Well Pump Short Cycling, Running Nonstop, or No Water: Tank, Switch, or Pump?

How a well pump, tank, and switch work together

The pump in the well pushes water into a pressure tank, where a bladder of water presses against a cushion of air. A pressure switch starts the pump at the cut-in pressure and stops it at the cut-out pressure. Most homes use a 30/50 or 40/60 switch, and Nebraska Extension's NebGuide G2153 (June 2012) says the tank's job is to keep the pump from starting every time a tap opens. When the air cushion is gone, the tank holds almost no usable water, so the pump starts and stops over and over. That is short cycling.

Two tools do most of the checks: the pressure gauge next to the tank, and a plain tire gauge for the air valve on top of the tank. One safety rule covers everything below. The pump runs on 230 to 240 volts, which DrillerDB's 2026 troubleshooting guide calls lethal. Turn the breaker off before you touch the tank, and never open the pressure switch cover. NebGuide G2153 tells homeowners not to adjust the switch because it is connected to electric power.

Is it the pump, the tank, or the switch?

Why does my well pump short cycle?

Usually the tank. DrillerDB says short cycling is almost always a waterlogged tank, and NebGuide G2153 says a pump that runs only a few seconds before it shuts off means the tank needs more air. Amtrol, a tank maker, lists rapid cycling, low pressure, and low or no air as the signs of a failing tank. The Water Systems Council adds surging at the faucets, and warns that the surging will eventually lead to pump failure. Every start heats the motor and wears the switch contacts, so a short-cycling pump wears out years early.

How do I know if my pressure tank is waterlogged?

Turn off the breaker for the pump. Open a faucet until the gauge reads zero. Then press the pin in the air valve on top of the tank for a second. Air should hiss out. If water comes out, the bladder has torn and the tank is waterlogged for good. If you get only a short puff of air, the charge is low.

How to fix a waterlogged pressure tank

1. Turn off power to the pump at the breaker.
2. Open a faucet and drain the system until the gauge reads zero.
3. Read the air charge with a tire gauge. Amtrol's target is 2 psi below the cut-in pressure: 28 psi for a 30/50 switch, 38 psi for a 40/60 switch, 48 psi for a 50/70 switch.
4. Add air with a small compressor until it reads the target.
5. Close the faucet, turn the power back on, and watch one cycle.
6. Check the charge again a week later. A tank that keeps losing air has a leaking valve or bladder.

If water came out of the air valve, adding air will not help: the tank needs to be replaced. NebGuide G2153 puts a pressure tank's life at about 10 years, though some last 30. A tank swap is a plumbing job many handy owners do. A pro is the right call if the tank is large, if the wiring near it is old, or if you are not sure which switch setting you have.

Why does my well pump keep running?

A pump that runs and never shuts off cannot reach the cut-out pressure. NebGuide G2153 names a stuck check valve or a line break as causes, and gives a test: shut off the water to the house and watch the gauge. If the pressure still drops, there is a leak or a bad check valve. A soggy patch in the yard that is not over the septic field can mark a broken line. If the gauge holds, the pump is running but falling short, which points to a worn pump or a water level near the pump intake. Penn State Extension (updated May 29, 2025) says sand pumping is the leading cause of pump failure, because sand wears the impellers. A pump that runs nonstop also runs up the electric bill, which is often the first thing people notice.

Why is there no water from my well?

Work from the cheapest cause up. First, the breaker. DrillerDB says a tripped double-pole breaker is the most common cause. Reset it once. If it trips again right away, there is a short in the wiring, the capacitor, or the motor: stop there and call a pro. Second, read the tank gauge. If it reads well below the cut-in number and the pump is silent, the switch or the pump has failed. Third, if the pump runs but water spits air or stops after a few minutes, the water level may be below the pump. Penn State Extension (updated June 2, 2025) says the most frequent cause of lost water is a worn-out or failing submersible pump, followed by electrical faults, a tank that needs replacing, clogging from iron bacteria or sediment, and a water level that drops below the pump during heavy use. If the water comes back after the well rests for a few hours, read our guide to a well running dry.

A pump left running with no water in the well can burn itself out. DrillerDB says a dry pump can melt its windings in under 30 minutes, so turn the breaker off if you hear the pump running with no water coming out.

Well pump not working after a power outage

Start with the same three checks: the double-pole breaker, the tank gauge, and a listen at the tank for the switch clicking. If the breaker holds and the pump still will not start, a pro tests the switch and the pump with a meter. A constant-pressure system shows a fault code on its controller, so read the code in its manual before you call.

What a well pump repair costs

These are 2026 national ranges from PlumberCalc, The Well Guide, and DrillerDB, all commercial cost guides, and they disagree by hundreds of dollars on the same job. Local prices and well depth move them more than anything. Ask for the quote in writing with the parts listed.

When the problem is in the water, not the pump

Sometimes the pump and tank check out and the trouble is slime and sediment narrowing the system: pressure that fades over months, orange or black slime in the toilet tank, and filters that clog fast. That is a water problem, covered in our low water pressure guide and our iron bacteria guide. Any time a pump is pulled or replaced, the well should be disinfected before you drink from it again, as how to treat a well explains. Our well lookup finds your well's depth and water level, the numbers a pro asks for first, and the maintenance checklist puts the yearly tank check on your calendar.

For every other pump fault, from a dead pump to one that runs with no pressure, see our well pump repair guide. If the switch itself is the suspect, the pressure switch guide covers the signs and the 40/60 setting.