How Is Your Well?

How is your well? Most people don’t think about that question very often, but it matters – especially if we want to have running water in our home. But wells can be complicated, so what can the average home owner do to maintain their well?

One of the best things that a home owner can do to maintain their well is to monitor and maintain their well tank. Your well tank is that big, blue, metal tank in the picture to the left. So what does it do?

The well tank has a layer of pressurized air at the top and a bladder at the bottom (in a typical tank). This tank has the task of not only holding water, but pressure as well. Having this tank keeps your well pump from having to turn on every time you turn on a sink –  and that keeps your well pump from burning out.

There is a certain balance that needs to be kept in this tank. A typical tank will turn the well pump off when the tank reaches 60 psi, and turn the pump on when it reaches 40 psi (we call this a 40/60 split). Check your pressure gauge while running water. Is that the range you are in? If not, then you will need to adjust it. Also, turn your well off and drain the water (i.e. the pressure) and check the air pressure at the top of the tank with a pressure gauge. The air pressure should be about 38 psi. If it isn’t, then add air pressure until it is.

Taking care of your well tank is a great way to take care of your well – and this will ensure functional water flow for years to come.