Well Pump Troubleshooting
If you rely on well water for your Raleigh home, your well pump is the central component to ensuring your home has consistent, clean water. This is the mechanism that draws the groundwater out of the well and into your main water pipe going into your home.
With proper well pump maintenance, your pump should last between eight and 10 years on average, though many home rely on the same pump for 25 years or longer.
So, what happens if you suddenly experience water problems? Do all problems stem from pump, or does it automatically mean you need a new one? Not necessarily. We're going to walk you through how to troubleshoot common well pump and well issues so you can determine exactly what the problem is and you can get it fixed as easily and quickly as possible.
Problem #1: There's No Water
If you suddenly find yourself with no water coming from your faucets, this could be several issues.
Tripped Circuit Breaker
The simplest well pump troubleshooting method to check and fix is that a circuit breaker may have tripped. Check out the box and if something has tripped, reset it and check your water. If it's on - great! If not, you'll need to try the next step. However, if it continually trips, there's a problem that requires a professional well pump repair technician.
Broken Pressure Tank or Pressure Switch
The pressure tank uses air to push water out of the tank and into your home. If there isn't the right amount of air pressure, there won't be a signal to the pressure switch to turn the tank on. Check your tank and see if the reading is above 20 psi or higher. If your tank is showing minimal to no pressure, the problem is either an electrical problem with your pressure tank or the well pump itself, both of which require professional assistance.
Broken Water Pipe
Before you start troubleshooting the well pump problems, check your yard between where water enters your home and your well. If a water pipe has broken, there may be a flooded area of your yard where you can see if the pipe has cracked. While it needs a professional to fix it, troubleshooting reduces the time it takes to find the problem.
Problem #2: Inconsistent or Spitting Water Flow
If you turn on your faucet and water pulses or spits in bursts, rather than flows steadily, that's generally a sign that there is air in your pipes, which may be caused by a few different issues:
The Well Pump Needs Lowering
If you have a submerged pump in your well which pulls water from under the pump and forces it up, when there isn't enough water to submerge the pump, it's going to pull air into the system. This is especially problematic during a drought, though in most cases, the pump can be lowered deeper into the well by a well pump repair pro.
Pressure Tank is Malfunctioning
When you're troubleshooting well pump problems, you'll find that air in the lines is more often a sign of a water pressure tank issue. If you have a waterlogged pressure tank, meaning there is too much water in the tank compared to air, the pressure goes out of balance and can't be forced into the pipes.
Often this happens when the air pressure bladder that stores the water in the tank fails and water seeps into the top half of the tank where the pressurized air is. This can also cause the metal tank to rust and corrode, so it's important to get the tank replaced quickly.
Problem #3: Well Pump Runs Constantly
If your pump is running nonstop, you'll either see a huge jump in your electric bill, or you'll hear the pressure switch clicking open and closed constantly. This is especially important to fix if there's no water and the pressure switch is trying to pull water, but even if you're getting water, it's still a vital repair.
Pressure Switch Malfunction
If the well pump pressure switch is malfunctioning, it's not getting the right information to turn on or off. The switch would need to be replaced in order to regulate water pressure more effectively.
A Leak in a Pipe
There may be a hole or crack in the drop pipe that runs from the pump to the top of the well, which would require a professional to diagnose and repair. Additionally, the break may be along where the pipe runs from the well to the house, and you'll most likely see standing water or marshy ground.
Problem #4: Cloudy or Gritty Water
When you pour a glass of water, if it appears cloudy or you notice sediment, this can also be caused by your well pump.
Well is too Shallow
If your submersible pump is trying to pull out of shallow water, it may be pulling up silt and sand. This is not likely, but it can happen during a drought or it's a sign that you need a deeper well drilled.
Recent Heavy Rain or Flooding
While drought can affect the groundwater, too much rain can cause water runoff to enter your well, making it look muddy or gritty. When this happens, you need to stop using your water immediately until your well is professionally sanitized because water runoff contains dangerous bacteria that can contaminate your well.
Well Pump Filter Malfunction
If drought or flooding isn't the problem and you're still getting silt and dirt in your well water, the next step of your well pump troubleshooting is to consider that the pump filter may be torn or has worn out. Without the filter, everything pulled into the pump will go into your pipes.
Contact Us for Well Pump Troubleshooting in Raleigh
If there is something wrong with your water, rely on the well pump repair professionals at A & T Well and Pump to get your water well repaired quickly and effectively, no matter what the problem is!
We will quickly troubleshoot well pump problems and create a solution that will have clean, fresh water flowing to your house as soon as possible. Call us today at (919)291-4063 for 24/7 emergency well repair as well as routine maintenance and updates.
