First test: close every tap
Turn off every faucet, the toilets' supply, the ice maker and any irrigation. Watch the tank gauge. If it climbs and the pump stops, the house was just using a lot of water. If it stalls below the cut-out pressure, something is wrong.
Look for a leak you cannot see
- A toilet that runs or refills on its own.
- A wet spot in the yard on the line between the well and the house.
- A dripping relief valve on the tank or water heater.
When the gauge creeps down with the pump off
If pressure falls with every tap closed and the pump off, water is flowing back down the well or out a leak. That points to the check valve or a broken pipe, and both are jobs for a well pro.
Questions
Is it bad if my well pump runs all the time?
Yes. A pump that runs nonstop wears out fast, and one pulling air or too little water can overheat. Turn it off at the breaker until you find the cause.
Can a bad pressure switch make the pump run nonstop?
Yes. A switch with welded contacts or a clogged pressure tube never sees the cut-out pressure and never shuts the pump off.
What does a stuck check valve do?
It lets water fall back down the pipe as fast as the pump lifts it, so pressure never builds and the pump keeps running.