Well Pump Troubleshooting and DIY Repair

Figure out how to set up your well yourself

Introduction

If yous own a dwelling with a well, yous know that trouble can striking at the worst possible time, and off-hours repairs can cost a pocket-size fortune. The almost common symptoms of well trouble are no water at all, pulsing h2o pressure and a well pump that runs constantly. If you lot experience any of these, there'southward a adept chance y'all can solve the problem yourself.

Video: Fixing a Dead Well

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Project step-by-step (eight)

Step one

Be Sure the Ability is On

  • Start by checking that the well switch located near your pressure level tank hasn't been switched off.
  • And so check the well'due south double-pole circuit billow to encounter that it hasn't tripped.
  • If it has, reset it.
    • A breaker that keeps tripping likely ways a problem with the well pump, and yous'll demand to call a pro for that.

Anatomy of a Well

Footstep ii

Then Cheque the Pressure Switch

  • You'll observe the pressure switch mounted on a 1/4-in. tube nigh the pressure tank.
    • It's what senses when water pressure level has dropped to the point where the pressure tank requires more water. The switch and so powers up the well pump.
    • If the switch is bad, information technology won't offset the well pump and you won't take water, so testing the switch is your first pace.
  • Remove the cover and bang a screwdriver handle sharply against the tube below the switch to jar the electrical contacts.
  • If you encounter a spark and the pump starts, the pressure level switch is the trouble.

Check the pressure switch

Footstep iii

If the Switch is Bad, Replace It

  • If you find the pressure switch is bad, test the pressure tank to make sure it isn't waterlogged (encounter Problem: Pulsing Water).
  • To replace the switch, start by removing the wires to the one-time switch and unscrew the switch.
    • Pro tip: Be 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.
  • Then reconnect the wires.
    • A new switch is about $25. If there'southward still no spark, you lot'll have to supercede the controller.

Replace the switch

Step 4

Temporary Quick Fix

If banging on the tube under the pressure switch kicked on the well pump, it ways the contact surfaces of the electrical contacts are pitted or burned, causing a poor connection. You can temporarily restore the surfaces to keep it going until you tin buy a replacement switch.

  • First, turn off the ability and double-check with a voltage tester.
  • Pull the contacts open and file off the burned and pitted areas using an ordinary nail file or emery board.
  • Replace the pressure level switch every bit soon as possible considering this fix won't last long.

Ostend THE Ability IS OFF! Before you replace the pressure switch or file the contacts, plough off the power at the principal panel and check the wires with a non-contact voltage tester.

Temporary fix

Stride 5

Replace the Pump Controller

  • Remove the spiral at the bottom of the pump control cover and lift information technology off the box to disconnect it.
  • Have information technology to the shop and buy an verbal replacement.
  • Snap the new embrace onto the old box (no need to rewire if yous buy the same make).
  • Then kickoff the pump.
    • The pump controller houses a capacitor to help first the pump. Most pump controls are mounted in the house near the pressure level tank, but others are mounted inside the well pump itself and the prepare requires a pro. If y'all don't have the box shown below, this fix isn't for you lot.
      • There's no manner to test the controller, so you either take to risk blowing $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 fugitive a service call. If y'all've replaced the pressure level switch and the pump however won't beginning, nosotros think it's worth the adventure to supersede the well pump controller.

Pump controller

Step 6

Check the Pressure Tank's Air Valve

  • Unscrew the plastic cover from the air valve on the elevation of the tank.
  • Employ a small screwdriver to depress the air valve to see if water comes out.
    • When water "pulses" at the spigot, it usually means y'all take a waterlogged tank. Replacement is your just option. A new tank costs most $200 and upwardly.
      • Two methods for diagnosing a bad tank include checking for water at the air valve and shaking the tank.

Test the valve

Step seven

Stone the Tank

  • Push button confronting the top of the tank to stone it slightly.
  • If you tin can't stone it or information technology feels acme heavy, information technology's bad.
  • Bleed it and replace it.

Rock the tank

Footstep eight

Hire a Professional

If your pump runs nonstop, there might not be a DIY solution. When a well pump turns on, you'll hear the clicking of the pressure switch opening and endmost. If you hear frequent clicking when no water is flowing, you have issues outside the house and you'll need to hire a pro.

Information technology could be a broken water line from the well to the house — usually you'll have a wet surface area between the well head and the firm — a bad check valve just above the submersible pump at the bottom of the well, a bad connector leaving the well casing or fifty-fifty a broken water line within the well casing. Each of these problems requires a pro.

Originally Published: November 25, 2022