How to Troubleshoot Well Problems

If your home water is supplied by a well, you have a difficult situation on your hands if the well is not working properly. There are lots of things that can happen to cause a well to malfunction, but there a few basic scenarios to check before consulting a professional.

Instructions

1. Troubleshoot well problems first by looking for the obvious malfunctions. If you are not getting water into your home, check to see if the well has run dry. Go to where you have access to the well itself. Take a weighted line and drop it down into the well. You should be able to tell if there is little or no water.

2. Avoid using the well pump for a few hours in order to troubleshoot well problems. Sometimes it just takes awhile for the water to start flowing again. Wait a few minutes and try to turn the water on again at a faucet or flush a toilet to see if the well has recovered.

3. Consider that a shallow well could be caving in. If the well was just dug a few months ago and sand or other kinds of particles have started appearing in the water, this is a sign that it may be caving in. A foot valve might also be clogged, so check the foot valve for debris.

4. Check the voltage on your pump to make sure it is getting enough electricity. If you're not getting enough water, check the pump function to troubleshoot well problems. Get a voltmeter and attach the leads to the meter. Set the meter on the proper range (a plate on the pump should show you the proper working voltage). Touch the black lead to the white wire, then the red lead to the black wire in the disconnect box. The box is usually located near the well pump.

5. Take the tube and fittings apart on your pressure switch if you still haven't found the problem. Clean these and make sure you get rid of any particles or anything that might interfere with the switch connection.