Well Pump Repair: Troubleshooting and DIY Repair

If you own a home with a well, you know that trouble can hit at the worst possible time, and off-hours repairs can cost a small fortune. The most common symptoms of well trouble are no water at all, pulsing water pressure and a well pump that runs constantly. If you experience any of these, there's a good chance you can solve the problem yourself.

Family Handyman

Family Handyman

Family Handyman

If banging on the tube under the pressure switch kicks on the well pump, it means the contact surfaces of the electrical contacts are pitted or burned, causing a poor connection. You can temporarily restore the surfaces to keep it going until you can buy a replacement switch.

Family Handyman

Family Handyman

Family Handyman

Family Handyman

If your pump runs nonstop, there might not be a DIY solution. When a well pump turns on, you’ll hear the clicking of the pressure switch opening and closing. If you hear frequent clicking when no water is flowing, you have problems outside the house and you’ll need to hire a pro.

It could be a broken water line from the well to the house — usually you’ll have a wet area between the well head and the house — a bad check valve just above the submersible pump at the bottom of the well, a bad connector leaving the well casing or even a broken water line inside the well casing. Each of these problems requires a pro.

Also, learn how to dig a well.