About us
Sources & Methodology
Where our facts come from, how we check them, and how our calculators and cost ranges are built.
Source hierarchy
| Priority | Sources | Used for |
|---|---|---|
| Highest | Manufacturer manuals and specifications (currently Franklin Electric, Amtrol, Pentair and Grundfos); federal and state agencies (USGS, EPA, CDC, state health and water agencies) | Settings, limits, procedures, safety warnings; public-health and ownership facts |
| High | Industry organizations and trade publications (Water Systems Council, NGWA's Water Well Journal, The Driller); engineering standards | Methods (tank sizing, drawdown), practice guidance |
| Supporting | Established cost and home-improvement publishers (for example HomeGuide, This Old House) | Published cost ranges, always attributed and dated |
| Discovery only | Forums, videos, social media, other websites | Finding the questions people ask — never the sole source for a technical or safety claim |
How we verify
- We read the source itself — the PDF manual, the agency page — not a summary of it.
- We record the date we checked it and the specific facts we used.
- If we can't open a source directly (for example, a page blocked in our region), we don't cite it.
- Where manufacturers differ, the guide says whose instructions it follows and tells you to follow your own equipment's manual.
Calculations
Our calculators use published methods and basic physics, and each tool page shows its formula: precharge rules from Amtrol, Pentair, Franklin Electric and Grundfos; tank drawdown from Boyle's law as presented in The Driller; minimum run times from Water Well Journal; the 2.31 feet-per-psi conversion used in manufacturer literature; and the U.S. Standard Atmosphere for elevation. Tables marked as "our calculation" apply those same published formulas. When there's no sourced method for something, we don't make one up.
Cost data
Cost ranges are national figures published by cost-guide companies. We show who published each range and when, use one publisher consistently within a calculation, and never present a published range as our own survey or as a quote.
Documents we currently rely on
Manufacturer
- Franklin Electric. Submersible Motors: Application, Installation & Maintenance (AIM) Manual, 60 Hz. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- Amtrol. Well-X-Trol Residential Pre-Pressurized Well Tanks — Installation & Operation Instructions (WX-101 through WX-350). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- Amtrol. Sizing the Well-X-Trol (commercial sizing handbook). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- Pentair. Adjusting Well Pump Pressure Switches (instruction sheet U80-129). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- Pentair. Pro Shallow Well Jet Pumps — Installation & Operation Manual (P15001, 2023). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- Grundfos. CU 301 Installer's Manual (SQE constant-pressure control). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
Industry organization
- Water Systems Council (wellcare). Pressure Tank Pre-charge — information sheet. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
Trade publication (NGWA)
- Water Well Journal. Tank Selection by the Numbers — David L. Kill, PE (April 19, 2022). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
Trade publication
- The Driller. How to Calculate and Control Pressure Tank Drawdown — Bob Pelikan (Feb. 1, 2006). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
Government
- U.S. Geological Survey. Domestic (Private) Supply Wells. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Private Drinking Water Wells. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Guidelines for Testing Well Water. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
Cost publisher
- HomeGuide. How Much Does a Well Pump Cost To Replace or Install? (article dated Aug. 7, 2025). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- HomeGuide. How Much Does Well Pump Repair Cost? (article dated Aug. 6, 2025). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- HomeGuide. How Much Does It Cost to Replace a Well Pressure Tank? (article dated July 25, 2025). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- This Old House. Well Pump Cost and Installation Guide (updated Mar. 5, 2026). Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
Search documentation
- Google Search Central. How to write high quality reviews. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
- Google Search Central. Creating helpful, reliable, people-first content. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.
Ad platform documentation
- Google AdSense Help. Google consent management requirements for serving ads in the EEA, the UK, and Switzerland. Checked Sept. 28, 2026.