How to Diagnose Problems with Well Water Systems | Ask This Old House

Ask This Old House plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey explains how a well water pump works and why it could be behind a high electrical bill.
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Steps:
1. Some well pumps are submersible and sit at the bottom of the well. Others are located inside the home, usually in a basement.
2. Richard explains every time a homeowner with a well turns on the faucet, a well water pump could come on and call for water from the well. The well pump should be connected to one of two pressure systems.
3. One is a large pressure tank. That tank has an air charge at the top and water at the bottom. The tank is pressurized, so if the pump is coming on and off whenever the faucet comes on, that’s likely an indication that the air charge has become water logged and may need to be recharged.
4. The second system is similar, but has a neoprene bladder in between the air and the water reservoir. That would form a barrier and negate any oversaturation of the tank. If the pump is coming on in this situation, that means the neoprene bladder or a balloon-like material in between has failed, allowing the air and water to mix.
5. A well pump that runs to frequently suggests a problem with the pressure systems, which should be inspected and repaired by a qualified well technician.

About Ask This Old House TV:
Homeowners have a virtual truckload of questions for us on smaller projects, and we're ready to answer. Ask This Old House solves the steady stream of home improvement problems faced by our viewers—and we make house calls! Ask This Old House features some familiar faces from This Old House, including Kevin O'Connor, general contractor Tom Silva, plumbing and heating expert Richard Trethewey, and landscape contractor Roger Cook.

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How to Diagnose Problems with Well Water Systems | Ask This Old House
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