Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] Well pump inop

09 October 2012

Re: [DIY] Well pump inop

A couple other cases that have not been mentioned.
I'm on a well, and the pump lives inside the well. It
does not need priming. While I have a backup generator
for the well, I've had work done on the plumbing (drained)
and did not need to re-prime. You will need to purge the air
from the lines to get water again. and there can be weird air
bubbles in your water lines. Try opening several valves to allow
the air out.

You turned off the breaker to the pump and opened a valve.
Water could still be in the lines, and depending on your weather,
could have frozen and created a block. (I don't know if you've hit
freezing temps yet. Treat as you would any frozen water line, but
at least the system was not pressurized so less likely to
burst a line.

Typically a well system has some sort of holding vessel
so that the pump does not need to cycle on each time
there is water demand. In some cases, this is gravity (a water tower).
more common in household wells is a pressure tank. It has a flexible
bladder inside, water on one side, compressed air on the other.
These bladdeers sometimes leak, reducing your air pressure to help
push the water through (it could have been marginal, and draining the
system allowed the bladder to fail).

I would try to trace the water system, see if you can find the pressure
tank (water pipes in the bottom, tire pressure valve in the top,
sometimes in garage, or in small shed on the property, near the well
head).
Typically you'll want around 30 PSI air presure, but check your
system for value needed. There is often a flush valve near the
tank, see if you are getting water there.

Check the pressure switch. It turns the pump on when the water pressure
drops. Perhaps the contacts are stuck. Work from the pressure tank out
to the rest of the house. If you have water at the pressure tank,
work out, further from the tank, see if/where you have water.

If you don't have water at the pressure tank, check the tank and
pressure switch. Also many pumps have a switching circuit separate
from well.
Investigate these first because the solutions are less expensive. If
still stuck, find someone that services wells, they will probably run
through the same checks. Worst case, they need to pull the pump
from the well, bringing in some sort of crane. Lets hope that is not
needed.

Hope that helps.

dave
On 10/08/2012 09:16 PM, Jerry Gmail wrote:
> I have inherited a house 200 miles away. In preparation for the winter
> freeze, I went to the house about three weeks ago.
>
> Every house I have lived in was connected to city water. So to make sure
> that nothing ugly happens I have always been able to shut off the water to
> the house with a valve. Then I could kill the water heater and feel
> somewhat safe about potential water damage. With the well, I thought this
> would be even easier. Before I left three weeks ago I just killed the power
> to the pump and the power to the water heater. I opened a tap at the sink
> and no water came out so I came home.
>
> Today I went up to the house to cut the grass and I flipped the breakers
> back on. But I did not get any water. A little spit of air and that was
> it.
>
> I do not know what kind of pump this is. I cannot even find the pump.
>
> I cannot hear one sound. Does a pump like this require a prime? And if so,
> how does one prime it?
>
> Or has something burned out completely?
>
> I will be returning to this house in about two weeks and I would like to be
> able to get a drink and flush the toilets.
>
> Thanks
>
> Google Jer
> Woodhaven, Mi
>

--
Dave Uebele (daveu@sptddog.com)