Better water should not mean weaker showers
Every piece of treatment equipment sits between your well and your faucets. Water has to push through it. If the equipment is sized right, you barely notice. If it is too small or clogged, the shower that used to be strong turns into a trickle the minute someone runs the dishwasher.
That is why we treat well water treatment in Haymarket as part of the whole system. The pump, the pressure tank and the treatment all have to agree on how much water moves and how fast. Many rural lots off Route 15 and Route 55 in 20169 run a standard pump and tank, and some have moved to constant pressure. Either way, the treatment has to keep up.
What we check before recommending anything
- What the water needs. A test for pH, bacteria, lead and nitrates, plus what you see and smell.
- What the pump delivers. How much water the pump and well can supply, and how the pressure switch or constant pressure controller is set.
- What the house uses. Bathrooms, people, irrigation, and whether a second building shares the line.
- Where it will go. Enough room, a drain for backwash or regeneration, and power if the unit needs it.
It helps if you can tell us what you already know. How old is the pump? Has it been replaced? Do you have a constant pressure system or a standard pressure switch and tank? If you are not sure, that is fine. We will figure it out on site.
With that, we can size a softener, sulfur filter, acid neutralizer or UV light that fits. Our water treatment page covers what each one does.
Common water complaints on Haymarket wells
Hard water and iron
Parts of Prince William County sit on red shale and sandstone, where hardness and iron are common complaints. Scale on fixtures and orange stains are the usual clues. A softener often handles both when the iron is light.
Rotten egg smell
Sulfur shows up on some wells and not others. A sulfur filter removes it. Our post on well water that smells like rotten eggs explains more.
Cloudy water
Cloudiness can come from air, fine sediment, or a pump working hard near the bottom of the water. Treatment is not always the answer, so we look at the pump side too. See cloudy well water causes.
Blue-green stains
Low pH is less common in this part of Prince William than out in western Fauquier, but it does turn up. If copper fixtures show blue-green stains, an acid neutralizer may belong in the plan.
Bacteria
A test that finds coliform or E. coli calls for a UV light from GDS or Viqua, after we check the well cap and casing for how it got in.
Planning treatment around a new pump
If your pump is near the end of its life, it can make sense to plan both jobs together. It saves you a second disruption: one visit, one water shutdown, one set of explanations. Pumps last on average 10 to 15 years, depending on static water level, depth, water quality and usage. Water quality is on that list, so treating the water can be kind to the next pump.
When we replace a pump with a Gould, Myers or Grundfos unit, we look at the treatment already in place. Does it match the new pump’s flow? Is it restricting pressure? Does it need service before the new pump starts pushing water through it? Our well pump repair in Haymarket page covers replacement, and every pump install carries a 5-year warranty.
Constant pressure and treatment together
A constant pressure system holds pressure steady by changing pump speed. Treatment can work well with it, as long as the equipment is sized for the flow. A badly clogged filter can make any pump work harder than it should, so upkeep matters.
A tired tank can also cause pressure swings that look like a filter problem. If yours is waterlogged or short cycling, see pressure tank replacement in Haymarket.
Upkeep that keeps the flow up
- Keep salt in the softener, and break up any hard crust that forms in the salt tank.
- Watch your pressure. A slow drop over months can mean a filter needs attention.
- Replace UV bulbs on the maker’s schedule.
- Test for bacteria once a year, and again after any work on the well.
If you want to check your pressure tank while you are at it, our guide to checking pressure tank pressure walks through it. With the well breaker off and a faucet run until it stops, the air charge should sit about 2 psi below the pump’s cut-in setting.
If pressure falls off suddenly, do not assume it is the treatment. Check the well breaker first, then call. Please leave the pressure switch cover and wiring alone.
A family shop that knows the whole system
Oasis Well Service has been family owned since 1987, and Haymarket rural lots are regular stops for us. Diagnosis is free within reason, and our certified technicians are licensed and insured. Three generations of the family have worked in this business, and we have been at it for 39 years. Call 703-791-3981 to talk it over. We also work with neighbors needing well water treatment in Gainesville and well water treatment in Catharpin.