# Plumber or Other Familiar With Well Systems
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumber-or-other-familiar-with-well-systems/360920
**Category:** Factual Questions
**Created:** [June 16, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumber-or-other-familiar-with-well-systems/360920 "2006-06-16T13:55:24Z")
**Posts on this page:** 4
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2006, 1:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumber-or-other-familiar-with-well-systems/360920/1 "2006-06-16T13:55:24Z")
The build of my new house in rural Georgia is complete, but our well system has very low water pressure.
What’s the best way to increase water pressure? Boost pump? What’s a fair price for something like this?
Any downside to increasing water pressure in a well system?
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### Author:  [@Fritz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fritz)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2006, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumber-or-other-familiar-with-well-systems/360920/2 "2006-06-16T13:56:43Z")
Should have been “Plumber or Others Familiar With Well Systems”
Sorry.
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2006, 2:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumber-or-other-familiar-with-well-systems/360920/3 "2006-06-16T14:05:53Z")
The pressure is determined by a pressure controlled switch that switches the pump motor on and off. For example, mine turns on at 30 PIS and turns off at 50 PSI. When the water pressure drops to 30 PSI, the pump begins pumping water into the storage tank, compressing the air in the top of the tank until it reaches 50 PSI and then turns off, patiently waiting unil I use more water and reduce the pressure to 30 PSI.
There are two adjustment screws on the switch for the upper and lower pressure settings.
NOTE: THE SWITCH USES 110V AND YOU CAN BE KILLED IF YOU STICK YOUR FINGERS (or for that matter, any other part of your anatomy) IN THERE.
How often the pump must run depends upon the size of the storage tank.
If you don’t feel comfortable messing, er, adjusting these factors, I’d call a pump guy. 🙂
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### Author:  [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)
#### Post date: [June 16, 2006, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/plumber-or-other-familiar-with-well-systems/360920/4 "2006-06-16T14:10:39Z")
Other folks [explain it](http://groups.google.com/group/misc.consumers.house/browse_thread/thread/8e58864a895e1bf2/f694703158717e1d%23f694703158717e1d) better than I.