Running out of water, 55 ft well

[Martin1b]

I have a 55 ft well that when originally drilled produced around 10 or 12gpm. I have an 85gal pressure tank on the line and a 1hp submersible on it. When not demanding it very hard, it's fine (drinking, dishwasher, shower at same time). However, when I add lot higher demand (any of the first I listed plus a bath or the washer), I run out. Seems to me I'm just starting to exceed the supply of my well. I'm trying to get the water passed the high demand periods of my house but don't need sustained supply.

I'm looking for alternatives to get me by. Would prefer not to replace washer with low usage version or an unpressurized tank with additional pump/cistern.

Couldn't I add an additional large pressure tank in parallel set at same pressure as other pressure tank to increase my capacity?

 

[Craigpump]

Why don't you have a qualified well or pump guy do a well yield test to find out what's going on?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[LLigetfa]

Couldn't I add an additional large pressure tank in parallel set at same pressure as other pressure tank to increase my capacity?

A larger pressure tank would just be seen as a larger load. Why is there a 1HP pump on such a shallow well? It may be drawing more GPM than the well can recover. The pump will draw at the max GPM while it refills the tank.

As craigpump suggests, get a yield test done to determine the recovery rate and then see if you can rate limit the pump so it doesn't exceed it. If it has screened casing, you may be able to high pressure clean the casing and increase yield.

 

[Valveman]

If the well will not produce enough for peak demands, a cistern type storage tank with a booster pump is the best option.