CountryByNet.com Forums :: Water Pressure -- Is there a norm?

70 PSI should be all you'll ever need, and 1 Gal in 52 seconds sounds mighty weak. What do you get directly off the pressure tank? Pressure and flow are two different things, however. A good pressure should give you a good flow if nothing is preventing it and your tank is big enough.

Because your pressure measurement is at the tank, diagnosing the problem is a little more complex. What is the pressue when the water is running (full on) at the sink? If it drops fairly quickly (causing the pump to come on) you probably need to repressurize your tank. You see, water won't pressurize so its the air inside the tank that makes the pressure. If there is only a quart of air, then you'll get a couple of quarts of water out before the pressure drops to nothing.

If it is an old tank, which typically looks like a cast iron thing, thats a likely cause. These 'drown' and have to be pressurized quite frequently. You need to practically drain out the water, close the water valves, and pump air in to somewhere around 30 to 70 PSI. Basically the tank should be about 1/2 full of air. New tanks (which usually look like fat propane tanks) have an air bladder and don't have to be repressurized usually, but if they do (for example if the air valve leaked) the procedure is more or less the same. If you have an old style tank, find an excuse to replace it with a new one.

Downstream from the tank (i.e. towards the faucet) check every valve and make sure they are open all the way. If you know how to solder, consider replacing all of the valves with ball valves - they restrict the flow much less when open, usually don't leak, and you can easily tell if they are open.

Look for any filters. Usually these are downstream from the tank. Replace any filter elements and make sure nobody did something brilliant like install a filter with a 3/8" pipe opening onto a 1/2 water pipe. I've seen it done - in fact many filters with 3/4" fittings have only a 1/2 hole in them, which restricts the water flow by 50% to 75%.

I put two filters in parralel with a bypass system to make the cartriges easier to replace. Looks like a plumber's nightmare but it works good.

Of course, the pipe (especially from the tank) could be blocked, perhaps by calcium due to hard water, and that would entail replacement. The only way I know of checking that is cutting the pipe and having a look. you can easily solder it back together with a coupler (if you know how to solder).

Otherwise, follow the pipe and look for valves, filters, and anything else (such as a crushed pipe) which could be the culprit. I learnt a lot about poor water flow from a good well in my first country house. My current system is nothing magical (1" pipe from well to tank, 3/4" to filters, softener, and distribution, and 1/2 to each bathroom, hose, etc.) and I have loads and loads of water, so it should be the same for you.

Good luck and tell us what you find.

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