Low yield well and pressure tank

[Jeff Sanner]

I just bought a house with a well. When I am taking a shower the water pressure will suddenly drop off and take about 10-15 minutes to come back. I was told it was a low yield well. The pressure in the system literally drops from 40 to 1o psi instantly. It literally drops off.

I have about a 30-40 gallon pressure tank. I was thinking if I installed a large capacity pressure tank that I would have more capacity thereby giving the pump more time to catch up. Is my thinking correct? If not do you have any other suggestions?

Thank you!

 

[LLigetfa]

Is my thinking correct?

No. The bigger tank will just be an additional load on the well. If your well cannot produce fast enough, you need an non-pressurized storage tank that you can fill at the slow rate the well produces and then pump from that storage tank at the rate you need.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Valveman]

Like LLigtfa says a larger pressure tank will just be seen as additional load for the well and pump. A cistern storage tank system can make use of the 1440 minutes in a day and a low producing can keep it full. Then an additional booster pump system can give you as much flow and pressure as you need for good showers and stuff.

 

[Reach4]

It is possible that the problem could be handled by the combination of a low flow showerhead and having the submersible pump set a little deeper. If this problem was identified earlier, the pump may have already be set as low as it could go without sucking up sediment.

Do you have a 4 inch ID well, or 5 inch?

 

[Jeff Sanner]

Thank you gentlemen for the great ideas. I am trying to do this on a budget so I may start with the lowest cost option first. It is a 4 inch well so ultimately it may need to be upgraded in size, but these are some good options.

I love these forums because you can get advice from people who don't want to sell you something!