Well water pump diagnostic FAQs set #6:

This article series answers to frequently-asked questions about how to diagnose problems with the water pump bring well water to a building or boosting water pressure at a building.

If the well pump runs too often, is noisy, seems weak, runs intermittently with no apparent reason, or is otherwise misbehaving, these questions will help sort out what's wrong.

FAQs on fixing problems with well pumps-#6

Recent questions & answers about well pump diagnosis and repair, originally posted at the end of this article or at other water pump diagnostic articles such

as WATER PUMP REPAIR GUIDE - home.

You'll like the diagnostic and repair help given there.

On 2019-03-04 by (mod) - why would my well flow rate fall off when another well is drilled nearby?

WR

It would be no surprise that a nearby water well might, depending on local geology, tap the same supplying aquifer as well #1.

That added local draw-down in the aquifer can then reduce the flow-rate in well #1.

However there are of course quite a few other reasons that well flow rates decline.
WATER FLOW RATE CALCULATE or MEASURE offers diagnostic help

On 2019-03-04 by WREAWT

I would like to know possible reasons why the production of well 1 (operating by itself produces 350 GPM) decreases (to just 90 GPM) when a second nearby well (well 2) is activated?

On 2019-03-03 by (mod) -pump's electric motor overheating

So the pump is overheating and going off on thermal overload, cooling down and re-setting itself.

That overheat can be for any of several reasons: running dry (no water), bad bearing, low voltage, defective motor.

Search InspectApedia.com for ELECTRIC MOTOR DIAGNOSTIC GUIDE to see more detail

On 2019-03-03 by Travis Locklear

Hello I have a Myers pump and it’s not but about 2yrs old. About every 3-4months my pump stops pumping and when I check it the pump is really hot.

When it cools off, I can plug it back in and the pump will start working again?? It’s just really frustrating because I’m scared it’s going to happen one day we’re not at home and burn up the pump. Can you help?

On 2019-02-12 by (mod) - turned off power, then back on, now the pump won't pump water

Mike

See the diagnosis and repair steps at PRIME the PUMP, HOW TO

On 2019-02-12 by Mike

Turned the breaker off to my well while I installed new shower for maybe 2 hours now I can't get water, the pump is running and showing 40psi

On 2019-02-12 by (mod) - debris clogged pressure sensor tube

Mark

You replaced the pressure control but did you assure there's no debris clogging in the tube or small diameter pipe or nipple that conducts water pressure to the switch?

On 2019-02-12 by Mark

The pressure starts at 50 psi runs to 30 then the pump kicks on. Then pressure drops to 0 for 5 to 30 seconds then jumps back up to 30 and builds pressure. I just replaced the pressure switch and drained the tank and made sure it was at 28 psi. That didn't fix the problem. My electric bill keeps going up. What is wrong?

On 2019-02-04 by (mod) - water pressure has drastically dropped over the past 3 days

See WATER PRESSURE PROBLEM DIAGNOSIS TABLE

for a complete catalog of possible explanations

On 2019-02-04 by CheshireSweety

@CheshireSweety,
189-210 YARDS* away
My bad...

Southeast Texas here,
My water pressure has drastically dropped over the past 3 days and I’m pretty sure it’s about to stop if it hasn’t already in the past 10 minutes or so.
Details:

*I have a 15 year old well with the same equipment and pipes that came with it.

*The well is approximately 180-210 away (sorry, not good at judging distances),m

*The well pumps water through a PVC pipe that isn’t very big

*The pressure gauge doesn’t work

*There are no obvious things that point to a broken or damaged pipe

*Nothing visibly wrong with the pump or it’s counterparts that I can see

On 2019-01-14 by (mod) - gurgling due to pressure switch?

No, Linda I don't think so - at least not directly: the pressure control switch won't cause gurgling and rusty water. Those symptoms are more-likely an artifact of the water source itself, or possibly a leak in well piping.

On 2019-01-14 by LINDA

We are getting water, but it is gurgling and the rust comes out. Could it be the pressure switch. Pressure gauge has not moved

On 2018-12-18 by Jodie

Is there a reason why a well pump would quit working after a few months?

On 2018-12-18 by (mod) - gauge shows no water though pump runs

John,

This sounds as though you are having a problem with losing Prime, perhaps because of a bad check valve or foot valve.

