This article provides a detailed guide on troubleshooting a water pump or well pump, including inspecting, cleaning, and potentially repairing common issues. There are several possible causes when a water well pump stops working or doesn’t run, such as power outage, sediment, low water table, low air pressure, and noisy pump. To troubleshoot these problems, check the power source and ensure the pump is pumping sediment.
To fix common problems with household water tank pumps, such as motor not starting, pumping frequently, or not producing enough pressure, follow step-by-step instructions and videos. Check the circuit breaker, the power, pressure switch, pump controller, and pressure tank for common problems and solutions.
Signs of a failing water pump include engine overheating, strange noises, leaks, and low heater performance. Inspect the water pump pulley, coolant reservoir, and electrical wiring to ensure good condition. Stuck pressure control relays, damaged pump motor or worn-out wiring, torn water bladder/diaphragm, impellers and seals may fail, and foreign matter and debris from the tank can clog the pump internals. Low water levels in the tank can also cause run dry.
Several factors can prevent a water pump from kicking on, including electrical issues, a malfunctioning pressure switch, or a faulty motor. Causes of water pump not working include lack of fuel capacity, spark plugs, dirty engine carburetor, and air. Booster pumps can also fail due to various reasons, such as a lack of power, water in the break tank, tripping, sensor failure, and other issues.
📹 No Water. Home well/pump Quit Working?Maybe A Quick Fix?
No Water. Home well Quit Working? Maybe A Quick Fix. In this video I show what process I use when my home Well/pump quits …
What destroys a water pump?
Water pumps can fail over time due to wear and tear, especially if not properly maintained. Contaminated coolant can clog the pump’s passages, causing it to fail. Signs of a damaged water pump include an overheating engine, coolant leaks, grinding noises, whining sounds, squealing sounds, and corroded coolant. If your vehicle exhibits these symptoms, it is recommended to take it to an auto repair shop for inspection. If you notice any of these signs, it is crucial to take your vehicle to a mechanic for repair.
How do I get my water pump to work?
To prime your water pump, ensure the power is turned off and never leave it plugged in. Gain access to the pump system, check for damage, test a hose, open relief valves, attach the hose, turn on the water, wait for it to enter the tank, and turn the power back on. If the water pump has been turned off over the winter months, it may have run out of pressure. To prime the pump, water must be flushed back into the pump and forced through, creating the pressure it needs to start pumping again.
To access the pump system, find a plumbing fixture near the water tank, such as the strainer basket on a pool pump. Double-check the electrical power by checking the breaker panel or the base of the pump.
What are the 3 ways a water pump can fail?
Three main causes of water pump failure are contaminated coolant, too much sealant, and defective system components. Contaminated oil is the leading cause of water pump failures, while hard water, mixing coolants, and system debris contribute to coolant contamination. Hard water can result in mineral deposits that restrict flow and damage seals. To prevent these issues, use distilled water when mixing coolant.
Combining multiple coolants is not recommended, and use a 50/50 mixture of recommended coolant and distilled water when replacing. To remove debris, flush the engine, heater core, and reservoir before installing a new water pump, and dispose of old coolant fluids and debris in accordance with local laws.
Why would my water pump not work?
It is possible for pump impellers and seals to malfunction, resulting in the obstruction of pump internals by foreign matter or debris. A reduction in water levels may result in a run-dry failure. In the event of a cessation of the pump/motor system, the underlying cause may be an electrical fault or the seizure of foreign matter, which can be economically repaired.
How do we know that the pump is not working properly?
An underperforming pump can be identified by its sound, which can indicate issues with the pump or system. If you hear popping sounds, especially near the impeller, it could be cavitation, which occurs when pressure changes within a liquid cause tiny pockets of air to form and implode. This can damage the pump, especially the impeller. If the pump produces a natural hum, it should not make strange noises.
A properly installed pump system should not overly vibrate or generate excessive heat. If there is any leakage from the pump or fittings, it may indicate an issue and could be a serious health and safety problem that needs to be rectified immediately.
Wear and tear can also indicate an underperforming pump. Check for visible signs of wear and tear, such as residue or deposits within the system, which may need to be replaced. It may be necessary to replace one component rather than the entire pump or piping system.
How to damage a water pump?
The water pump is a crucial water source conveying and pressurizing device in the water supply system. Improper use can lead to faults in its use, such as generating eddy current, sucking in air, causing cavitation, and reducing the flow head. Blocking the water inlet pipe or water inlet by foreign objects can also cause a decrease in flow head. Long-term work deviating from the rated design point can aggravate the pump load, potentially causing its full-open power to shorten its life or even cause sudden death.
