Well water pump or pump control noise & sound diagnostic FAQs set #2:

This article series gives diagnosis & repair advice for well or water pumps, controls, tanks, water pressure, water flow, water quantity.

Water Pump Noise FAQs-2

These questions and answers about noisy water pumps, noisy well pumps, or noisy pump control switches or water tanks were posted originally at WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS - be sure to see the diagnosis and repair suggestiosn there.

If your pump noise is coming from the pressure control switch, like the gray Square-D pressurtrol switch shown here,

see WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES.

On 2018-07-13 by (mod) - rapid clicking on and off at the pressure switch

Clicking like that probably means the pressure tank is waterlogged and the pump is short-cycling.

Search this website using the search box above

for WATER PUMP SHORT CYCLING - home to see the diagnosis and cure.

For a review of clicking noises at the pump control

see WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES - since that is a switch noise question not directly a pump noise question.

On 2018-07-10 by Woody corrected

Sorry for the typos below. Here is the corrected text:

(within the last minute) Woody said:

I just bought a home. The well is under the basement floor. Near the well’s pump tank is also perhaps a "chlorination pump?" next to a tube that goes into a bucket in which I am to fill with one part chlorine to 4 parts water or more for the filtering system.

)I peridocically change the filters.) This pump used to make a click click click noise, then be quiet most of the time or so it seemed but now it makes the click click noise most of the time - sometimes stopping for about 19 seconds then continuing. Is there a way to silence the noise? An isolation item?

Also there is a small pump near the main "heat pump" of the house - well the main HVAC system which is propane-run but goes thru the ducts of the house as forced hot air.

Sometimes leaks occur when this small "pump" next to the "main heat pump" is unplugged...and now even when it is not unplugged.

Any suggestions about what is happening at these two problems at the chlorination pump and at the side of the house heat pump? And how to fix them?

On 2018-05-01 by (mod) - water pump making banging noise and the pressure gauge is going crazy

Usually I find this problem when there is a blockage on the pump outlet side, like a clogged water filter or a closed valve, or the pump's CUT OFF pressure is too close to the maximum pressure that the pump can achieve. Try setting the CUT OUT pressure down slightly.

On 2018-04-28 by Jean legault

When the water pump comes on before it shuts off it is making banging noise and the pressure gauge is going crazy

On 2018-04-23 by (mod) - is the noise from the pump or the switch?

It would be useful to know if the noise you describe is actually coming from the pump or from the pressure control switch. If the noises from the pump is the noise occurring when the pump is running, or after it is turned off. If it's the latter I suspect maybe the motor is overheating and you hearing a cooling down thermal contraction noise

On 2018-04-22 by Meme

Water pump makes ticking noise

On 2018-04-21 by (mod) - howling noise at the pump, goes on for hours

That sounds like an irrigation pump that is not working - look for a switch to turn it off, or go to the electrical panel and one by one, flip off circuit breakers until the pump stops.

I suspect a bad pump bearing.

On 2018-04-21 by Sandy

Im watching my bosses house and out by the grape vines there is a irragation box that has been making a very loud howling noise for hours not sure what to do

On 2018-04-20 by Daniel - singing noise from the water pump

Pump makes a singing noise when turned on no water comes through then it shuts off

On 2018-04-08 by (mod) - pump trips circuit breaker - does the pump hum?

A short circuit anywhere in the wiring circuit OR a pump motor that's seized or an electrical control that's wet or under water or has failed could explain a sudden trip of the circuit breaker when you turn power to the pump back on.

Depending on the circuit breaker brand there could also be a bad breaker (such as FPE or FP).

On 2018-04-08 02:10:02.756976 by nick

all the wires on house side going to pump or switch are correctly put in, put back into same places when replaced, and everything ran great till a week ago when all this started, could it be something else?

On 2018-04-08 by (mod) -

Check the wiring, that sounds like a short circuit

On 2018-04-08 by Nick

Replaced both pressure switch and control box, everytime i go to flip the breaker to turn everything on you can hear water start to move then theres a loud pop from the box and the breaker blows, side note someone wiggled a wire before i changed the box and water worked for about 30mins

On 2018-03-12 by (mod) -

If this is a submersible pump system the pump is in the well and of course you won't see nor hear it directly. But you might pick up noise from a vibrating pump *IF* the well piping is all metal.

Another possibility is a water velocity-induced sound in water pipes. You can test that arm-waved-theory by partly closing the main water valve into the home.

On 2018-03-12 by Christine R.

Thanks so much. I have actually stuck my head into the "closet" the pump is in and waited a full 30 minutes. It actually appears that the noise is not coming from there.

Now I'm at a loss as to where it's coming from, but at least I know who to call should the other issue arise. Hahaha! Thank you. :)

On 2018-03-10 by (mod) - my pump started humming

If you are never running out of water I suspect the problem is the pump itself or its controller. I'd call an electrician who is familiar with water pumps and pump controls.

Watch out: If the pump is humming and is not actually running, turn the pump circuit (electrical power) off immediately.

