Well Pump Won't Run FAQs

Index to All Q&A diagnose & fix a well pump that won't start

Water Pump Won't Run After Cold or Freezing Weather Q&A

My well pump will not turn on after being off for seven to nine days after freezing weather

My well pump will not turn on after being off for seven to nine days during the 2019 Polar Vortex. What do I do to get it running? I have power at the switch. On 2019-02-03 y Anonymous

Advice by (mod) - check these items first

Anon

If there is power to the pump control relay

AND

if the water pressure is below the pump cut-in pressure (typically 20 or 30 psi) then the pump should turn on.

First try tapping on the pressure control switch: sometimes debris clogging of the switch sensor port causes it to fail to respond to pressure drop, or the contacts may be burned;

If the contacts are closed, sending power to the pump and the pump doesn't run

Check for a reset-lever on the side of the pressure control switch and if present, lift the lever and hold it up a moment.

Check for a reset button on the pump motor - not usually present, some electric motors include a thermal overload switch that turns off an overheated motor to avoid damage.

If none of these get the pump running you need more-detailed diagnostics of the pump, motor, impeller, wiring and circuit.

Those are given exhaustively in the article WATER PUMP WON'T START.

Our Cistern Pump Stopped Working in Sub-Zero Weather - just hums

Our centrifugal pump brings water up from a small ceramic reservoir fed by a stream spring. It has ceased to work in sub zero temperatures so I switched it off. Now it hums but does nothing. The pressure gauge is on2 bar.

does this imply there is still a frozen pipe somewhere between the pump and the water source .Should I just be more patient or dies it sound like an obvious problem with the pump? There is no water from the taps which implies no water coming from pump to house. On 2018-03-04 15:45:31.086827 by Sally Wilson

Answer by (mod) -

Sally

I suspect there's a frozen pipe;

Watch out: be sure to leave the pump off as running it "dry" can trip a pump protection switch, or worse, damage the pump impeller or motor.

Water pump won't turn on after a frozen pipe problem

I hope someone can help me. I am $400.00 lighter today due to a suspected frozen pipe. Called a nationally recognized plumber. Pipe from the wall prior to the pressure switch was replaced.

I had water for 12 hours after and now nothing. The tank is empty. I had created a small closet around the tank with plastic shower curtains and added an electric heater to prevent a future freeze

I don't hear the pump engaging at all. I placed my ear to the pipe I would have heard the pump from there. It was working prior to the repair. I cannot afford another service call and would never call RR again. Whoops did I drop a name? On 2015-03-05 by SharonMurray

Answer by (mod) -

To me it sounds as if the pressure switch is not accurately sensing water pressure - typically that means its sensor port is clogged OR a water pipe or well pipe is still frozen.

Replace the switch.

Water Pump Buzzes or Hums but Won't Run

Watch out: Just about any electric motor that hums but wont' run and is humming should be TURNED OFF right away to avoid further damage, possibly a shock or fire hazard

New pump motor hums but doesn't start up

One day the water pupm motor ran for 45 minutes without stopping; after that when we switch on the pump a himmm sound comes.

I can manually rotate the pump shaft by turning a fibre wheel at the back end; it works fine.

No smoke is comming out and no heat up.

Its a new pump motor. It was working fine. How can i fix that? On 2018-08-25 by Riki

Suggestions by Mod - Six common reasons that a well or water pump motor won't run

When an electric motor hums but won't run I suspect one of the following:

1. A bad or failed pump motor star capacitor
2. A wiring error such as wiring a 240V pump to just 120V electrical supply
3. A siezed electric motor or pump impeller
4. A siezed motor shaft bearing
5. Low voltage
6. A damaged or jammed pump impeller: that is, on some well pumps one might replace the electric motor but not notice that the actual impeller assembly that moves water is itself damaged or jammed or broken.
7. Something else I've included in the table WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE

See the electric motor diagnosis and repair steps at

ELECTRIC MOTOR WON'T START / RUN 

New Well Pump Installed: Hums but Won't Run or Won't Run Up to Proper Speed

I just bought a new shallow well pump it started up just fine now it wants to hum and not ingage what causes that it is a 115 or 220 I have it on 115amp . I can turn the motor just a little and it starts right up. - On 2018-05-07 by Heath Mizell / Ron

Answer by (mod) -

Heath / Ron

Turn the pump off right away to avoid damaging it further.

