We recommend a well inspection every five years. This will ensure your well continues to run efficiently and optimize the warranty that our well pump and pressure tanks come with.

A well pressure tank is a major piece of a well system. It is a container that provides pressurized water from a well pump to a home. The pump fills the tank with water, causing the air inside the tank to compress and, as a result, increasing the pressure inside the tank. When water is drawn out of the tank, the pressure decreases to a preset cut-on point, and the pump turns on and refills the tank. When the pump fills up, pressure increases until it reaches a cut-off point. At this cut-off point, the pump turns off and will not activate until the tank’s pressure drops below the cut-on point. A well pressure tank preserves the life of the well pump by decreasing the number of times the pump must turn on and off. The larger the capacity of the tank, the less often the pump needs to activate if the pump is sized appropriately.

A well pump is a device that draws water from a well and pushes it into a well storage tank. Depending on the type of pump, it can be installed in the home, in an outbuilding, or in the well itself. A submersible pump uses impellers to draw water in and push it up a pipe. These pumps work better than the others under certain conditions and carry different initial and ongoing maintenance costs.

Numerous problems with a well pressure tank can cause the well pump to short cycle or run constantly. The well pressure tank is designed to alleviate the workload of the pump. When the tank is near empty, the pressure switch switches the pump on until the tank reaches a preset pressure. When this pressure is reached, the pump switches off. This allows the pump to run as little as possible while maintaining the highest efficiency. When the pressure tank fails, however, water pressure fluctuates, and the pressure switch may activate the pump too much or not at all. When the switch activates the pump constantly, the pump overheats and the motor wears down. This constant abuse on your well pump can also have serious consequences, as constant operation or short-cycling can lead to the premature failure of the pump. When the well pump fails, no water can reach the pressure tank and, consequently, the home.

Certain well pressure tank problems can cause the well pump to run constantly. As a result, the pump uses far more electricity than under normal operation. To know if your well water system is using too much electricity, monitor your electrical bill every month to determine any spikes in the future.

The black sediment in your well water is usually minerals such as manganese. It could also be caused by a hole in your drop pipe, which in return, stirs up your well and breaks off sediment in your well casing.

On the other hand, some homes have water filtration systems that use granular activated carbon (GAC) to remove certain organic chemicals and odors from water. These particles may enter your tap water and often it’s a sign that it’s time to replace the filter.

Tanks and well pumps are set up using a high and a low setting. They usually run on a 40/60 psi cycle or a 50/70 psi cycle.  

One reason a homeowner would notice a reduction in water pressure is due to a failing pressure switch. A pressure switch sends a signal to the well pump to increase the pressure in your tank when it drops below a predesignated PSI.

Another reason could be if you have a bladder pressure tank, then the reduction in your home’s water pressure could be due to a problem with your pressure tank’s air bladder. This air bladder helps increase pressure in your tank by exerting force against the water in the tank. If the air bladder is under-inflated, then it is not exerting enough pressure against the tank water to keep the water pressure in your home high.

Another possibility could be if your well is equipped with a sediment filter, then the key to why your home’s water pressure suddenly dropped could be as simple as a clogged sediment filter.

As a private well owner, you are responsible for regularly testing your well water. Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) recommends testing for Coliform Bacteria, Nitrate, Arsenic, Lead, and Manganese.

While it is not practical to test water for every disease-causing microorganism, it is easy to test for a group of indicator bacteria called total coliform bacteria. These bacteria are good indicators of sanitary protection of the well and water system because they are everywhere on the surface of the ground, but do not usually occur past a few feet into the soil.  While most coliform bacteria do not cause disease, their presence suggests there may be disease-causing microorganisms in your water.  

Nitrate is a compound that occurs naturally and also has many human-made sources. Nitrate is in some lakes, rivers, and groundwater in Minnesota. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency drinking water standard for nitrate in public water supplies is 10 mg/L and is considered safe to drink for everyone in your family.

Arsenic occurs naturally in rocks and soil across Minnesota and can dissolve into groundwater. Unfortunately, there is no way to know the arsenic level in water before a well is drilled. Arsenic levels can vary between wells, even within a small area.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recommends a maximum level of arsenic less than 10 micrograms per liter (µg/L*). Arsenic has been detected in about 40 percent of new wells drilled since 2008 in Minnesota. About 10 percent of Minnesota’s private wells have arsenic levels higher than 10 µg/L.

For more information regarding water quality and testing please reference the MN Department of Health’s website at https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/environment/water/wells/waterquality