On 2018-03-10 by Christine R

My well pump has started humming a lot (almost sounds like the humming of electricity) and it's running all the time. Power bill has gone up. Water pressure may be lower. No obvious leaks or sparks, etc.. Do I call an electrician or a plumber?

On 2018-01-09 by (mod) - pipe hammering noise

Water hammer is usually solved above ground by a water hammer arrester. Search InspectApedia for WATER HAMMER (or find that link at the Continue Reading suggestions at the end of this article) to read the causes and cures.

However if the foot valve in your well failed, that could explain why the previous pump burned-up or failed as well as explaining frequent well pump cycling or even loss of prime.

Installing the new pump itself would not have been the cause of that original foot valve failure, more it is the symptom. Sorry. We might wish the installer had diagnosed that problem and fixed it when the pump went in.

On 2018-01-09 by Lori

I just had a new well pump installed in my crawlspace about 2months ago. I noticed right away it is louder and seems to run more often than the old one.

Now it has developed pipe hammering when it shuts off, which is gradually getting worse.The guy who put in the pump says I now need a new check valve in the well, at a cost of $1800 dollars!

On 2017-10-15 1 by rich - pump hums

i just put a new pump and motor on my well i have a light humming noise from control box i replaced the switch and control box problem is still there i still have no water i also checked the voltage and its good

On 2017-07-05 by (mod) - pump stops, clicks, vibrates

That sounds like a burned, corroded, or otherwise faulty relay switch

On 2017-07-04 by Mike

Control box... 230v 2hp submersible deep well pump...

I can turn the main power on and the pump starts working and fills the tank up to the set 60psi. But, as soon as it his the 60psi cut-off, the pressure switch does it's job and disconnects the pump, so the pump stops as it is suppose to, but then the controller box starts making a loud clicking/vibrating noise until I cut the main power back off.

Drained the tank pressure some, turn the main power back on, everything is working fine until the psi again reaches the 60psi cut-off point, then the same thing happens and the controller box starts the loud clicking/vibrating noise again. What is wrong?

On 2017-06-21 by (mod) - click snap pop at the pressure switch

Bill,

Can you tell me the switch Brand and model? Very well the switch noises are usual and could indicate an abnormal condition or a failing switch.

Watch out: I would be careful about in closing the switch if there is a risk that trapped moisture could cause corrosion or a risk of overheating.

On 2017-06-21 by Bill

How can you quiet the pump pressure switch? Ours makes a loud snap or click, could I enclose the switch in a box to reduce the noise. We have a basement bedroom ! Any Ideas?

On 2017-05-13 by (mod) - burning smell, and smoke coming from pump itself

Watch out: Smart to leave the pump off - it's probably damaged and there was risk of a fire. I suspect the pump has failed and the motor or impeller was seizing, perhaps from a bad bearing, but other problems can also destroy a water pump such as low voltage, short cycling, etc.

A pump or electric motor test and repair company can test the motor and pump to confirm that the root cause is in the pump itself: such as a failed bearing or having run the pump "dry" - with no water in the system.

On 2017-05-13 by JC, Michigan

Lost water pressure while getting ready for bed tonight.

Checked shallow well jet pump downstairs and found humming noise, burning smell, and smoke coming from pump itself (NOT pressure switch). Have turned breaker off to pump because it felt hot too. Do I have any options besides replace pump?

On 2017-04-23 by (mod) - Well pump hums but when I hit back of motor it will start

Pump

That sounds to me like a sticking pressure control switch or possibly a bad start-run capacitor; perhaps a binding motor.

On 2017-04-23 by Pump guy

Well pump hums but when I hit back of motor it will start

On 2016-07-16 by (mod) -

Where is the pump, Bill? If in the well, you may be hearing a failing relay or control; if the pump is above ground you may be hearing a failing pump.

On 2016-07-16 by Bill

When the well turns on I can hear a noisy humming sound in the house. This sound is the same noise at the well head. The well is 25' from the house and flows into the pressure tank located just outside our exterior wall. Any ideas?

On 2016-06-20 by (mod) -

I'd pull the well cap and look for a leak in well piping.

On 2016-06-20 by bcs

noise in the well sounds like water running and or air

...

Continue reading at WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS 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 PRESSURE SWITCH NOISE FAQs - more Q&A about pressure control switch noises, clicking, ticking, humming

Or see these

Water or Well Pump Noise Articles

• CHATTERING RELAY CONTROL SWITCHES - home
• ELECTRIC MOTOR NOISE DIAGNOSIS
• WATER HAMMER NOISE DIAGNOSE & CURE
• WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES - home
• WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSIS - home
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR - home
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL SWITCH CHATTER
• WATER PUMP PRESSURE SWITCH NOISES - home
• WATER PUMP LIFE MAXIMIZATION

Suggested citation for this web page

WATER PUMP NOISE DIAGNOSTIC FAQs-2 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

Or use the SEARCH BOX found below to Ask a Question or Search InspectApedia

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