Then check your installation manual wiring instructions to make sure that the pump is set up for the voltage that you are feeding it. You can't just connect the pump arbitrarily to 120 or 240volts; you also need to make some jumper changes at the motor.

Watch out: if you're not trained in familiar with electrical wiring you could be shocked or killed.

Followup by Heath - pump has 120V but wont' run at full speed

I have put hundreds of pumps in but this one has me screwed up, it has 120 to it (I changed the setting to 115 before install) but it wont run full speed----- when I check the voltage while the pump is trying to run it reads 105----

this was the last one the parts place had so I need to fix it---its in a small pump house I hope I can fix it without taking it out thanks On 2018-05-14 by Ron @Heath Mizell,

Answer by (mod) -

I'm only speculating myself but I would check

The pump's data tag: is this a 120V or a 240V pump or is it a model that can be converted between the two voltage ranges?

Does the supply voltage match the voltage the pump motor expects?

What's the current draw of the pump>

Also check the rating of a start run capacitor, and I would double check that the supply voltage matches the pump: a common mistake is to buy a 240V pump and try to run it on a 120V circuit, or vice versa. - Daniel F

After being left off my pump motor won't start and the motor shaft is hard to turn

Sir: I didn't use my water pump for few days now its fans are not rotating, i tried a lot but failed as the fans has become very hard.what should i do? On 2019-01-09 by Anonymous

by (mod) - pump impeller or motor shaft is seized.

Anon

Sorry to say it sounds as if the impeller or motor shaft is seized. If rotating parts are frozen it's time for a new pump.

Water Pump Hummed and Sparked at Motor Capacitor

I recently had a problem where i just heard a hum when i switched on so i changed the capacitor then when it switched on I saw a spark by the capacitor now no noise and it doesn't run - On 2018-11-06 by Duane Phillips

Answer by (mod) -

Sounds like either a wiring error, a shorted relay, or a dead well pump that is shorted internally.

Jet Pump Just Buzzes and Won't Run

Jet pump will not start when connecting power. It will only buzz. Checked voltage and connections. Checked capacitor and impeller/shaft and all checked ok. Any advice?
On 2021-03-08 by ET

Suggestions by (mod) - diagnosis & repair for a jet pump that buzzes but won't start

@ET, buzzing sounds like a failed pump relay or motor itself.

Watch out: First turn off power to the pump immediately to avoid an electrical fire or burning up the pump motor.

Then let's be sure we know what's buzzing: is it

• Buzzing at the electrical power switch at the pump? If so, turn power off at the breaker panel immediately as there's risk of fire or shock.
  
  Details are at ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS, SHORTS
• Buzzing at the pressure control switch for the pump?
  
  If so see CHATTERING RELAY CONTROL SWITCHES as buzzing and chattering can be confounded and both can be caused by the same problems - described there.
• Buzzing at the pump motor itself?
  
  If so, the repair may be as simple as a new starting capacitor, run capacitor, or lubrication of the pump shaft.
  
  See CAPACITORS for HARD STARTING MOTORS
  
  If that doesn't work see the electric motor diagnosis and repair steps for humming or buzzing electric motors
  
  at ELECTRIC MOTOR WON'T START / RUN 
• More diagnostics are at WATER PUMP WON'T START - topic home

Water Pump Froze and Now Won't Run, Just Hums

My water pump froze and now when I turn it on. It just hums and doesn't pump water. I don't see any leaks or damage and the pump is primed. Can someone give me some advice please. On 2021-02-21 by Ken

Answer by (mod) -

Humming sounds as if the motor can't start -possibly a frozen or jammed impeller assembly.

Watch out: turn off power to the pump immediately to avoid an electrical fire or burning up the pump motor.

Then see the four diagnostic links I give just above in answer to ET's similar question. Daniel F.

When I push the pump relay switch closed there is a spark and pump just hums

My well is full, I have pressure, wont pump water, when I touch the points together I have spark and the pump just hums, could this be the line is froze some where, or the motor is locked? On 2021-01-04 by Lisa

by (mod) - When the pump motor hums but doesn't actually run,

Lisa

When the pump motor hums but doesn't actually run, that sounds like a failed pump motor. If the pump is itself exposed to freezing conditions and its impeller is frozen that'd produce the same symptom.

If the pump motor is actually spinning (running) but no water is delivered, yes the piping could be frozen.

Leave the pump off in that case so as to avoid burning up the motor or damaging the impeller .

If you are familiar with your pump
and the sounds that it normally makes with it working properly then you should be able to tell whether the pump is actually running or the motor is humming and not starting. When electric motor can't start it could be a failed starting capacitor which is an inexpensive replaceable part.

