How to Fix Low Water Pressure in House with a Well

When I bought my home twenty-three years ago, it was only eight years old, with one prior owner who had it built custom for them. At that time, there were no options for city water or sewer service, so they installed a brand-new septic and well system.

This is great for me because my well and septic are as young as my home. As long as I maintain them, I should be able to use them long-term without having to connect to municipal systems.

However, my water pressure is very low at my Southeast Michigan home, and I need a plumber to help me increase it because I have a well and live in the Lakes Area of Oakland County. I absolutely cannot afford to make any mistakes if I decide to attempt any adjustments or repairs on my own.

In the interim, before a professional plumber can make it out to my home, I will try a few things that I know increase the flow at least a little bit:

Change filters on water softener
Fill salt bin for water softener
Clean shower heads
Change extra filter on shower head
Clean faucet screens (faucet aerator)
Run an empty wash cycle in the dishwasher
Run an empty wash cycle in the washing machine
Check the pressure tank on the water softener system (thankfully, I just had a new one installed last summer!)

When attempting to fix low water pressure in my house with a well, HGTV (Home and Garden Television) suggests that, “If the municipal water or well-water flow is the problem, hire a licensed plumbing contractor to install a water-pressure booster pump. These powerful, electric pumps target incoming pressure and raise it to the proper level.

Booster pumps are sold in a wide variety of sizes, styles and prices to suit homes both big and small. A plumber should be able to recommend which pump is best suited for your home,”.

Another thing I can do is to drain and flush my water heater unit. Apparently, that is a thing! In all the years of working with my family contracting company, being married (and now divorced) to an irrigation/landscaping guy, and being a homeowner, I never heard about this. But it makes total sense, especially since I am on a well!

While I could hire a plumber to do this job, I may not need to, as it is a fairly simple task to do yourself. Still, since I have never done this before, I will hire my cousin-brother, who is an HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) professional, to help me this first time.

HVAC pros like my cousin, who can work with water heaters, are quite handy and can handle most home repairs except for major plumbing or electrical work.

*Note: All content within this article is meant for informational purposes only and is in no way a replacement for professional advice or support. Seek immediate and appropriate care from a professional when necessary.

How to drain a gas water heater

Even though my home has a newer well and septic system, our water is still very hard. In fact, after a water test before my new water softener was installed, they found that we have three parts iron and one part water.

Not only do I need to use the redout version of salt exclusively for the softener, but it also means all of my water source fixtures in my home need to be cleaned out often and regularly. And that especially includes the water heater, because from what I understand, we need to drain it more frequently since our water source is a well.

As mentioned above, I will have my cousin-brother help me with this, but as a backup, let’s check with the experts and see how this is done. Again, we will refer to HGTV for their advice.

HGTV suggests the following when draining a gas water heater, “Depending on your water source and the mineral content, both gas and electric water heaters should be flushed of sediment every one to two years to ensure optimal performance.

Turn Off the Water Supply

Turn Off the Water Heater: Turn the thermostat to the “pilot” setting (gas)

Attach Hose to Drain Valve: Near the bottom of the tank, locate the tank’s drain valve and attach a standard garden hose to the valve. Be aware that some models may have a cover over the valve opening. Place the other end of the hose in a floor drain or on a driveway where it can drain safely.

Open Hot Water Tap: Open a hot water tap nearest to the water heater, preferably on the floor above.

Open Drain Valve: Open the drain valve and allow the water to drain from the tank. On many models, you can do this with a flathead screwdriver. Again, the water will be hot, so use caution. Once all water has drained from the tank, briefly turn on the cold water supply to the tank. This will stir up any remaining sediment.

Repeat this process until the water runs clear.

Close Valve, Refill Tank, Restart Water Heater: Close the drain valve, remove the hose and turn on the cold water supply. The tank will begin to fill. Go back to the hot water tap opened earlier. Once cold water begins to flow from the tap, turn it off. Turn the gas valve back on from the pilot position or turn the electricity back on to the tank. Be sure to check the valve opening once it’s closed to ensure there are no water leaks,”.

Water pressure regulator failure symptoms

Another issue I have been dealing with for many years is regulating pressure in our plumbing. For instance, when I am merely brushing my teeth in my bathroom and my son is in the other bathroom taking a shower, he experiences:

A loss of pressure to the point of nothing coming out, or
The water gets scalding hot with minimum pressure or,
The water is scalding hot and dripping out at a slow pace

In any scenario, it is annoying and inconvenient because there are three of us in the house, and no one can do anything if someone is in the shower. Especially do not flush the toilet, as that is the worst-case scenario! Also, avoid doing laundry, running the dishwasher, cleaning the bathroom, giving the dogs some water, etc.

An official government water municipality in California shares these failure symptoms:

“Diminishing or fluctuating water pressure
No water pressure
Thumping, banging, hammering, or vibrating noises in the walls
High water pressure, water leaking from faucet, toilet running constantly,”.

Thankfully, I have not had any thumping or banging yet. Nor do we have any leaky faucets. Add another thing to my list of homeowner responsibilities! Make no mistake, though, I am truly grateful to have a home.

How to fix low water pressure in house with a well

In conclusion, whether I call a plumber, my cousin-brother, or try to do it myself, these water pressure issues must be addressed promptly to avoid any further damage or repairs needed. Joys of homeownership!