Major Causes of Pump Failure

A well pump is the cornerstone of any home or business with a private well system. These are common wherever city water systems don’t reach. Since the water source is lower than the house, the well must be dug or drilled; then a submersible well pump is dropped in that exerts pressure to bring the water to the home. Usually, these pumps work just fine and provide the water for all your needs from laundry to dishwashers.

But when they break down, pump maintenance is in order. Let’s take a look at the leading causes of well pump failure and how to address them.

Water quality problems

It’s possible that your well pump will fail prematurely due to poor-quality water. Anytime you have “hard” water running into your home, this can be an issue. That’s because the buildup of certain minerals will corrode the pump and cause it to burn out sooner. It’s also possible that bacteria will collect, resulting in slime that will gum up the pump’s mechanism. To prevent this issue, have a technician regularly check the well liner so that it’s protected against corrosion.

Age

Well pumps can last for many years, but eventually they will need to be replaced. If you’ve had a well pump for 15 to 20 years, then it may be time for replacement. Of course, it will typically be less expensive to simply fix the pump and keep going. But at some point, the parts will begin to break down, and the whole apparatus will need to go.

Well tank issues

The well tank is usually located in the home’s basement. This feature is used to hold all the water that is pumped into the home. Make sure that your well tank is the right size for the job; if the well tank is too small to keep up with the demands your family makes on it, it’s liable to fail. This will in turn cause the pump to work overtime, leading to a range of other issues.

Lightning strike

We’re getting into summer, which means plenty of thunderstorms. You may not realize it, but lightning strikes can affect well pumps. This may not show up until a few days later. If this is the case, you’ll need to have a trained technician stop by to pull the tank up via a machine.

Dry well

If your area is affected by periodic droughts, this may cause the well to run dry. If the pump is activated but there’s no water available, this can cause the pump to break down. It’s best to add a low-water cutoff switch that automatically prevents the pump from operating when there’s no water available.

Are you in need of well pump repair? Turn to Love Well & Pump Supply, LLC. Our team has been supplying well services since 1967. We specialize in well inspections, abandoned wells, waterline piping, installations of pumps and tanks, camera inspections, trench digging and freshwater services. We work closely with irrigations for farms, nurseries and greenhouses and for residential, agricultural and light commercial use. Give us a call today to learn more!

Categorised in: Well Pump Repair

This post was written by Writer