How do you tell if a water pump is working or not?
A water pump leak, frequently located on the front of the engine, may be indicative of a number of underlying mechanical failures, including overheating, anomalous noise, and corrosion of the water pump. In some cases, these symptoms may be accompanied by additional engine-related complications.
What damages a pump?
To ensure a smooth operation, it is essential to use a reputable pump manufacturer with a good track record, select the right pump for the application, ensure it is installed by qualified personnel, follow the manufacturer’s operating and maintenance instructions, inspect the pump regularly, and address early warning signs of pump failure. Use high-quality pump parts and fluids, and be aware of conditions that can lead to pump failure, such as cavitation, overheating, and dry running.
Use a monitoring system to track the pump’s performance and identify potential problems early. Have a plan in place for dealing with pump failure, including having spare parts and knowing how to troubleshoot and repair the problem. If you experience a pump failure, work with the pump manufacturer or qualified repair service to quickly and efficiently get your pump back up and running.
Why do pumps stop working?
Pump failure is a mechanical or electrical issue that prevents a pump from functioning properly, often caused by issues like a broken impeller, power loss, or a clogged filter. These failures can lead to severe consequences, such as flooding, water damage, or complete piping system failure. To prevent pump failures, ensure proper installation and maintenance, follow manufacturer’s instructions, use high-quality parts and filters, regularly check the pump for signs of wear and tear, and call a professional for help if necessary.
It is crucial to take all necessary precautions to avoid serious consequences of pump failures, such as flooding, water damage, or complete system failure. By following these steps, you can ensure your pump is functioning properly and preventing potential issues.
How to check if a water pump is working?
The auto pump is a crucial component of a vehicle, circulating coolants from the radiator to the engine, ensuring a temperature-balanced condition. It is essential to perform monitoring and diagnostics to identify faults such as engine overheating, coolant leak, rust, and harmonic whining noise. Car water pumps are designed to engage impellers in transporting cool water into and around the engine to avoid engine damage or overheating. If coolant drops are found on the floor, inspect the vehicle pump to trace the source.
Overheating is another sign of a water pump failure. Additionally, watch out for whining or grinding noise from the car engine. Retailers can perform car engine diagnostics to identify potential issues.
What happens if water pump fails?
A dead or dying water pump can cause the engine to overheat, leading to serious damage such as a cracked block and damage to cylinders, pistons, and head gasket. It is crucial not to drive the vehicle if it is running too hot or if steam comes out from underneath the hood. Coolant leaks from the water pump are common and indicate the need for replacement. The coolant is stored inside the water pump using gaskets and seals, which can wear out or crack, causing radiator fluid to leak out of the front of the car.
Corroded water pumps can also occur due to air seeping through a defective pressure cap, non-compatible or dirty engine coolant, mineral buildup, or age. If you notice rust or tiny holes on the pump’s exterior, it’s time to replace it as it cannot operate effectively.
📹 Fix a booster pump not pumping water!
This video shows how one can fix a booster pump which is failing to pump water!
Hello. Im a 63 yr old woman, living by myself on a budget. I just wanted to let you know how grateful I am for your article. I just fixed my pump switch myself! I saved at least $90. which is what the plumber charges to just come here! I was also happy to see that your own switch doesn’t look all shiney and new like it was just cleaned by a housekeeper! You’re a real guy. Thanks again. Im sure I’ll be back LOL
Just a fyi for those unsure of testing voltage : You will get 240 volts measuring the two OUTER contacts, this is the power from the panel breaker. You will measure 120 volts to ground from each outer leg. The two inner terminals supply that power to the pump when the contacts close (calling for pressure). Voltages should read roughly the same when the contacts are closed. You can use this method with power on to troubleshoot the pressure switch, or use continuity check with power off, but you check the left side contacts and the right side contacts. One lead on L1, the other on T1, meter will read OL when open, about 0.1 – 2 ohms closed. If the reading is alot higher or OL when closed, the contacts are bad. Hope this helps someone. 😊
Thanks for posting this Bill! The well pump quick Workin at my brother’s place last night. He called a local pump repair place and they told him the pump would have to be replaced and would cost him $1600 just for the new pump. I knew it most likely wasn’t the pump because it was only 3 yrs old. So after I seen your article, I went out and cleaned all the contacts in the relay switch good, and PRESTO! pump works perfect. Thanks again!
