If you're fortunate enough to have a functioning well or water bore on your property, using a submersible pump powered by solar power is a great way to get all that clean, useful water to the surface without damaging the environment (or your bank balance). Modern, solar-powered submersible pumps are efficient, effective and surprisingly powerful—unfortunately, they can malfunction just like any other well pump.

One of the most commonly encountered problems with any type of well pump is low water pressure, and solar submersible pumps are no different. Insufficient pressure from your well pump can be caused by a range of mechanical problems, and calling in a solar pump repair and maintenance service to diagnose and fix the problem is always the fastest and most efficient way to get your well water flowing freely as soon as possible.

What can cause low-pressure problems with your submersible solar well pump?

Improper pump placement

As the name would suggest, submersible pumps only function when they are submerged beneath the water in your well. If you are experiencing low-pressure problems and you can only summon a slow trickle of water from your well, your pump may simply be positioned too high to function properly. Water levels in a well can drop unpredictably, particularly during droughts or periods of high demand (such as planting season on crop farms), so you may need to have your pump repositioned so it is fully submerged.

Leaks in the water line

Low pressure from your solar well pump can also be caused by a leak in the line that funnels your well water to wherever it is required. If your pump water line is above the ground, you shouldn't have too much difficulty spotting a leak, but this obviously becomes a lot more difficult if your water line is buried or built into the structure of a building. 

If you're lucky, you may be able to find the location of a leak in a subterranean line by looking for a wet, waterlogged patch of earth. Most of the time, however, it is best to call in a professional solar pump repair service to find and repair the leak in your line. Because they are more familiar with well pump designs and manufacturing standards, they will know where and how the most common types of leaks can occur in your well pump system, making the repair process much faster. 

Improper solar panel placement

Solar well pumps are powered by the sun, and if their solar panels cannot collect enough sunlight, problems with insufficient pressure are pretty much inevitable. Modern solar panels are efficient enough to power a submersible pump even in prolonged low-light conditions, so insufficient power is usually caused by solar panels that weren't placed correctly to begin with. Make sure your panels face as close to due north as possible so they can collect sunlight throughout the day, and keep them well away from buildings, tall trees and other shady structures. 

Leaks in the pressure tank

If your solar submersible pump is fitted with a pressure tank to bolster your water pressure, a leak in the pressure tank may be causing your low-pressure woes. Pumps with leaky pressure tanks often work properly for several seconds before losing water pressure and shutting off abruptly. This is a problem that can only be fixed by a professional pump repair service, as damaged pressure tanks can be extremely dangerous in inexperienced hands.

For more information, call a solar pump repair service.