Can a well pump run without its pressure control switch?

Well water pump diagnostic FAQs: this reader wondered if it it's possible for a water pump to run if he has disconnected its pressure control switch.

Before you shout "absolutely not!" take a further look.

Page top photo: a 1-line jet pump sitting on the ground with an outlet not connected to the building, courtesy of reader Auryn who reported that after his initial test, when he tried to put the pump into servicve pump no longer worked.

We'd need to know just what wasn't working: did the motor run but no water was delivered or did the motor not even start?

Did the test pump dirty pond water (upper left) that may have drawn in debris that jammed the pump impeller?

Also, in our OPINON it's may be unsafe to simply place pump and wiring directly onto the ground surface.

Well pump wiring & Control FAQ

These questions & answers about well pump diagnosis and repair were originally posted at WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE - home. Be sure to review the diagnostic and repair help given there.

Also see our index to all water / well pump diagnosis and repair FAQs at WATER PUMP REPAIR FAQs

Can a pump run if its pressure switch is removed?

is it possible for a in ground well pump to turn on if the psi switch is removed or disconnected On 2017-04-26 by axel hischer

by (mod) Possibly, depending on just what pump other controls are present

Axel

It's very unlikely that an above-ground jet pump (like the one shown at the top of this page) would run with the pressure control switch disconnected, because in most circumstances as removing the pressure control switch interrupts the path of electrical power to the well pump.

There are some exceptions however:

1. If you wired the pump directly from a power switch with no pressure control you could run it by turning it on and off manually. But
   
   Watch out: this is a dangerous scheme because of the risk that you overpressurize a water pipe or tank, causing it to burst, possibly injuring someone nearby or flooding the building.
2. If it is a higher horsepower well pump that is operated by a separate well pump relay switch.

IN those systems when the pressure control switch closes to turn on water it is actually switching a separate heavier-duty relay in a separate control box. The second relay turns on the pump.

In that second situation, even without operation of the pressure control switch at the pressure tank, a short circuit or defective relay or manual intervention in the separate pump control relay box might turn on the pump.

Watch out: this too is an unsafe installation just as case #1 above. - Daniel F

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Continue reading at WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE for table listing causes & cures for well pump or water pressure problems, or select a topic from the closely-related articles below, or see the complete ARTICLE INDEX.

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• PUMP PRIME, REPEATED LOSS of if you can't keep the pump primed
• WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS & REPAIR - home
  • MUNICIPAL WATER PRESSURE DIAGNOSIS - If your water supply is from a city or municipal water system
  • WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE - succinct guide to pump & well problem causes & cures
  • WATER PRESSURE TABLE 1: PUMP WON'T RUN, WON'T STOP, or CYCLES
  • WATER PRESSURE TABLE 2: PUMP RUNS, WEAK or NO WATER PRESSURE
  • WATER PRESSURE TABLE 3: PUMP RUNS, NO WATER or INSUFFICIENT WATER
• WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES - home
• WATER PUMP PRIMING PROCEDURE
• WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE - home

...

Suggested citation for this web page

WELL PUMP CONTROLS: CAN THE PUMP RUN WITH PRESSURE SWITCH REMOVED? at InspectApedia.com - online encyclopedia of building & environmental inspection, testing, diagnosis, repair, & problem prevention advice.

Or see this

INDEX to RELATED ARTICLES: ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS

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