How Does A Well Pump Work?
Do you use well water in your home? If you do, then you likely have a well pump and a pressure tank. It’s important that you understand the basics of how your well water pump works so that you know when to call for help and how to keep your drinking water safe.
What is a Well Pump?
Most home water systems have a pump that is submerged under the water level in the well. This well pump transfers water from the well to your home. Some systems have a jet pump. This pump sits on top of the ground and draws water out of the earth for use in your house.
In addition, well water systems need a way to pressurize the water that you use so you can make it as forceful as you need it. Some systems use gravity to pressurize the water. Other systems pump water into a storage tank, where it stays until you need it in your house. This tank is attached to a pressure tank. The water passes through the pressure tank before it arrives at your faucet. The tank allows water pressure to build until it is at the levels you desire.
How does a Well Pump Work?
After a well is drilled, the pump is installed. The size of a pump will vary depending on the size of the home, the number of plumbing fixtures used, and the water demand. Typical domestic pump averages 10 gallons of water per minute. When the pressure in the home drops below a certain level, the pump knows to turn on. Water is then lifted into the home until the pressure is restored.
Well pumps push water from a well into a storage tank where it sits until you need it. To do this, well pumps use a pressure tank system that sends water from the reservoir or storage tank into your home’s plumbing.
As water pumps into the tank, its air pressure increases until it reaches a specific, preset level. When it reaches that point, the air pressure will push water through your home’s plumbing system. The air quality will lower as you use the water in the tank, and the pump will turn back on when the air pressure lowers to a certain point. That ensures that you always have the water you need at the ready.
When we turn on a faucet, air pressure forces water through the plumbing system until the pressure inside the pump drops to the trigger level. This tells the pump to turn on and draw water into the house and the tank. The water then goes up the faucet and pressure builds to the default shut-off level. This keeps the water pressure at a constant level and keeps water and air separate.
