Pressure-Boosting System Installation — Owings, MD
An Owings homeowner had adequate water volume but chronically low pressure — 28 PSI at the tap even with a functioning pump and healthy pressure tank. We diagnosed a partially blocked pitless adapter and undersized drop pipe, then installed a constant-pressure controller that brought the home to a steady 60 PSI.
The Problem
An Owings homeowner contacted us after years of frustrating low water pressure. Showers were weak, the dishwasher took forever to fill, and running two fixtures simultaneously made pressure drop to nearly nothing. Two previous plumbers had told them the well "just doesn't have enough pressure" and suggested drilling a new well. The existing pump was only four years old and the pressure tank had been replaced two years prior.
Our Diagnosis
We started with a full system evaluation rather than assuming the well was the problem. Static water level was healthy at 42 feet, and the well was producing 4.2 GPM — more than adequate for the household. The actual problem was a combination of factors: the pitless adapter had a partial mineral deposit blockage reducing flow by roughly 30%, the 1-inch drop pipe was undersized for the 75-foot depth, and the pressure switch was set to a 30/50 cut-in/cut-out — appropriate for older homes but inadequate for modern fixture demands. The pump itself was in good condition. No new well was needed.
The Repair Process
- 1Pulled the pump and inspected the pitless adapter — found significant calcium carbonate buildup partially blocking the outlet
- 2Cleaned and rebuilt the pitless adapter, restoring full flow cross-section
- 3Replaced the 1-inch drop pipe with 1.25-inch poly pipe to reduce friction losses over the 75-foot depth
- 4Installed a Grundfos CM-PM constant pressure controller on the existing pump motor
- 5Reset pressure switch to 40/60 PSI and verified controller calibration
- 6Replaced the 20-gallon pressure tank with a 44-gallon Amtrol WX-202 to provide adequate drawdown volume for the controller
- 7Ran the system through full pressure cycle testing — steady 58–62 PSI at all fixtures simultaneously
- 8Verified pump amperage draw within spec after all changes
The Outcome
The homeowner went from 28 PSI at the tap to a consistent 60 PSI throughout the home. Running the shower, dishwasher, and washing machine simultaneously no longer causes any pressure drop. The constant-pressure controller eliminates the pressure swing between cut-in and cut-out that the homeowner had lived with for years. No new well was drilled — the existing well and pump were perfectly capable once the system was correctly configured.
Key Takeaway
Low pressure is not always a pump or well problem. Undersized drop pipe, mineral deposits in the pitless adapter, and an incorrectly set pressure switch can all cause chronic low pressure even when the well and pump are healthy. Always diagnose before recommending a new well.
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May 2026
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June 2026
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Dunkirk, MD
June 2026
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