Liquid pressure measures the number of pounds of force a fluid exerts against a tool, such as a pressure gauge.
It can be a little confusing to understand the difference between a measurement like PSI (Pounds per Square Inch) or GPM (Gallons per Minute), but the important thing to understand is that one rate measures velocity and the other one measures force.
This may not feel related to the topic at hand, but the reason I bring up the difference between these two values is that increasing your well pump size (through increasing your HP) does not necessarily increase water pressure. Increasing HP has the potential to increase GPM, PSI or both, but this is not a one-size-fits-all situation.
In the well system world, the two most important values we look at when determining an appropriate size for someone are their desired GPM and the amount of total PSI they need the well pump to produce. Your well tank capacity should match your water usage needs. For example, our 1HP pump page offers products that can range from 3-62 GPM, and 50-500’ of lift. Lift by the way is just another measure of pressure. For water, the conversion is that 1 PSI is equivalent to 2.31’ of lift.
So, let's say you have a residential well with a 1HP well pump. Do you need to size up to increase water pressure? Again, not necessarily! You can buy a different type of residential water pump built for higher PSI and a lower GPM.
On the other hand, if you want to keep your GPM the same or raise it, you will need a more a more powerful well pump. Keep in mind that if you’re not careful, you may end up with a bigger well pump that pushes out a higher GPM, but then outputs the same or even worse pressure!
It’s important to either work with well experts who have access to the relevant pump curves for the products you’re interested in, or better yet, ask for the pump curves yourself so that you and your specialist are on the same page about expected values.
One final thing to mention is that low water pressure may not always be a result of your deep well pump. You may want to double-check your Well Pump Pressure Switch using a tire pressure gauge to make sure that it’s set to the desired range.
If you love high-pressure shower heads but your pressure switch is set at 20/40, you’ll need to adjust your ‘cut-in-cut-out’ pressure. As long as your water pump can handle the extra PSI requirements (and for that, you’ll need your well pump curve), that shouldn’t be an issue.
A standard pressure switch (like this one) will have a cut-in adjustment nut that will increase the PSI held in your pressure tank by rotating clockwise. Always ensure your pressure tank is properly pre-charged to match switch settings. If not, your pressure tank could short-cycle the pump. Check out this blog post about how to adjust a pressure switch for more information.
Tiny bits of dirt can build up inside your well system. When this happens, it can restrict water flow, just like when a pipe gets clogged. This often leads to fluctuating water pressure. Meaning sometimes your water runs strong, and other times it has low pressure.
If you notice drops or fluctuations in flow rate, don’t rush to upgrade your well pump just yet. First, check for sediment buildup. An easy way is to inspect faucet aerators or filters for visible grit. You can also flush the system or have your well professionally inspected for buildup.
Installing a sediment pre-filter can help protect your plumbing system and maintain a constant pressure system. It’s a simple, cost-effective fix that often restores the private water supply before any big upgrades.
At RPS, we love helping customers improve their water supply and optimize their well systems. If you have a weak water flow rate or have more questions about maintaining a constant pressure system, give us a holler at (855)-374-1296 or help@ruralpowersystems.com.
We can chat through your current GPM and PSI, and see if you need a different-sized well water system or something else entirely! If you’re specifically looking for high-pressure pumps, we can handle over 1,000 feet of lift or about 450 PSI! That’s one pretty intense shower.
Not sure where to start? Use our free Well Pump Sizing Calculator to quickly match the right pump to your water demands — it’s fast, accurate, and totally DIY-friendly.