You da man! 2200 here and all is well. Sanded those points and even had a can of contact cleaner lying around. Def a lifesaver. I had rigged up a 240V plug for the generator to survive the 8 days of no power here in Hurricane Matthew slapped Lake City, SC. That was a lot of stress on those contacts….thank you sir!
my dog was hungry so I feed him I went to go add some water to his water dish and discovered no water I call my dad he’s a license plumber but didn’t know how to help me cause he doesn’t work on wells but knows only a little about them than I decided to Google and came across this article and you sir you saved me a lot of headache for now I have running water again but will soon be replacing the switch cause the contacts are thin … but thank you for a simple article it saved me a lot ….and God Bless
Hallelujah! Its 27 degrees out and I was so close to starting to pull my well pump, and was NOT looking forward to that! (165ft depth) You saved me! Thank you so much! (Didn’t think it would work because the voltmeter showed the pump line was getting power with contacts closed, but decided to try it anyways, so anyone else with the same problem should give it a go just in case)
You are a lifesaver. 12:30 am Sunday morning. I discover no water. Wake up hubby who has to get up at 5:45 am to go to work as a firefighter (24 hour shift). No water effects us and my father’s home. We checked some things out and no luck. Started googling and found a couple of articles before we found yours. Did what you said and it was either that or the slightly lose wire we discovered because of what you told us to do but WE GOT WATER! Huge thank you for posting the article😄
Thanks man! Had to do this walking out to the yard to my little well house all soaking wet in 50 degree weather at 7am this morning. Normally in the summer time, ants get all over the switch and everything. I have to cut the breaker off and brush them off with a paint brush and spray ant raid around the area. But this time there was a 40 degree drop tonight so I was completely distraught on that to do this time. This article helped so much. Thanks again and keep posting! 🙂
Your article was excellent. A strong wind storm last night, I believe, affected the pressure. I now know what to do, but I can’t unscrew the cap on the plastic cover to the power switch. But while I was looking, i saw the pressure gauge was at less than 10. So as soon as somebody strong can unscrew the bolt to the gray plastic cover, I know what to do. Thanks.
Was in the shower when the water stopped flowing. Checked the breaker, looked at the pressure switch, had power and didn’t see anything wrong. This isn’t something I’ve worked on before. Looked at the contacts, used some sandpaper to clean them, and I’ve got water again. Thank you for this. I’ll get a new pressure switch asap, but now I can at least finish my shower.
You just literally saved the night. I was showering in the new home I bought recently and water ran out. Got out my Pump/Well book, but thought I might try searching on YT first… watched your article, crawled under house (that was the hardest part, actually!) and did exactly as you suggested… worked like a charm! Thank YOU! You saved me money, time and lots of frustration. And I got to finish my shower… with water! Hooray!
Oh man, thank you so much. My setup is pretty new but I’m guessing that all of the repeated bursts to the switch while trying to prime caused enough buildup to give me a problem. The fix could be due to cleaning the contacts or just releasing the contacts a few times. Either way, you just saved the day. Thanks again.
WHOO HOOOO!!!!!!! The whole house is hollering for joy right now!!!! You just saved us some money!!!!!! Thank you so much for this article. It was great. Easy to understand. We were terrified about working around the electricity, but we turned it off, found out that we had TWO sources of electricity to the switch, and got them both off, and then very slowly proceeded. When it worked, we felt like we had won the lottery! Thank you SO much for this article. Hopefully, you have more articles and we will watch them all!!!!!!!
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS article!! I just moved onto an acreage with a water well, and it suddenly stopped working. I thought it was froze up because it was -20 outside and the heat lamp in the cellar wasnt working. But after warming it up, i had no pressure. I have never seen a water well or pump or pressure switch before but i figured it was electrical issue with pump. After i watched ur article I, i went and turned off the breakers, cleaned the connection faces, and realized it was the switch spring was just kinda stuck open. anyways, that fixed it! All thanks to ur article. Saved me from calling out a technician.
We just bought our house and we are having issues with our well. When we turned it on it sprayed and sputtered, some water ran a bit. Then it just stopped. So we replaced the pressure tank and switch. Now no water is coming into the house. The well just won’t work. And the breaker was tripped a few times. It is a submersible pump.