See also PRIME the PUMP, HOW TO

On 2018-12-15 by Josh

I recently bought a new two post pressure switch for our well pump. I wired it up and everything seemed like it was working.

Just recently within the last week, the well would get low from using water and then it would turn the pump on.

Now the gauge wont move like its suppose to. It would drop to about 10 and fluctuation between 10-15 and we dont have water pressure. Can anyone tell me the problem

On 2018-12-14 by Tyler Our toilet ran all day and caused the water pump to go dry.

Our toilet ran all day and caused the water pump to go dry. What should we do next?

On 2018-05-17 by (mod) - pump runs for a few seconds and relay switch gets hot.

Yes it could be a bad pump pressure control switch or one that's clogged with debris and not properly sensing water pressure

Or a bad electrical connection

Or corroded aluminum electrical wire

Or low voltage supply

Or burned dmaged contact points in the switch

On 2018-05-17 by Bobby

My tank is good and the point is good points turn on for about 5 sec then shuts off could it be the relay it gets hot quick

On 2018-05-07 by (mod) - Is it possible the pump is not pumping the volume it should?

Yes Chris the pump and water delivery rate could suffer from

- a damaged impeller or bearing

- a leak in well piping

- reduced well flow rate (of water into the well)

- low voltage to the pump

Check the "low water pressure" or "pump won't stop running" articles found in the ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS - given above

On 2018-05-07 by Chris

My water pump kicks on at 40psi and shuts off at 60psi just as it should. However, even though the pump kicks on at 40psi the pressure continues to drop down to about 15-20psi and takes
roughly 7-10 minutes to fully recover until it shuts off when it reaches 60psi.

The pump is about 15 yrs old. Is it possible the pump is not pumping the volume it should?

On 2018-05-07 by (mod) - why does my water pump not deliver the volume it should?

Yes Chris the pump and water delivery rate could suffer from

- a damaged impeller or bearing

- a leak in well piping

- reduced well flow rate (of water into the well)

- low voltage to the pump

Check the "low water pressure" or "pump won't stop running" articles found in the ARTICLE INDEX to WATER SUPPLY, PUMPS TANKS WELLS - given at the end of any of these pages.

On 2018-05-07 by Chris

My water pump kicks on at 40psi and shuts off at 60psi just as it should. However, even though the pump kicks on at 40psi the pressure continues to drop down to about 15-20psi and takes
roughly 7-10 minutes to fully recover until it shuts off when it reaches 60psi.

The pump is about 15 yrs old. Is it possible the pump is not pumping the volume it should?

 

On 2018-05-03 by (mod) - water pump won't reach the pressure it used to

It sounds as if your pump won't stop running, perhaps because of low well water or a damaged pump or low voltage - pump can't reach cutoff pressure.

See the diagnosis and repair suggestions at

WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

and you might also want to see this diagnostic table for a more abbreviated list of causes and cures

WATER PRESSURE TABLE 1: PUMP WON'T RUN, WON'T STOP, or CYCLES

For the complete list of pump diagnosis and repair articles see the ARTICLE INDEX

On 2018-05-03 by Susan K Stevens

In the past our water pump has turned o when the pressure reached 52 lbs. The pressure is not going above 42 lbs, so we have to manually turn o the pump. What's the problem?

On 2018-05-04 by (mod) - after 5 minutes the pump change it's sounds and stop pumping water

arslan

That sounds as if your well flow rate is very poor and you're running out of water. That'll be the first thing your plumber or well contractor will check.

On 2018-05-03 by arslan

my water pump give water with good pressure but after 5 minutes the pump change it's sounds and stop pumping water

On 2018-04-19 by Anthony

Not sure of brand it has a control box pump builds pressure shuts off pressre bleeds off switch activates then trip thermal switch has to be reset or you can turn power of control box when pressure bleefs off turn on pump will come on it just wont cycle on its own

On 2018-04-11 by (mod) -

Good chance the presence of a 5000g tank means that there is a well of very very marginal capacity. Running the pump for a day may well have exceeded the well flow rate; if the pump ran dry it could have been damaged. Either of those would leave air in the system.

On 2018-04-11 by randall.macfarlane

I left a hose on overnight and drained my 5000 gallon tank. My system has a well pump that fills the tank and a Gould pressure pump that pressurizes the system and sends water from the 5000 gal tank to the property. I let the well pump run for one day and restarted the pressure pump.

