Can Raising Well Pressure Cause Premature Pump Failure?

If you rely on a private well for your home’s water supply, water pressure matters. Strong, steady pressure makes showers comfortable, helps appliances run efficiently, and keeps daily life convenient. But what happens when your well pressure feels too low? Many homeowners consider increasing the pressure setting on their well system.

Before making that adjustment, it’s important to understand the risks. Can raising well pressure cause premature pump failure? The answer is yes — if it’s done improperly or without considering your system’s limits.

In this article, we’ll explain how well pressure works, what happens when you raise it, and how to protect your well pump from early failure.

How Well Pressure Systems Work

To understand the impact of raising pressure, you need to know how a typical residential well system operates.

The Main Components of a Well System

The most common components used in most of the homes with private wells are:

● Well pump (submersible or jet pump)

● Pressure tank

● Pressure switch

● Plumbing system

The pump pulls the water in the well and forces it into the pressure tank. The pressure switch is used to switch the pump on and off depending on the predetermined levels of pressure.

What Is a Pressure Switch Setting?

Well systems are used with a pressure range which is usually:

● 30/50 PSI (pump is activated when the pressure reaches 30 PSI, switched off when it reaches 50 PSI)

● 40/60 PSI (pump will start at 40 PSI, will stop at 60 PSI)

Once the water pressure is decreased to the lower figure, the pump is turned on. As it goes to the bigger number it goes off. The common way to set up well pressure is to set this switch to a higher range.

Why Homeowners Raise Well Pressure

Low water pressure can be frustrating.

Common reasons homeowners adjust pressure include:

● Weak shower flow.

● Washing machines that take a long time to fill.

● Ineffective irrigation behaviour.

● Several fixtures operated simultaneously.

Raising the pressure setting appears to be an easy way out in most situations. Nevertheless, it may put a strain on your well pump and other parts in case it is not managed properly.

Can Raising Well Pressure Cause Pump Failure?

Yes - under some conditions, an increase in well pressure could be a cause of premature pump breakage.

Increased Pump Workload

The higher the pressure setting, the harder the pump has to work to attain the higher cutoff pressure.

For example:

● A system that has been adjusted at 30/50 PSI will be switched off at 50 PSI.

● When you switch it to 40/60 PSI, then the pump will have to force the water until the water attains 60 PSI.

That 10 PSI additional pressure might not be a big deal but it adds to the load on the motor. Over time, this can lead to:

Motor overheating

● Higher levels of wear on internal parts.

● Shortened pump lifespan.

The majority of residential well pumps are programmed to work within a given pressure range. Overloading beyond the recommendations of the manufacturers speeds up the wear and tear.

More Frequent Cycling

Short cycling is also another significant reason behind premature pump failure.

What Is Short Cycling?

When the pump is switched on and off too often, it becomes short-cycled.

This can be caused by:

● A small or unsuccessful pressure tank.

● Wrong air charge within the tank.

● Higher pressure settings.

An increase in the range of pressure without the corresponding increase in tank capacity could result in a more frequent system cycle.

Every time the pump starts, it draws a high amount of electrical current.

Frequent starts create:

● Motor strain

● Heat buildup

● Electrical component wear

The repeated stress may burn out the pump motor with time.

Strain on the Pressure Tank

Increasing the pressure setting does not only impact the pump, but the pressure tank is also affected.

The tank has an inner bladder that is filled with air. The pressure of the air should also be adjusted properly to correspond with the pressure switch setting.

If you increase system pressure but don’t adjust the tank’s air charge, you can cause:

● Reduced drawdown capacity

● Bladder damage

● More frequent pump cycling.

This indirectly elevates the pump stress and may cause premature failure.

Higher System Pressure Means More Heat

Heat is produced by electric motors. The harder a pump tries to achieve high pressure, the longer it will run and the more heat will be produced.

Excess heat can:

● Break down motor insulation

● Damage wiring

● Reduce motor efficiency

Submersible pumps do not use any form of cooling the motor but instead use the water around the pump to cool it down. Overheating can be caused by a long runtime in case there are problems in the recovery rate or water level of your well.

Risk of Operating Beyond Pump Capacity

Not all pumps are designed to handle higher pressures.

Each pump has a performance curve that shows:

● Flow rate (gallons per minute)

● Pressure (PSI)

● Total dynamic head (TDH)

Provided that you exceed the pressure limit of the pump, it can:

● Difficulty in arriving at cut off pressure

● Run continuously

● Overheat and fail

You should make sure that your pump has the required specifications before you set pressure.

Signs Your Pump Is Under Stress

When recently pump pressure has risen, the warning signs of pump strain to look out for include:

● Longer than normal running of pump

● Rapid on-and-off cycling

● Unusual noises

● Higher electric bills

● Unstable water pressure.

All these symptoms can mean that your pump is overworking.

How Long Should a Well Pump Last?

Most houses have a well pump that lasts:

● 8-15 years for submersible pumps

● 5-10 years for jet pumps.

Sometimes however, improper pressure settings, bad maintenance and short cycling can greatly decrease that life span. Increasing pressure without knowing the limits of the systems can reduce the life of pumps by some years.

How to Safely Increase Well Pressure

To get more powerful water pressure follow these guidelines.

Check Pump Specifications

Check the manual of your pump or seek the advice of a licensed well contractor. Ensure that your pump is able to work within the increased range of pressure.

Adjust the Pressure Tank Air Charge

Prior to making the pressure switch setting higher:

● Turn off power to the pump

● Drain the tank completely

● Adjust air pressure to 2 PSI which is lower than the cut-in setting.

For example:

In the event of changing over to 40/60 PSI, tank air to 38 PSI.

Avoid Excessive Increases

Small adjustments are safer. It is often a viable option to go between 30/50 to 40/60, provided that the system allows it.

It should never be done in extreme jumps such as 50/70 unless the entire system is made to do so.

Consider Upgrading Equipment

In case you require much more pressure, it may help you:

● A larger pressure tank

● A constant pressure system

● A variable frequency drive (VFD) pump.

These enhancements do not overstrain the pump.

Alternative Causes of Low Water Pressure

Eliminate other frequent problems prior to increasing the pressure:

● Clogged sediment filters

● Corroded plumbing pipes

● Partially closed valves

● Mineral buildup in fixtures

● Failing pressure tank.

The pressure setting is not the problem sometimes.

When to Call a Professional

In case you do not know the capacity of your system, you can call a licensed well contractor or plumber.

They can:

● Test system pressure

● Inspect pump performance

● Evaluate tank condition

● Recommend safe adjustments

It is particularly significant when a professional assessment is required where the pump used is old or the well has low water output.