Low Pressure or Air in the Lines on a Spokane County Well

Reduced flow from a well can have several causes. King County Public Health lists leaks in the water system and broken pumps and tanks among the possible causes of reduced flow, and recommends contacting a water professional like a well driller, pump installer, or water system engineer.

Email us about your well: contact@spokanecountywellpump.com

What low pressure or air in the lines can mean

Low pressure shows up as a weak flow at taps and showers. Air in the lines shows up as sputtering when a tap is opened. Both are symptoms, and both can come from different places in the system: the pump, the tank, the pipes or the well itself.

The same King County Public Health page that describes wells producing little or no water lists leaks in the water system and broken pumps and tanks among the possible causes of reduced flow. Because many causes produce similar symptoms, it helps to record what you see and when, and to let a qualified professional assess your own system.

When people look into this problem

Showers and taps have a weak flow.
Taps sputter when opened.
Pressure drops when more than one fixture is on.
The change came on gradually over weeks or months.
The change came after work on the pump, tank or pipes.
A neighbor reports similar changes.

What an assessment usually looks like

Describe the symptom. When pressure drops, and whether air comes out of taps.
Check the whole path. A professional looks at the well, pump, tank, pipes and controls.
Consider the possible causes. Leaks, broken pumps and broken tanks are named among causes of reduced flow.
Decide what to test. The professional picks what to check first.
Agree on the work. The scope and price are put in writing.
Check the result. Pressure is watched afterward.

How to prepare

Notes that help anyone looking at a system:

Write down when the pressure drops and what is running at the time.
Note when air shows up at taps.
Note how long the problem has been developing.
Note recent work on the pump, tank or pipes.
Gather paperwork on the pump, tank and well.
Check your water bill to see whether you are on a private well.
Get any price in writing, with what it includes.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For low pressure, the cost follows the cause.

The cause. A leak, a pump and a tank lead to different work.
Equipment. The part involved changes the price.
Access. How easily the system can be reached.
Time on site. Finding the cause takes time.
Parts. Replacement parts add cost.
Written scope. Whether the price covers assessment only or repair too.

Symptoms versus causes

Low pressure and air in the lines describe what you notice, not why it happens. Public-health sources list several possible causes, and the same symptom can come from more than one. Writing down what you see, and when, gives a professional something concrete to work from and keeps the conversation about your own system rather than a general one.

A simple log helps

Keep a short log for a week or two before anyone visits: the time of day, what was running, how the pressure felt and whether air appeared at the tap. Patterns in the log, such as pressure dropping only when two fixtures run, are exactly what a professional uses to decide where to look first. A log also helps you compare what different companies say about your own system.

Sources and registration

Registration. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions.

Safety. Work on pump wiring, pressure tanks and wells can involve electricity, stored pressure and, in some cases, contaminated water, so it belongs with a qualified professional.

Reasons to trust this page

Most statements on this page name their public source, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

What can cause low pressure on a well?

King County Public Health lists leaks in the water system and broken pumps and tanks among the possible causes of reduced flow. Several causes produce similar symptoms, so a qualified well driller, pump installer or water system engineer should assess your own system rather than guessing from the symptom alone.

What does air in the lines mean?

Air in the lines shows up as sputtering when a tap is opened. It is a symptom that can come from different parts of the system, and public-health sources do not tie it to a single cause. Write down when it happens and ask a qualified professional to assess your system.

Who should look at low well pressure?

King County Public Health recommends contacting a water professional like a well driller, pump installer, or water system engineer. Check the company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor” page, and get any price in writing with what it includes.

How much does fixing low pressure cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For low pressure the cost follows the cause, the equipment involved and the time needed. Ask for a written scope that says whether the price covers assessment only or repair too, so prices from different companies can be compared.

What notes help when pressure is low?

Write down when pressure drops and what is running at the time, when air shows up, how long the problem has been developing, and any recent work on the pump, tank or pipes. Gather paperwork on the pump, tank and well. These notes help a professional assess your system.

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