Features

Q & A

By Morris and James Carey
Friday May 10, 2002

 

Q: Marty asks: My well pump does not hold pressure unless the water is in use. The well is about 25 feet from the pump and that line is laying (running) flat on the ground about four inches below the grass. The pump and the tank are new. What is making it not hold pressure? 

 

A: When a pump system isn’t holding pressure it usually means there is a leak or the foot valve is clogged or faulty. All it takes is a pinhole-sized leak to bring your system down. Your local well company can pressure-check the system for holes and usually make the proper repair in a few hours. If all or part of the system is new, it probably is still under warranty. Most warranty repairs are free. That your supply line is four inches beneath the surface alarms us. It should have been laid at least 18 inches below grade. Shallow pipes often are damaged during annual and semiannual cultivation. 

 

Q: Jeff asks: I have stripped the paint from and sanded the woodwork in my bathroom. I am having a problem with a small amount of paint bleeding through the stain. It was not visible before I applied the stain, but appears as the stain dries. How can I solve this problem? 

 

A: You are now a bona fide wood refinisher. You have learned how difficult it is to completely remove all the paint from wood. Fact is, two to three coats of paint stripper must be applied and brass-brushed away after you are certain that you’ve removed all the paint. This is because narrow strips of paint always remain beneath the surface and between the wood fibers.