Watch out: if you're not familiar with safe electrical wiring practices keep your fingers away from exposed live electrical wires and terminals or you could be shocked or killed.

New pump motor hummed, then smoked: won't run

Just installed brand new Deep well Jet pump. Primed pump and turned on breaker pump just hummed about 10 seconds and shut off.

I turned breaker off checked wiring, and then turned breaker back on the pump just hummed again and smoke came out of the motor. Immediately turned pump off again.

What could this be? As I stated this is a brand new pump. On 2020-03-11 by Mark W.

by (mod) -

Mark

It seems unlikely that a new pump would have a seized impeller or motor and it seems unlikely that it wouldn't be able to tolerate running briefly even if the priming operation was improper or incomplete.

Therefore what's left is most likely a wiring error such as providing the wrong voltage or mis-wiring that created a short circuit.

Watch out: At this point the pump may be damaged and unsafe.

Well Pump Won't Run In Response to Water Pressure Drop

My pump motor runs in "manual" mode but not in "auto" mode

My motor is running in manual mode but its not working in Auto mode - tell me how to trouble shoot please? On 2018-08-08 by Piyush

by (mod) - here are the diagnostic steps to fix this trouble

Pi

Most-likely the pressure control switch pressure sensor port is debris clogged, though there can be other reasons a switch won't close in response to water pressure fall. Try having the switch replaced.

See these two procedures

• class="LI_Spaced"CHECK PRESSURE CONTROL BASE CLOG or TORN DIAPHRAGHM
• CHECK PRESSURE SENSOR TUBING CLOGGING

How can I Test to See if the Water Pump Control Switch is Working?

Any way to test the pump switch? On 2017-09-18 by Chris

Answer by (mod) -

Chris, if the pump were direct-wired and the power switch flipped on that would bypass the pressure control switch.

But

Watch out: that's also pretty dangerous since

- without a pressure limit the pump could overpressurize and burst a tank or pipe - an even that killed a plumber in New Paltz NY

- if the motor is seized there is risk of overheating and fire IF the circuit breaker doesn't trip

- and excuse me but I have to say that fooling around with wiring if you're not trained to do it can result in death by electrocution

A service tech would probably check that the tank pressure is below the pump CUT IN pressure since we want to avoid that embarrassing mistake.

Typically the service technician will check the current draw on the circuit as that's diagnostic (high amps can mean seized motor, very low amps can mean pump is running dry). If finding no problem she might just try swapping in a new pressure control switch.

Details are at WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH REPAIRS

Pump Won't Run: Try the Reset Switch or Bypass Lever

No water Pressure After a Thunderstorm: How to Try the Pump Switch Reset Lever

We had a storm here yesterday while I was at work. I got home to find I had no water. I checked the breaker (switched off and back on).

Then I went to the well house and saw the meter said 60 psi.

I'm not sure where the problem may be. My husband works out of town so I was trying to help myself. Any suggestions? On 2018-07-13 by Carol

by (mod) - follow these diagnosis and repair steps

Carol,

Is your well pump physically in the well? Or in the well house can you see the pump?

If the pump is in the well and moreso if the well casing is metal, there's a chance that lightning hit the well and damaged the pump or wiring. If that's the case the pump wiring could be burned, shorted, unsafe, or the pump itself or its controls could be damaged.

Safest would be to get help from an electrician who will

1 confirm that electrical power is being delivered to the well / pump controls

2. test the pump and wiring and controls for a short circuit or damage

BUT

Before calling the electrician, let's see if there's a manual reset on the pressure switch that would get the pump going.

That's because during a power loss some systems (such as a well with a leaky check valve or foot valve) can lose water pressure, and that in turn can cause a pump protection device to switch off power to the pump. While some of those switches will re-set automatically, some models are designed to be manually re-set.

Here are the details

Look at the pump pressure control switch - photos of this control are at inspectapedia.com/water/Water_Pump_Control_Repair.php WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH REPAIRS

If you see a control that looks like the one in our photo - try lifting the silver rod-like lever once.

Note that some pressure controls look similar but will not have that lever.

Basically, depending on the pressure switch model, some such as the Square-D Pumptrol FSG2J21M4 switch will automagically shut off the pump at low pressures (to protect the pump from running forever with no water and thus being damaged). For this switch ONLY, the company tells us

Form M4 only—Low water or loss of system pressure will cause the pump to be cut off.

