Well pumps and pressure tanks
The water is weak, sputters or stops
Start with what you notice. Each of these has a short list of usual causes, and we check them in this order.
No water at all
Check the breaker and the switch box first. If both have power, the pump, the wire or the drop pipe is the usual cause.
Water, but weak
A worn pump, a clogged filter, a leak in the buried line or a failing pressure switch.
The pump cycles every few seconds
A tank that has lost its air charge, a failed bladder or a bad switch.
Taps sputter and spit air
A failing bladder, a well that is drawing down, or a leak on the suction side of a jet pump.
Cloudy or sandy water
Sand pulled in by a worn pump or a dropping water level. We tell you which one it is.
The breaker trips at start-up
A bad motor or a short in the wire. Stop resetting it and call.
Do this first
Before you touch anything
Switch off the pump's breaker
Do it before you open the pump house or the switch box. A pump that runs dry can burn out.
Leave the tank and the box closed
A pressure tank holds air under pressure, and the switch box holds line voltage. Both are for a plumber.
Close the valve to the house if water is leaking
The main valve is on the line between the tank and the house. Close it, then call.
On the call
What happens when the truck comes out
We listen and read before we touch a tool.
In order
We read the gauge and listen to the pump run and rest
We test the switch, the tank's air charge and the pump's amperage
We tell you which part failed and what it takes to reach it
You get the written price before we pull anything
Pump and tank questions
Submersible or jet pump: which do I have?
If the pump is in a pump house or basement and a pipe runs to the well, it is a jet pump. If only a wire and a pipe go into the casing and nothing is above ground but the cap, it is submersible. Photos help: text us one.
How do I know the tank has lost its air?
A tap that sputters, a pump that cycles every few seconds, and a tank that feels heavy and cold all over are the signs. We confirm it with a gauge at the valve on the tank, with the pump off.
Can you replace only the pressure tank?
Yes. If the pump and switch test well, we replace only the tank, set the air charge and check the switch's cut-in and cut-out pressures.
Why is the pressure low only upstairs?
That is rarely the pump. A partly closed valve, a clogged aerator or a sediment filter is more likely. We check those before we pull anything.
Describe the symptom, get a plain answer
Call or text. We tell you what we think it is before the truck rolls.