As the pump built up pressure I opened all the lines to bleed the air from the system. Pressure controller cut off at 40 psi. There was a hissing around the pump like air escaping and the water in the pipes was gurgling. I turned on the water hose to the ducks but there was still a lot of air coming through the line.

I opened up all the lines again but can't seem to bleed the air out.
I checked the air valve on the pressure tank and no water coming out. Maybe I should check the pressure (per one of your suggestions).

The pressure pump seems to run smoothly.

Do you know why the air is still in the system?

I will try building up the pressure and turned off the valve that controls the water distribution and see if the air hissing sound and gurgling is still there.
Thanks

On 2018-04-04 by (mod) - damaged pump impeller or low water in well may lea

the problem may be the pump if its impeller is damaged, or it could be that there's not enough water in your well.

See the diagnostic procedure at WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING

Also see the Saer water pump parts explosion at http://www.saerelettropompe.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/cod.202-01-2001-Domestiche.pdf

from which I post a typical parts explosion; in this edition the impeller is part 21

On 2018-04-04 by (mod) - water pump wont' turn off

the problem may be the pump if its impeller is damaged, or it could be that there's not enough water in your well.

See the diagnostic procedure at WATER PUMP WONT STOP RUNNING https://inspectapedia.com/plumbing/Pump_Runs_On.php

On 2018-04-02 by Miguel

Hi, I have a problem with my SAER waterpump. The pump is almost brandnew but it was'nt installed for almost a year. When i installed it can't generate a high pressure and it won't shut off. i even replaced my pressure switch, no leaks on line, water supply is adequate.

It can only reach a maximum of 15PSI. The pressure gauge is also new. Our local technician can't also determine why? is there any possible reasons why it won't have a high pressure?

thank you.

On 2018-03-26 by Joyce

Water is heating in inside pipes as it sits in them.where the pipes come in the house by the box with capicatator water is then warm in the morning.

We feel a small vibration n the pipeline.

After running water for while we are back to our ice cold water (which is normal temp). Any ideas as to why water is heating?

On 2018-03-11 by (mod) - well pump won't turn on

Anon

Please see the diagnostics at WATER PUMP WON'T START

On 2018-03-11 by Anonymous

Why do the pump would not work it is new

On 2018-02-18 by (mod) - pump turns on and off too frequently

Please see

WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING

On 2018-02-17 by Teresa

I want to make this clear. Well used to have 11 houses it. Now five houses. Lady who took care of bill walked away with whole savings to repair well.

No one really knows what was done. Well stopped and then was diagnosed as the part that sends water to each house. We would get water a bit and then nothing after this repair

It lasted for about 10 days with water maybe 30-50 % of time. Then it just stopped. I checked pressure .itbwas 70%. It called for 40%. Nkw Now no water ag all for three houses. Thank you. This has been over 3 month period.

Well going off and kn and then quit working

On 2018-02-01 by (mod) - leaky well pipoing or foot valve

I would look for a leak in well piping, maybe in the well (listen at the casing) or between well and building (look for a wet area).

If there's a well piping leak you might see that with water to the house turned off you will see pressure in the tank fall after the pump stops.

Yes a leaky foot valve will lose prime.

On 2018-02-01 by Jeremy

Power was off a few months, got power turned back on and water burped out of faucets a few times. pump was only a few years old but i bought a new one and it primes but wont build any pressure. I can take the prime plug out while running and it pumps a little water but I can put my thumb on the hole and stop it.

Other pump was doing same thing. 60 ft. deep well. Bad footvalve possibly? Its like it pumps it right back down the well?

On 2018-01-07 by (mod) - The well keeps tripping but when I reset it nothing kicks on

Cody

I suspect that the pump or its impeller is damaged, OR your pump is protected by a control that switches off the pump when it is not moving water (such as if the well has run dry or if pipes have frozen)

On 2018-01-07 by cody

The well keeps tripping but when I reset it nothing kicks on and then it trips back out after about 30 seconds?

...

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 WATER PUMP REPAIR FAQs-7 - more recent diagnosis & repair questions and answers for well & water pumps

Or see these

Recommended Articles

• 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

...

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER PUMP DIAGNOSTIC FAQs-6 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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