After the fault in the system has been corrected, move the lever to Start [marked in the side of the plastic case] and hold it until enough pressure builds up to keep the contacts closed.

See details about using that lever on the side of some pressure control switches

at CHECK RESET SWITCH / BYPASS LEVER (not present on all controls)

Details about all types of pump protection switches and how they are automatically or manually re-set are found at

WATER PUMP PROTECTION SWITCH

You might want to look at that article since of course your pump could have different controls.

Followup by Carol

Yes I did see a small lever on a little gray box. My pump is in the well. I will check that when I get home. Dang.

I hope it works! The pump itself is about three years old and its down more than 400ft

There are two gray boxes (one large one small) large one had a reset button on the bottom and the small has the allen wrench looking lever...did both and back in business! Thank you for your help!

Earthworm Shorted our Pump Pressure Switch, I Fixed that but now the pressure switch closes but the pump doesn't run

100ft deep well - submersable 1/2hp pump - 20/40 pressure switch.

When our water stopped running originally, I checked the pressure switch{ 20-40) and found that earth worm had commited suicide across the contacts

Also noticed that the presure guage had a small amount rust inside and out. I immediately replaced both, and nothing.

I came upon your site while researching the possible problem.

Following your various diagnosis and FAQ's, I have repaired a couple leaky pipes, checked for clogged tubes and tightened the fixture on the bottom of my pressure tank (which had to be pulled out of the mud btw) and had to add air to bring it up to the 18psi cut-off.

I checked and made sure that my wiring was correct and that the pump (submersible) was receiving power.

How this system was ever working before I'll never know. Still nothing, which lead to pulling the pump .

Had to buy a new pump, but chose a 3/4hp instead and changed switch to a 30-50.

After these were installed, I searched and found a small leak right outside the well casing.

I needed to readjust the pitless valve because a friend helped install the pump and didn't have the valve lined up. All this being said, when I try to get things going here's what happens.

To get any pressure at all I have to back fill water from an outside source through an outside spout. This brings tank Pressure up to the cut-off 28psi but no higher.

As soon as I turn off the outside spout, and open a faucet in the house, pressure will start to fall thus making the switch come on.

The switch contacts will stay together while all pressure will slowly lower until it reaches the low pressure protection pressure of 20psi, the the switch kicks off.

I have checked and found that when the switch truns on, the wiring at the well to the pump will jump.

I have even used a multi meter to make sure that the pump was still getting power. I'm ready to give up. What am I missing? On 2018-07-08 by Tracy

Reply by (mod): what else to check when the pump won't run and the switch contacts are closed

When we're confident that there is power to the pressure control switch AND if the control switch is powering the pump directly, then next I'd check for a pump protection switch or other protection device that's switched off, then check the pump itself.

If on the other hand a pump pressure switch isn't powering the pump directly but instead is operating a separate heavier duty pump relay control box like that shown in my photo below, then the problem may be there: a failed pump control relay.

Troubleshooting that device is explained at WATER PUMP RELAY SWITCH 

Well Pump Won't Run: Pump is Silent or Running Quieter

We replaced the points in the pressure switch but our pump wont' turn on

Our water pump does not hum nor run. The control switch has new points.On 2018-05-28 14:43:16.690772 by Allen

Suggestions by (mod) - diagnostic questions

I think maybe you meant to say that the pump does not hum or run in which case it's not receiving power.

The fact that you say the contact points in the pressure switch are "new" makes me guess that someone has taken the switch apart to replace just the points therein.

Could be your switch is wired incorrectly ?

Has anyone checked to confirm that there is power being brought to the pump switch?

Is water pressure in the system below the pump pressure control CUT-IN pressure?

Do the pressure switch contacts close?

Watch out if you're not familiar with and trained to do electrical wiring you could be shocked or killed.

Pump Motor Sound Got Quieter and Pump Slows and No Water Pressure

I own a 1 hp surface water pump, and was using it to irrigate.

But the pump sound changed, the fan ran way slower and the pump noise is now quieter with no water pressure.

What could be wrong? Thanks On 2018-01-28 by Samuel

Reply by (mod)

Sometimes a well pump noise level drops because we've fixed a problem such as air in the system. But when the pump noise level drops significantly and no water is being delivered I suspect that there's a low-voltage problem or that you've lost one side of a 240VAC pump power supply.

So it'd be smart to turn off the pump in hope that we're protecting it from damage, then start by checking the voltage and power at each pump wire.