Hardware & Mechanics

Pumps, pressure tanks, pressure switches, check valves -- what they do, how they fail, and what replacement costs.

Tire gauge checking air charge on well pressure tank Schrader valve

Pressure tank air charge: how to check it and why it matters

A 2-minute tire gauge check on your pressure tank's air charge can fix short cycling and pressure drops. Here's the step-by-step process.

6 min read

Pressure tank with copper piping and a pressure gauge in a residential basement

Hardware

Understanding your well system: pumps, pressure tanks, and the hardware that keeps water flowing

A plain-English technical reference for every major component in a residential well system, from the submersible pump at the bottom to the pressure switch on the wall, with realistic lifespans, costs, and what you can fix yourself.

14 min read