Troubleshooting a Submersible Well Pump

When a submersible well pump goes bad it is hard to find the problem if you don’t know what to look for. If you have the proper tools you can do some troubleshooting yourself. There are some techniques that you can use to help solve the following problems with your pump.

The Pump Won’t Start

If the submersible well pump won’t start, there could be one of three things wrong. The first could be that power is not being supplied to the pump. Second, check the overload protection by checking the circuit breakers and third, check if the pressure switch is damaged.

The Pump Starts Up to Much

If the pump keeps turning on all the time, the first problem could be that the pressure switch may be defective or it is just not set up properly. The next problem could be that there could be a leak with the water level. You will also want to check the plumbing system to be sure it is not leaking. Check the valve of discharge line as there could be a leak there. There could also be a clogged snifter valve.

The Pump Won’t Stop Running

You have the pump turned on but now it won’t shut off. This could be caused on the submersible well pump by the pressure switch. The drop line could have a leak or because of the water level in the well. It could also be some of the parts to the pump are damaged.

Low Water Output when the Pump is working

When the pump is working but it is not delivering the water the way it should, you should check the air lock and make sure it is not on. Be sure to check that the water level is not too low for the pump. Also check the discharge valve and make sure they are not installed backward on the pump. There could be because of the blockage in the pump intake screen or a leak in the drop pipe. Another thing you could be checking is the drop pipe to see if it is jamming the check valve of the submersible pump. Then you need to check for worn and old parts, and last but not least, check the motor shaft to be sure it is not loose.

These are all things to look for when troubleshooting your submersible well pump. If you can fix them yourself, you can save some money. Whether the pump just won’t deliver water, won’t stop running, won’t turn on, won’t start at all or it starts too much, these all have fairly easy fixes and can be done by you or a friend. Everyone likes to have drinking water and water for other things, so it is important to keep the submersible pump well maintained. It will save you money in the long run. You can put these techniques to use as much as needed. It just might help you keep your submersible well pump running like a well-oiled machine.