Maine is a rural state, and most of us live where city water isn’t available. Because of this, many residents depend on a drilled or dug well for water. When you have a well, you depend on your pump to deliver water to your home. You want to make sure things are running properly. From time to time, there are issues that can cause discolored or odor in the water, bubbly water, low water pressure, or no water at all. If you are experiencing any of these issues, it’s a good idea to check your well pump and water tank for any signs of issues.
When I recently had an issue with my water pressure dropping to almost zero I realized how tricky it can be to diagnose the issue and repair your own system. After spending several hours online researching “what to do when your well water pressure drops”, I finally gave up and searched for “plumbers near me” and found a licensed plumber who specializes in well pumps and water systems. It took a bit of searching because not all plumbers I found had knowledge of well pumps.
Luckily for me, it was a simple valve issue, and it was replaced quickly and at a very reasonable price. Big thank you to American Mechanical & Plumbing https://americanmechanicalandplumbing.com
During my time researching online I learned a lot and thought I would put together a quick list of the questions and answers I found to help others with water issues possibly. This guide will help teach you a bit about how to fix your well yourself and maybe avoid the high cost of professional repair. Here are the top 10 questions when it comes to pump repair and answers from experts around the web.
Q: What is the cost to replace the well pump & tank?
A: The cost of replacing the well pump and tank will depend on the brand and size of the pump and tank. Generally, a small system will cost between $1,000 and $5,000, while a large system will cost between $2,500 and $7,000 to buy and install.
Q: How can you tell if your well pump is bad?
A: If the pump is leaking, or if the water pressure has dropped, then that is a sure indication that the pump has failed. Another sort of telltale sign is a change in the sound of the pump. If the pump has been used for an extended period of time, it could make a rattling or knocking sound that is unique to that pump. If the pump is new and hasn’t been used much, then its sound will be more of a humming sound, not just a steady hum. Any change in the sound can tell you that something is not right and you should inspect it.
Q: How big of a well pump do I need?
A: If the well flow exceeds 10 to 15 pm (gallons per minute) then you will need a larger pump. The general rule of thumb is to calculate the total volume of water you need and then divide it by the number of hours you run it (24 hours). So if your well flows 15 GPM and you need 100 GPM, you will need a pump that will give 100 GPM divided by 24 hours. That equals 4.2 h.p. If you are going to be running it all day then a larger pump will be needed.
Q: How long does a submersible well pump last?
A: The life depends upon the quality of the pump. If you have a submersible pump installed in your well and it is working fine, then the average life is about 20 years. Some pumps could work for more than 40 years if they are regularly maintained. The life of a submersible pump depends upon the water quality and the depth of the pump. The best practice is to hire a professional who would come and clean the well at least once a year.
Q: How long does it take to replace a well pump?
A: Replacing a well pump can take anywhere from one hour to one day, depending on the size of the pump and the pressure tank. It is a good idea to hire a professional. Our plumbers find that the average time it takes to replace a well pump is about 2 hours. Factors such as plumbing fittings, conditions and the size of the pump can affect the time it takes to replace a well pump.
Q: How do you winterize your well pump?
A: Typically, a well is dug or drilled to a depth that is below the frost line which means, the water level is also below the frost line. A typical frost line depth for most areas is 32-48 inches. Therefore, the supply pipe connected to the well should be buried below this frost line so that water can remain flowing even during cold temperatures when there’s a chance for the ground to freeze and retain ice which will eventually expand and crack open your supply lines, leaving you without an adequate supply of drinking water when it’s most essential!
There are many ways to keep your water wells from freezing during the winter. Begin by placing insulation sleeves on your water pipes, and make sure the enclosure around the well is insulated too. The rest of the process depends on what kind of pump you have for getting water out of the well. Make sure all exposed portions of pipe are covered in insulating material and that the pump itself is housed in an insulated area so it won’t freeze either. If you have questions about your well setup, contact us and we can help identify and fix any issues.
Q: Why does my well pump keep tripping the electrical breaker?
A: It’s your pump that is tripping the circuit breaker. The most likely cause is the pump is drawing more than the expected amount of power. A pump drawing too much power can be caused by a defective circuit breaker, a defective pump, or a defective relay. If one of the shutters on the circuit breaker is bent in and not allowing the breaker to close all the way, then the pump can short out the breaker. The pump can short out if it is defective, and the pump is most likely defective if the tripping circuit breaker has a history of tripping. This is a very common problem and the solution is just to replace the pump.
Q: How do you pull a well pump out of a well?
A: Well, it depends on the well system. If you have a shallow dug well with a submersible pump, then you can just go down the hole and remove it. If you have a deep well jet pump, then you’d need to pull out the whole pipe and pump. You can always call a well contractor to help you. 🙂
Q: How do you fix well water pressure?
A: This depends on the cause of the problem. If the pressure is low because the water is coming out slowly, then there may be sediment or some other material in the well. This may need to be removed by a professional. If the pressure is low because the pump is not working, you may need to replace the pump. If the pressure is low because the water is exiting the well too quickly, there may be a problem with the pressure tank. This may need to be replaced. Finally, if the pressure is low because of a blockage in the pipes, the pipe may need to be replaced.
Q: How do you drain a well water pump?
A: If you are planning to drain the well water pump, you should start by turning off the power supply to the pump. You should also disconnect the wires as well. After that, you need to open the lid, and then you can disconnect the water pump from the well casing. After that, you need to disassemble the pump. There are a lot of parts you have to take off, and then you can drain the water inside the pump easily. If you don’t want to make a mess in your house, you’d better call a plumber to drain the well pump for you.