I had a new jet pump installed a few months ago. It worked fine until the other day. I had no water in the morning. I checked the pump. There was 0 pressure. I pressed the reset button. The pump started and the pressure went up to 55 lbs. It worked for several hours. Every once in awhile it quits working. I had to press the reset button several times now to restart it. I noticed that the pump doesn’t always start when the pressure drops below 30 lbs, which I believe it is supposed to do. Is this the switch or something else? What would cause this and what can I do to fix it?
Well has been out. I don’t know if my dad looked at cleaning points. The pump is completely removed. I just heard a fan like sound in water heater area. It stopped after I walked up to it. I am hardly home. Water has been out for some time. Is this going to damage my electric water heater? Should I unplug it or flip a breaker or something until pump gets fixed? Everything went to crap in a season and I prioritized water was low on list. I want to avoid water heater damage on top of everything else.
We have a lot of fire ants here in South Carolina and when my well pump stopped working I found that ants climbed up the wires and got into the switch box and in between the contacts. Cleaned the contacts with sand paper and it works fine. I also found that putting Dawn dish soap liquid on the wires that go to the ground keeps the ants off the wires.
Get rid of those galvanized stand pipes under your pressure switch. Use brass or stainless. Galvanized will rust inside and close up so tight it will stop the switch from detecting water pressure. Your water pressure could go up so high it will blow the relief valve or you’ll lose water then a little while later the pump will finally come back on. I’ve seen that problem many times.
Another thing to check for some people – I checked the main breaker and sanded the contact points, and still no power. Then I realized that the smaller fuse box the pump is wired to still has an old fashioned fuse in it. I took a look and, yep, that one was blown. A quick swap and I was back in business.
Recently just went through a Water line freeze. Didn’t have our lines plugged into our heating tape, and the lines froze. Our pump initially stayed off, but randomly kicked itself back on. Probably for no longer then a few hours hopefully, before we noticed it and unplugged it. We used our propane heater, put it under our house for a couple of hours to unfreeze the lines. Went to turn the pump on, and upon plugging it in, it makes a very quiet humming noise for a good 2 minutes, and the humming stops. Pressure reads 50 PSI, but the pump doesn’t kick on. All of our faucets are open to trigger the pump as well. Idk if its this type of problem since you said the meter would read zero, but is there some other tips anyone can give on how to go about fixing it before we buy anything?
One thing to mention is ants. For some reason ants love to get in between the contact points and stop the points from actually making contact. Also as another person commented is use an Emory board to clean your contacts. It’s much more rigid than a sandpaper sheet but you will have to cut it down the middle to fit in between where the points are.
I replaced my pump switch/relay twice taking advise from professionals and still having issues, I need to take matters into my own hands. My current problem is basically that my pressure pump will stop working and if i cut the circuit breaker on/off again it works, the switch is brand new so that cant be it. I brought two professionals and one said it could be that pump it self is dirty and needs maintenance/cleaning, the other guy said the first of full of S*** and that its probably that tanks gets empty and pump gets stuck when there is no water and that i need to add in a new floor switch to my tank and connect it to timer to ensure it switched off when there is no water. what do you guys think?
Happy sabbath everyone!! I came here because it wasn’t clicking and found out that one of the locked pins on top of it pop off… which is weird but I guess it can happen. I looked around but didn’t see until I came back and finally by the Grace of the good Lord I had eyes to see or He just give me another one! 😂 I’m guessing with all that vibration back in forth it just pops out. I pray that if anyone else sees this comment and has the same problem finds it and understands! Blessings to the most High!
my water stops working after heavy usage but it always comes back I haven’t tried this yet but I’m gonna give it a try. what else can be wrong, is it possible that my well can be going dry and this is why this is happening? please if someone could help me out with some tips I’d sure appreciate it. thanks in advance
I’m only 14 and I’m so confused the water went out I’m the only boy in my house and I thought I fixed it cuz there was a big leak outside so a couple hours later I went to the sink and the water stopped working and here I am because Ik if I do nothing they’ll jus get a plumber and that cost a lot and we can’t even afford that I know nothing at all I hate being the only boy
I have no water in the house…well i little ever 5 minutes or so…but my tank is reading 30+ psi. I have plenty water coming out of the tank if i open the valve in front of the pressure switch. could this still correct my problem? did anyone here have pressure in tank like me but none in the house? Thanks
Thank you! I could add that if the reset button is non responsive, switch off the pump at the main electrical supply panel. After 10 mins,turn on some taps in the house and switch on the electric supply,it should reboot and start running, if it doesn’t start immediately then press the reset button, it should work now.