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About Sharon McCarthy
Expertise
I can help with most questions about residential plumbing problems including septic systems, and some questions about irrigation. I have no experience with commercial installations or codes.

Experience
I have been a sole-proprietor service plumber in two small towns north of Phoenix Arizona for 26 years.

Publications
I had a monthly column in the United Steelworkers of America, local 1033, newsletter 1978 to 1982. I wrote an article for "The Theosophist" in 1977. I've written dozens of letters to the editor in many newspapers.

Education/Credentials
High school and three years of college. My step-father, having worked 40 years in the plumbing trade in Chicago, taught me for two years. The rest has been hands-on experience.

Past/Present Clients
Many hundreds of good people in Cave Creek and Carefree Arizona

You are here: Experts > Home/Garden > Home Improvement/Repair > Plumbing in the Home > Drop in water pressure to taps

Plumbing in the Home - Drop in water pressure to taps

Expert: Sharon McCarthy - 10/31/2009

Question
QUESTION: Hello Sharon:

We're on a well system for our water. The pressure gauge by the tank shows we have a 25/50 setting I think. All was find until we had a power outage a few days ago. Good water pressure at the taps, and there would take a few minutes between the pressure switches turing the pump on and off.

Since the ourtage we have had virtually no water pressure to the taps. The pressure switches by the tank seem to be okay as the pressure drops to 25 then slowly goes up again to 50 (suggesting to me its getting water form the well). But when we turn on a tap the pressure of the water coming out is a dribble!

Any suggestions would be really appreciated!

Thanks,

Peter

ANSWER: Peter,

  From what you wrote it sounds like everything appears to be working except the water! I am not an expert on water wells, but I know some basics. You might try asking some of the other experts who might know more about wells. I only answered because I thought you might try something first. Check the circuit breaker box and see if one of the breakers for the well system may have tripped. When a breaker trips, it doesn't go all the way to OFF, it just kicks back a little bit from the ON position.

  When you reset a tripped breaker, you have to flip it to OFF first, then flip it hard to ON. This is just a thought. If this happened after a power outage, it seems to me that whatever caused it may have also caused a breaker to trip. Try that first. This is all I can figure. Sharon

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks Sharon - the circuit breakers seem fine - thanks for the tip.

Is there an expert you would suggest?

Peter

Answer
Dear Peter, If you mean an expert on this website, to tell you the truth I haven't really studied the lists of their areas of expertise. I think there are 5 or 6 other plumbers, and I also never looked to see if there is another category about help for water wells.

I know some people will ask two or three experts on a list and see what answers come up. This is fair, in my opinion, like getting several brains working on a problem! You might also check another website run by Wiki called Answers.com. I looked there once and found that a number of their experts will sometimes join in, almost like a forum discussion.

  I have a hunch the solution to your problem will be simple. Since it started after a power outage, it almost has to be related to some electrical function. I wish I could tell you exactly! Good luck with this. sharon

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