Well sediment

[dieselkelly]

This has probably been discussed at great length, so I'm sorry to revive it if it has. We had a faulty pressure switch on our well jet pump. After we replaced it (if it's even related) the water is suddenly red colour, there is a lot of rusty sediment that won't clesr, even with running the water. We have a shallow well, recently tested negative, 1/2 hp jet pump in the house with a small(?) pressure tank. We are prepared to call a "Well Dr" but don't want to be taken advantage of as has happened quite often since my sister and I bought our dream farm. Thanks in advance.

 

[oosik]

The work that you did in the well and on the pump has stirred up sediment. It should eventually clear up. You may be able to speed up this "clearing up" process by purging the pressure tank. A lot of sediment can be trapped and settle out in a pressure tank and it doesn't take much fiddling around to stir it up again.

 

[speedbump]

The best way to clear it up and do it the quickest is to run as much cold water as the pump will allow. Remove aerators from faucets first. Flush toilets last so you don't plug the fill valve. The bath tub might be a great place to start. A laundry tub which hopefully has no water restricters is also a good place to run water. It's the flow that's going to flush the junk out. More flow, less run time. It will clear up however.

 

[Egon]

Pressure switch, jet pump, you did not have to do anything downhole did you?

Was the failed pressure switch plugged so it would not operate?

Any chance your water usage is up from the prior user?

Chances are you have iron in the well. Flushing or increasing pumping rate may not help.

 

[teejk]

How long have you lived there? If not long you might find a whole house filter in your line. I think most of Ontario is rich with iron. Those filters need to be changed when the water turns orange. We live in Wisconsin and probably use 3-4 each year.

 

[TemporaryKubotaOwnerMark]

I have a lot of sand and iron particles from my well. I noticed that my hot water lines don't have much, and it's all in the bottom of the heater, so when I redid my plumbing a few years ago, I kept the old water heater and plumbed it in as a settling tank BEFORE my pressure tank or anything else. I have two whole house filters in parallel (to reduce pressure drop) after that, and then into my pressure tank. No more sediment in my house.

 

[dieselkelly]

We haven't had to go into the well. We don't see any filter in-line between the hose coming from the well into the house and the pressure tank. We've been here 9 years. We ran the water full on for about 10 minutes and it cleared. There was no discolouration from the hot water tank. I'm going to see if I can research that whole house filter. Many thanks.

 

[teejk]

We haven't had to go into the well. We don't see any filter in-line between the hose coming from the well into the house and the pressure tank. We've been here 9 years. We ran the water full on for about 10 minutes and it cleared. There was no discolouration from the hot water tank. I'm going to see if I can research that whole house filter. Many thanks.

If you had a filter you'd know it (they are 10"+ tall depending on model). Seeing as you are 9 yr residents and only noticing now you must not need an iron filter. I don't know why changing a pressure switch would cause the problem. Maybe stirred up some sediment in the pressure tank?

 

[fried1765]

This has probably been discussed at great length, so I'm sorry to revive it if it has. We had a faulty pressure switch on our well jet pump. After we replaced it (if it's even related) the water is suddenly red colour, there is a lot of rusty sediment that won't clesr, even with running the water. We have a shallow well, recently tested negative, 1/2 hp jet pump in the house with a small(?) pressure tank. We are prepared to call a "Well Dr" but don't want to be taken advantage of as has happened quite often since my sister and I bought our dream farm. Thanks in advance.

I have a summer residence with a 4" x 220' well, and submersible pump.
There is Iron and Manganese (odor) in the water.
The well sits unused for 9 months each year, and at the beginning of each season has very poor quality water.
At night, before going to bed, I put 2 gallons of bleach in the well, and draw water through each of the faucets, until I smell bleach.
In the morning I open two external hose bibbs, and let the water run until the bleach smell dissipates somewhat.
It is important to try to get rid of much of the bleach that next day.
If not, it will be hard on your fixture rubber o-rings.
I always use 2 of the large household filters, but I remove them for the bleaching period.
Iron is removed, as is odor, for a period of up to 6 months, when this procedure must be repeated.
We do not drink the water until two+ weeks after treatment.

 

[gghb]

disconect the pressure tank and run pump till water runs clear set up so you can valve down the flow if it starts sucking air reconnect tank and run till the water is clar again