Well pump repair near you

Three safe checks before you call

1. The breaker. Reset the pump's double-pole breaker once. If it trips again right away, stop and call: that points to a short.
2. The pressure gauge. Read the gauge by the pressure tank. Zero with the pump silent points to power or the switch; a pump that runs without the gauge climbing points down the well.
3. The reset lever. Some pressure switches have a low-pressure lever on the side. Hold it in the Run position only as the switch maker directs, and if the pump cuts out again, the well may be low.

That is as far as a homeowner should go with live power. Our well pump troubleshooting guide covers each symptom and its likely cause, and the well pump troubleshooter names the most likely fault in four questions. A pump pro can do a lot more from the surface, with an amp reading and an insulation test on the pump wire.

No water tonight? What to do before the pro arrives

• Turn the pump's breaker off if the pump runs and no water comes. A pump that runs dry can damage itself.
• Use bottled water for drinking and cooking until the pump is fixed and the well is treated.
• Write down what happened: when water stopped, what the gauge reads, whether the pump hums, clicks, or is silent, and any recent storm or power outage. A pro on the phone can triage from that list.
• Find the well's depth and pump depth if you can. They are on the drilling record, and our well lookup finds it by address.

Our no water from well guide goes through the causes of a sudden loss of water in order.

What well pump repair costs

A short version for hiring. The full breakdown, by pump type and well depth, is in our well pump replacement cost guide.

Two guides give two prices for a service call, so ask for the diagnostic fee before the visit. The Well Guide says emergency or weekend work adds 25 to 50 percent to labor.

What to ask a well pump pro

1. What is the diagnostic fee, and does it come off the repair? Get the answer before the truck rolls.
2. Will you test from the surface before you pull the pump? An amp reading and a wire test can rule out the motor, the wire, or the control box, and pulling the pump is the expensive part.
3. What brand of pump, and what warranty? Ask for the pump warranty and the labor warranty in writing, as two separate lines.
4. Standard pump or constant pressure? A constant-pressure system adds $800 to $2,000 (The Well Guide). Ask whether the house needs it or the quote just includes it.
5. Should the pressure switch and tank be replaced at the same visit? The Well Guide says a tank adds $200 to $500 when bundled with a pump job. Ask how old the tank is and how it tested before you agree.
6. What is your license number? Check it in the state table below. Some states license pump installers apart from drillers.
7. Will you disinfect the well after the pump is pulled? Pulling a pump opens the well. Ask whether a well treatment and a bacteria test are in the price.

Red flags in a pump repair quote

• A new pump quoted on the phone, before anyone checks the breaker, switch, tank, or control box.
• One total with no lines. The Well Guide says a low price often leaves out drop pipe, wire, or other parts, and those can show up on the final invoice.
• No license number in a state that licenses pump installers.
• No written warranty on the pump or the labor.

After the repair

Pulling a pump lets surface bacteria into the well. Treat the well with the steps in how to treat a well, then test for bacteria 7 to 14 days later. If the pro says the well itself is failing, our guide to finding a well driller covers new well costs and what to ask a driller. For every other well job, from a bad water test to a home sale, start at well service near me.