How to Service Well Pumps

Thanks to pumps, drawing water from a well is much easier than it used to be.

When you needed to get water from a well in the past, you lowered an empty bucket into the well on a rope and then had to pull the full bucket up to the surface. Thanks to pumps, drawing water from a well is much easier these days. You will find two types of pump in common use. There is the submersible pump, which is usually used in a deep well, and the jet pump, which is used in a shallow well.

Instructions

1. Check that the pump motor is in good working order. This is what powers the pump, and if it is not performing correctly you will be unable to get water from the well. Inspect the wiring thoroughly for signs of wear and tear.

2. Check all of the pipes and faucets to make sure that the pump system is not leaking. Pay extra attention to the joins in pipes and where the faucets are connected. Repair any small cracks immediately before they become a major problem.

3. Check the flow valve to make sure that it is opening and closing correctly. A valve that is constantly open means that when the pump tries to bring water up from the well the water flows back down past the open valve and back into the well. If the valve is permanently shut, then no water can be pumped out of the well.

4. Check that there is enough air pressure in the tank, because without it the pump will not work efficiently. Check the owner's manual for the recommended pressure level and how to repressurize the tank if necessary.

Tips & Warnings

• As makes and models of pump vary, you should check the owner's manual if you need help locating the various components that make up the pump system.

References

• Popular Mechanics: Water well systems and pumps