A Well Pump Troubleshooting Guide
If your well pump won't start or stops running shortly after being restarted, the problem could be due to a number of reasons, some of which you can remedy yourself without having to call out a repair specialist.
Here's a handy troubleshooting guide to help you get your water flowing again.
No Power to the Pump
If the pump has no steady power supply, it won't start up or run smoothly. Start by checking that all the service switches for the pump and peripheral equipment are in the 'on' position. Look to see that there is voltage registered on the pump motor and electrical panel.
If the building has power, check the circuit breaker or fuses to the electric motor. Make sure that the reset button on the motor has not been knocked into the 'off' position.
Fixes
- Make sure all 'off' switches are turned on.
- Replace fuses and circuit breakers.
- Press the 'reset' button on the motor.
- Check that all interlock safety switches on compartment doors are engaged and that doors are securely closed.
If the pump restarts but then shuts off again, it is possible that there is a short circuit in the wiring to the pump or the motor is pulling in an abnormally high current. It could also be the case that a fuse to the breaker or pump is the wrong voltage.
Check all the fuses to make sure that they are correct, replace any that aren't, and restart the pump. If the pump runs for a few minutes, and then cuts out again, the problem is most likely in the wiring or inside the pump's internal electrical circuitry.
Look to see that there is no obvious damage to the electrical wiring that feeds the well pump. Frayed or rodent-damaged wiring should be replaced completely, rather than simply patched.
In Conclusion
If your well pump fails, the likely cause is a power failure to the pump. Go through the common causes of failure outlined above to see if you can fix the pump yourself.
If the pump still fails to start and run correctly, the problem could be inside the actual motor itself in which case you should ask a qualified pump repair specialist to look at it for you. It's also a good idea to have the pump cleaned out in case an accumulation of sludge is causing overheating and tripping the circuit breaker.
