A: There’s lots of ways that pumps go bad. They can run dry, they can have an electrical failure. A lot of times you start with, “is it running or not with power going to it?” You need to have an electrician, or someone certified to work on those pumps to actually get in there and check the electrical stuff.
However, there’s a number of ways you can do it. You can check the amps—if it’s pulling too high then there’s usually a bearing failure or something like that. There’s numerous ways of diagnosing different kinds of pumps. Mostly, we start with the power, and the electrical, and what it’s doing that way.
At Gulf Coast Pump & Supply we deal with a lot of different types of pumps. So, we get customers that have quite a few questions regarding them as well. The most often asked questions deal with one central theme—pump failure.
We sell many kinds of pumps including lift station pumps, grinder pumps, well pumps, and many more. We’d love to try to cover this question for all the types of pumps we carry. However, that would be a blog that reads more like a book. So let’s discuss the type of pump most of our customers are referring to when asking how to check for a bad pump.
You see, most of our industrial customers are very familiar with how the pumps they buy operate. They know how to maintain them, and they know how to troubleshoot. However, on the consumer and small agricultural side of things—it’s a bit different. That’s because most of these customers are buying well pumps—some for the first time. So, it makes sense that they have a few questions about well pumps and maintaining them.
Why Buy A Well Pump?
When you have your own water supply at your disposal it gives you a few advantages over using municipal water. For example, you get fresh, clean water in your home at a lower cost—with a labor trade-off.
You see, having a well also means you have to put in the work to maintain the health and functionality of it. There’s pumps to maintain, filters to replace, maintaining the yield, pressure, etc.—we think you get the point.
However, many opt for well water or have no choice due to the lack of a municipal water system in some rural areas. When using a well pump, several common issues can arise with the pressure tanks, pumps, switches, and more. So being informed on these things is critical to being able to maintain your water supply.
Troubleshooting Your Water System
Often, customers will contact us about a new pump when they experience some of these tell-tale signs of well pump failure:
- No water from the faucets
- Low pressure
- Pump running nonstop
Those are indeed signs that something is off with your well pump, so you need to troubleshoot it. It could be a minor repairable problem, or it could be major and needs a pump replacement.
What If There’s No Water Flow?
Unless you’re an experienced plumber, you’ll likely need to end up calling one to check things out. However, there are a few simple troubleshooting steps you can do to see if it’s something minor. Some people automatically assume the pump has gone bad. However, there’s a few components in addition to a well pump that gets water to your home.
Now, no pump will last forever, eventually, it will reach the end of its service life, but that may not be the issue at hand. There’s other potential issues you’ll want to check into when troubleshooting.
There are three possible causes of not having water flow:
- Well failure (low water supply in the well)
- Equipment failure (Not just the pump, it could be other components or a power failure)
- Plumbing issue (pipes that have cracked or become clogged)
As Chris mentioned, the first thing to check when there’s no water, is the electrical panel. You’re checking to see if the circuit for the well pump is set to the “on” position. If not, turn it on and see if that corrects the problem. If it works, it may have been just a rare glitch and you may see no other problems for a while. However, if the breaker goes again—you’ll want to call in a professional as dealing with electricity can be dangerous.
Your next check, if the above doesn’t work is to check on the pressure tank. If the gauge is showing anything above 20psi then that rules out a tank issue. In fact, it’s likely an issue within your house and not the pump, the tank, or the well itself. If there’s no pressure—that indicates a pump failure, well failure, tank issue, or bad switch.
Pump Troubleshooting
If you suspect the pump you can do some basic troubleshooting to determine what might be going on there.
Power Loss
If you lose power, the only water you’ll have is what the pressure tank is already holding. It takes electricity to operate the pressure switch for the tank and the well pump. In cases where there’s not a power outage, it may just be a blown breaker. As mentioned before, just check the electrical box and switch the breaker back on. If it works, it may just be a one-time glitch. However, if it keeps tripping it, you’ll want a licensed electrician to check it out.
Low Water Table
If there’s been a shortage of rainfall or drought you may have a low water level in your well. If the faucet sputters or spits and what comes out is muddy—that’s the main sign. Also, you can tell when the water level is getting low when the water tastes off. It may only be a temporary issue, but if it persists, you’ll need to set your pump deeper in the well.
Inadequate Pump Size
Your well pump needs to be large enough to handle the workload being placed on it. It’s directly related to the size of your plumbing system. For example, the number of faucets you have, and how many water-utilizing appliances such as dishwashers you have.
Overworked Pump
Your pressure tank should also be relatively sized to your home’s plumbing system so it can lessen the burden on the pump. When your pump is only used a few times a day to fetch water, it will last much longer than cycling on and off all day.
Water Sediment
The dirt and mineral in well water can cause major wear and tear on a well pump as it damages the bearings. Small debris such as stones can get in there as well and damage your pump if not monitored closely. In fact, it can cause the pump to stop working altogether and even burn up the motor.
It’s difficult sometimes to know if it’s the well pump that is the issue or another part of your well system is failing. The most common maintenance and repairs are tank and pressure switch replacement. Both of those are far cheaper than replacing the well pump. So, don’t automatically assume it’s the pump—do the troubleshooting, it could save you money.
Do You Need A New Pump?
If you’ve done all the troubleshooting and/or had a professional diagnose the problem as your well pump, we can help. Contact us and let us help find the right well pump for your needs.