Pressure tank question

[Huskie]

Our water pressure in our rural home has gone down quite a bit recently. We have our own well which we share with another home (they have always had low water pressure). I bypassed the iron filter with no improvement, thinking next of cleaning out the water softener, all though it was done by culligan a few months ago, I changed the drop filter. I'm wondering if it is the bladder in the pressure tank. The gauge still works well 50-70. I was told I could check the tank with the small bike tire like valve on top. how exactly do I do that and what am I looking for? If air comes out is the tank bladder ok and will that release of air lower the pressure more? I know if water comes out the bladder is bad and the tank needs to be replaced. Any help would be appreciated.

[delcecchi]

If the gauge on the tank stays at 50 to 70 and doesn't short cycle the tank is ok. The cause of the lower pressure is in the house or between the house and the well, it seems to me.

If it was the bladder, the pump would short cycle, that means it would come on when the pressure drops to 50, and shoot up to 70 and shut off in a very short time since there is little air in the tank.

Do you have an outside faucet that doesn't go through all the equipment? How is the pressure there?

If the water is all off in the house except for a faucet and then you start the washing machine filling or flush a toilet can you see the pressure drop?

What happens if you set the water softener to bypass?

[Walleyehooker]

Have you checked the screens in the faucets as they can get pluged up.

[krinkle]

If there is a boiler drain at the well tee put a hose on there to check the water pressure. There are also gauges you can put on this to check running presure to. This will tell you if you need to look at the well/pump for issues or if its in the house.

[nobody05]

Oh the possibilities. All of the above would be a good thing to look into as well as what kind of pipe do you have from the well to the house? Plastic or Copper? Galvanized steel fittings and such at the pressure tank? Over the years less that ideal water quality can cause a 1'' pipe to be closer to a 1/4'' actually on the inside.

[delcecchi]

Oh the possibilities. All of the above would be a good thing to look into as well as what kind of pipe do you have from the well to the house? Plastic or Copper? Galvanized steel fittings and such at the pressure tank? Over the years less that ideal water quality can cause a 1'' pipe to be closer to a 1/4'' actually on the inside.

Especially the galvanized stuff.