Well is not Well

We've been struggling with our water pressure. 

There is a well at the Cat Ranch.  Always has been.

A few weeks ago we noticed the water pressure in the shower was diminished.  It wasn't bad, just not as strong as it used to be.

Last week I noticed that the water pressure in the shower would start out strong and I could stand at the back of the shower.  Then as the shower continued, I would have to get closer to the front of the shower. Then closer.  Then closer. Pretty soon, I was standing UNDER the showerhead. By the end of the shower, it felt like I was just being dripped on.

Not relaxing. Not refreshing. 

I also noticed the same diminished pressure when I filled the water bottles and tea kettle. 

The pump we have has a tank with a bladder inside (think big, vinyl balloon).  The bladder is surrounded by air. The well pumps the water into the tank, the bladder against the air creates the pressure. When you open the faucet, water comes out with force.  As the air pressure lowers, the pump kicks on to fill with more water.

Over time the air can slowly leak out.  I asked Walt Kowalski to bring home the air compressor to add some air to the tank. This helped the last time the pressure was low, about 4 years ago.

Walt Kowalski added some air.  Same water pressure.
Walt Kowalski added some more air.  Same water pressure.
Walt Kowalski added some more air.  Slightly better water pressure.
Walt Kowalski adjusted the on/off motor switch, also.

I started doing a load of laundry.  As I was walking through the game room to take a basket upstairs, I could hear the pump.

On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.

Oh that's not good.  Now the on/off switch isn't working. 

Walt Kowalski added some more air.  No water pressure.  No water!

No!!! I want to be able to take a shower tonight!

Maybe the pressure gauge needs to be increased on the pump.

Nope. Still no water.

Turn it off.  Throw the breaker. Maybe it's overheated. Let's just wait a while.
So we did.  He was in the middle of splitting wood.  These things never happen when you've got nothing to do.

And we tried it again. Turn on the breakers, turn on the water valve.

On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off. On. Off.
No water.

Let's go back to the beginning.  Readjust the on/off switch.  Let out some of the air out of the tank.

Maybe there is a possibility that we have run out of water. It has been dry.  We've been through dry spells worse than this, but you never know what is going on underground.

Let's go back another step.  The filter is on the pipe before the tank. Let's take off the filter and make sure we have water coming IN to the house.

Removed filter.

FLOOD!

OK! We have water.  Lots of it.  (Get towels! Lots of towels.)

Ok, let's put the filter container back on the pump without a filter and see what happens.

Water!
Pump is pumping normally. 
Water pressure is high.
On/off switch working.

Ahhhh. Water.

Then we remember and looked at the filter. Last month, we tried a "better" new carbon filter that catches more particulates. That's great, but it also fills up faster because it's catching more particulates.  When the filter is full, the pressure drops.

Yes, it's good we're catching more particulates, but it fills up in 2 weeks rather than 2 months. At least we know what the problem is. We will alternate between the good filters and the better filters.

Walt Kowalski jokingly said "Look at the water pressure.  Do we really need a filter?"
Me: "YES! I don't want to drink that stuff."
Walt Kowalski: "Well then we'll just have to drink more beer and cocktails."
Me: "You use ice cubes in your cocktails."
Walt Kowalski: "Rats. Wait, we have a filter on the ice maker!"
Me: "What about coffee?"
Walt Kowalski: "Rats."

Power Tower, who was helping at the time, said "I don't know why you just can't buy bottled water."

NO! Not even going to start that.  We have the best water.  We've had it tested, too.
We don't want the sediment in the washing machine or toilets either.

I can tell you I have an even greater respect for the water when I turn on the faucet now, especially after not having it for an afternoon.