. I have a call in to the plumber,I think this problem is best handled by professionals. I am using the same plumber as has been used at this house forever so I will begin to gather pump info and other info for future posts. Thanks for the help, any further advise would bew greatly appreciated.

Pressure tank gauge isn't a good indicator sometimes as they go bad over time. A seperate gauge that you could cross check it with would be best. I'm not on a well now but from memory when I was on one I think you have to shut the pump, bleed off the pressure and then check/adjust the air pressure in the tank. then turn everything back on and check the turn on turn off pressure settings.

moopups · #9 01/13/08, 05:55 PM

There are minimual supply pipe sizes for such here, also if you double the pipe size it quads the flow. An accumulation tank set in a protected area near the DW may also assist.

js2743 · #10 01/13/08, 06:09 PM

if you have been adding air to the tank with a badder you may have burst the bladder inside. if you have a bladder tank you always drain the water and then set the tanks air pressure 2 psi below the cut on pressure on the pressure switch, which is either 20psi cut on and 40 psi cut off or 30 psi cut on and 50 psi cut off.

if you dont have a bladder tank you will need to add air every once in a while as you said you had surging water, that means your pump is cutting on and off which is a sign of the tank being water logged. or you may need to replace the pressure switch as they do go bad after a while and with it surging on and off it is working overtime cutting on and off like that.

rambler · #11 01/13/08, 07:28 PM

Depends on if you have a bladder type tank, or a simple pressure tank, you might not have enough air in the tank, or way too much.

35 lbs is quite low for a typical well setup on a farm, We use a 40/60 pressure switch. However as mentioned gauge on the tank typically goes bad esp if you have harsh water as it seems you are saying, so I wouldn't trust that gauge.

I think getting the plumber out & asking many questions will help you out a lot. Be sure to be there when he comes.

Is your pump on the surface, or deep down the hole with the water? There can be several problems with your pump, but depends on what type you have.

Your tank, if a bladder type, may be burst & is now working - poorly - with your added pressure. If not burst, adding too much air makes them not work right at all.

Your tank, if a simple type, may still not have enough air.

Pressure switches go bad, the tiny pipe to them plug up, and if yours is a 20/40 switch (giving you the 35lb reading) that is very low, unless your pupm is weak/small you should be able to go to a 35/55 or 40/60 setting.

Many things to consider in the whole system, yes a plugged water pipe can be a problem too, but typically one of the other things first? Without knowing your system it is very hard to guess the cause, as you see it can be at many different places, a good gauge & determining which components you have will get it figured out.

--->Paul