How To Keep Your Well Running During A Power Outage

Areas across Florida are prone to power outages due to the frequency and severity of storms. Flashlights may work well enough while the lights are off, but what do you do when your well water system doesn’t have power and can’t supply water? To keep you from being in a waterless situation, our water well company has put together this list of options for your well for continued access to clean water during a power outage.

After the power comes back on, schedule an appointment with North Florida Water Systems Inc for well water testing and water well pump repairs to ensure nothing was broken during the outage.

Backup Generator

The easiest way to ensure your pump will have power and supply your home with water is to invest in a gas generator. Not only can a generator keep your well running, but depending on the size and power, it can also keep vital parts of your home working, such as HVAC and lights. However, generators can be expensive and must be properly cared for and set up to ensure they continue to function when you need them most.

Pressurized Tank

An extra pressurized tank that reserves more than just a few gallons of water can be a godsend when the main tank has run dry. A pressurized tank doesn’t rely on power to move water through pipes but instead uses the pressure of compressed air to push water into your home. A single 119-gallon pressure tank can give you 37 gallons of water, which is roughly enough for several short showers, washing a full sink of dishes, and flushing a toilet half a dozen times. If power is out longer than your tank supply, there’s no way to refill the tank until the power comes back to your water well pump.

Gravity Tank

Similar to a pressurized tank, a gravity tank relies on natural forces to feed your home's water system. A gravity tank can just be a regular water storage tank installed on an incline, such as a hill. When the power is on, the tank will fill, storing water for later. When the power goes out, gravity will push the water down and into pipes when you turn on a sink or flush a toilet. However, the same issue with pressure tanks exists with gravity tanks: once the reserved water has dried up, you can’t pump anymore into the tank until the power returns.

Solar Panels

Another alternative to keep the water pump working, solar panels can provide backup power when you need it most. Though it may be difficult to harness solar power during storms, a battery bank can store power drawn from the sun for later. While solar panels can be expensive, solar power can supplement your energy even when normal power is on and can even be sold back to power companies for a return on your investment.