Well Pump Troubleshooting and DIY Repair

Figure out how to fix your well yourself

Introduction

If you ain a home with a well, you lot know that trouble can hitting at the worst possible time, and off-hours repairs tin cost a small fortune. The most common symptoms of well problem are no water at all, pulsing water force per unit area and a well pump that runs constantly. If you feel any of these, there'southward a skillful take a chance you lot can solve the trouble yourself.

Video: Fixing a Dead Well

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Project step-by-step (8)

Step 1

Be Sure the Power is On

  • Start by checking that the well switch located nigh your pressure tank hasn't been switched off.
  • Then bank check the well's double-pole circuit breaker to come across that it hasn't tripped.
  • If it has, reset it.
    • A breaker that keeps tripping likely means a problem with the well pump, and you'll demand to call a pro for that.

Anatomy of a Well

Step 2

And then Check the Pressure Switch

  • You lot'll detect the pressure switch mounted on a i/four-in. tube about the pressure tank.
    • Information technology'south what senses when water pressure has dropped to the point where the force per unit area tank requires more water. The switch then powers upwardly the well pump.
    • If the switch is bad, it won't starting time the well pump and yous won't have water, then testing the switch is your commencement step.
  • Remove the cover and bang a screwdriver handle sharply against the tube below the switch to jar the electric contacts.
  • If you see a spark and the pump starts, the force per unit area switch is the trouble.

Check the pressure switch

Footstep 3

If the Switch is Bad, Replace It

  • If you observe the pressure switch is bad, test the pressure tank to brand sure it isn't waterlogged (see Trouble: Pulsing H2o).
  • To replace the switch, get-go past removing the wires to the old switch and unscrew the switch.
    • Pro tip: Exist sure to label the wires!
  • Coat the tubing threads with pipe dope or Teflon tape and screw on the new switch so it sits in the same orientation.
  • So reconnect the wires.
    • A new switch is about $25. If there's still no spark, you'll have to replace the controller.

Replace the switch

Step 4

Temporary Quick Gear up

If banging on the tube nether the pressure switch kicked on the well pump, it means the contact surfaces of the electrical contacts are pitted or burned, causing a poor connection. Y'all can temporarily restore the surfaces to go along information technology going until you can buy a replacement switch.

  • First, plough off the power and double-check with a voltage tester.
  • Pull the contacts open and file off the burned and pitted areas using an ordinary blast file or emery board.
  • Supplant the pressure level switch as soon every bit possible because this fix won't final long.

CONFIRM THE POWER IS OFF! Before you replace the pressure switch or file the contacts, turn off the ability at the principal console and check the wires with a non-contact voltage tester.

Temporary fix

Footstep v

Supervene upon the Pump Controller

  • Remove the screw at the lesser of the pump control cover and elevator it off the box to disconnect it.
  • Accept it to the shop and purchase an exact replacement.
  • Snap the new cover onto the quondam box (no need to rewire if you buy the aforementioned make).
  • Then showtime the pump.
    • The pump controller houses a capacitor to help offset the pump. Most pump controls are mounted in the house most the pressure tank, but others are mounted inside the well pump itself and the fix requires a pro. If you don't have the box shown below, this fix isn't for you.
      • There'south no mode to test the controller, so you either have to risk bravado $75 by replacing a good one, or throw in the towel and call a pro. Replacing the pump controller as shown here is easy, and it'south your last, best shot at avoiding a service call. If you've replaced the pressure level switch and the pump still won't offset, nosotros think it'southward worth the run a risk to supercede the well pump controller.

Pump controller

Step half dozen

Check the Force per unit area Tank's Air Valve

  • Unscrew the plastic comprehend from the air valve on the top of the tank.
  • Apply a modest screwdriver to depress the air valve to run across if water comes out.
    • When water "pulses" at the spigot, it normally ways you have a waterlogged tank. Replacement is your only option. A new tank costs well-nigh $200 and upward.
      • Two methods for diagnosing a bad tank include checking for h2o at the air valve and shaking the tank.

Test the valve

Footstep 7

Rock the Tank

  • Push against the meridian of the tank to rock information technology slightly.
  • If yous can't rock information technology or it feels height heavy, it's bad.
  • Drain it and supplant it.

Rock the tank

Step 8

Hire a Professional

If your pump runs nonstop, in that location might not be a DIY solution. When a well pump turns on, you'll hear the clicking of the pressure level switch opening and closing. If y'all hear frequent clicking when no water is flowing, you have bug outside the house and you'll need to rent a pro.

It could exist a broken water line from the well to the firm — usually you'll have a moisture area between the well head and the house — a bad check valve only above the submersible pump at the bottom of the well, a bad connector leaving the well casing or fifty-fifty a broken water line inside the well casing. Each of these bug requires a pro.

Originally Published: November 25, 2022