Whole house water pressure normal then drops to a drizzle

[Joline86]

Type of pump?
Submersible____X____
Two wire (no control)________
Three wire (control box)______
Wire Size_________ Wire Length________
or
Jet Pump (above ground)_________
One or two pipes down the well____

Size of Pump?
Motor Horsepower?__________
Pump Model #______________
Date Pump Installed__________

Pumping from?
Cistern tank___________
Pond, lake, river________
Water Well_______X_____
Depth of well__________
Depth to water_________
Pump Setting__________
Pipe Size_________"
Drop Pipe Material
PVC________
Steel_______
Poly________

Well Recovery Rate_______gpm
Well Casing Diameter_______”
Rock Well__________ Sand Well__________ Other______________
Date Well Drilled____________

Well Casing Material
PVC________ Steel_________ Other_________


Pressure Tank?
Bladder or diaphragm tank (one pipe to tank)____X______
Size or model of tank____________
Air charge in top of tank, with pump off and water drained____________PSI
(check with car tire gauge)
or
Plain Hydro Pneumatic tank (two pipes to tank, one in and one out)_________
Size of tank________________

Pressure Switch Setting?
On 30, off 50 ________
On 40, off 60_________
Other______20/40 (Set higher)_________

Pump Control Method?
Cycle Stop Valve model #_________
Variable speed control #__________
Pump Start Relay (sprinkler timer, no tank)__________
Manually turned on and off____________

Pump Protection
Cycle Sensor_________
Pumptec_____________
Low pressure cutoff switch (lever on side)__________
Other_______________

Filters or Softeners______________
Before or after pressure tank_______
Type of filter___________________
Bypass available________________

Water Used For?
House Use____X___ Number of baths__2_____ Number of People____5____
High Flow Showers_______gpm?
Plus/Or
Irrigation with timers________
Irrigation with hoses________
Heat Pump______gpm?


Problems Experienced
No Water_________________
Water only part time________
Water at all times but weak__X___
Air in water_______________
Pressure surging___________
Water Hammer (noise)______
Too Much pressure_________
Other____________________


Pump makes clicking or buzzing sounds________
No Sounds______________
Pressure gauge reading____30____psi
Other____________________________________

Do you have, and know how to use
an Ampmeter and Voltmeter_______Do not have___________

Describe Problem:

We bought a mobile home 3 years ago. We have a well pit a few yards away from the house. In the past 3 years our pipes have frozen twice, although they did not burst. They were not wrapped properly with heat tape and insulation. We have always had problems with water pressure. There is alot of sediment in the water and we replace the filter in the well pit at least once a month. A few months ago we replaced the pressure switch and the pressure tank, because we were loosing pressure and at times had no water. Since then the pressure was normal. A few weeks ago I noticed there was a small amount of water leaking out from under the panel where our hot water heater is located. Upon inspection I could not find a visible leak. I put a towel down in front of the panel and after a few days it did not appear to be leaking anymore, at least there is no water coming out from under the panel. Right before Christmas, we started loosing pressure again. If you turn on the faucet it seems to be normal pressure and then it dwindles down to a drizzle. Turn the faucet off and wait a minute, turn it on and it does the same thing again. At that time I didn't have time to worry about it with the holiday so I let it go. Then one night I was helping the kids brush teeth and I realized that the pressure was back. I got the kids bathed. The next morning I did several loads of laundry and a load of dishes, then I took a shower, the pressure was fine. My fiance came home and went to take a shower and it started doing the same thing again: starts off normal and dwindles down to a drizzle. We checked the pressure at the tank in the pit and it was 30 psi, when the water is turned on inside the house, the pressure in the pit stays steady and the pressure in the house dwindles at the faucet. My uncle came and looked at it and said he thinks that it may be a pinched line between the well pit and the house. There is a tree between the two and he thinks possibly a root grew too close to the line. I have no clue and I don't have the money to have a plumber come out. Also I did a patch job on the hose nozzle awhile ago, there is a small crack in the pipe coming out from under the house and I used a piece of vinyl and some hose clamps to seal it temporarily. Money is tight and we are trying to make due with a house that needs repairs and three kids. I know this is a ton of information, but I figured it is better to be thorough and give as much info as possible. I would appreciate if anyone could give me any insight or confirm my uncles suspicion before we go digging up the yard. I have mechanical knowledge, but plumbing is not my area of expertise. If more information is needed please let me know. Thanks in advance.

[valveman]

Don't do anything until you have changed the pressure gauge. They are cheap, maybe 5 bucks. If you then always show good pressure at the well pit, even while the water trickles in the house, then maybe the tree root thing is possible. If the pressure on that gauge is low when you experience the "trickle", then you have other problems. Maybe you just need to replace the filter cartridge more often. Or the large amount of sediment could have damaged your pump or stopped up the well.

[Joline86]

Thank you. I will see about changing the pressure gauge and the filter and see what that does.

[Smooky]

It also sounds like your well is going dry. The water level may be dropping to low for your pump. When you wait the water table may be rising up high enough for the pump to start pumping again and build enough pressure.