3 Reasons Why Your Well Isn't Pumping Water

Posted on: 11 September 2018

Do you rely on a well for water? It can be an effective residential water source, especially if you live in a rural or secluded area. If you have a well, you don't have to pay a regular water bill or worry about connecting to a municipal water line. You simply tap into a water source directly on your property.

While wells are highly effective, they can occasionally have issues. One of the most common potential well problems is a failure to pump water. This can be a frustrating issue. If your well pump stops, you'll be unable to shower, do laundry, or get any water from your faucets. Fortunately, there may be an easy fix to this issue. Below are a few troubleshooting tips on how to check your well pump and get it working again.

Check your power. The simplest explanation is often the correct one. In the case of a failing well pump, the simplest explanation is a lack of power. Your well pump runs on electricity, just like most other devices in your house. If power is out in your entire house, the issue is obvious. You'll have to wait until power is restored before you can use your well again.

However, it could be that there's an issue with the well pump's specific circuit. Find your home's electrical panel and shut the well's circuit breaker off and then on again. It's possible the breaker tripped and caused the pump to stop working.

Look at the pressure switch. The well pump uses air pressure to determine when to kick on and off. A pressure switch manages the pump and keeps it from running continuously. If there's too much of a water draw, the pressure switch flips off. This is to prevent nonstop pumping in the event of well or pipe damage. It's possible that your switch somehow got switched to the off position, which is usually indicated by the switch bar being parallel to the ground. Look at the switch bar, which should be located in a box near your water feed line. If it's parallel to the ground, close the water valves and pull the bar out of its parallel position. Then reopen the water valves and see if the pump and well start to work again.

Measure the air pressure. If the above steps don't work, it's possible that your pressure tank has been breached. Even the smallest puncture can change the air pressure inside the tank, shutting off the pressure switch and disabling the well. You can measure the air pressure by using a tire pressure gauge on the air valve. Your well documentation should state the proper air pressure for the tank. If it's off, you likely have damage to the tank. A water well specialist can help you resolve the issue.

Ready to get your well pumping again? Contact a water pump repair company like David Cannon Well Drilling in your area. They can help you identify the problem and find a solution.

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