What each symptom usually means
No water at all
When a well gives no water, check power first, because it is the cheapest cause to rule out. Reset a tripped well breaker once. If it trips again, call a well pro. If power is fine, suspect the pressure switch, the pump, a broken pipe, or a low water level.
Low water pressure
Low pressure from a well usually comes from a clogged filter, a pressure switch set low, a tank that has lost its air, or a worn pump. Read the gauge by the tank first. If it stays far below the cut-in pressure while the pump runs, the pump or a leak is the likely cause.
Pressure drops when the pump is off
If the gauge falls while every tap is closed, water is leaking out of the system or back down the well. Nebraska Extension names two causes: a leak in the line to the house, or a problem with a check valve. Close the valve to the house and watch the gauge to tell them apart.
Clicking on and off every few seconds
A pump that clicks on and off every few seconds almost always has a waterlogged pressure tank: the air cushion is gone. Nebraska Extension says there is not enough air in the tank. With the pump off and the tank drained, the tank should read 2 psi below the pump start pressure.
Air or sputtering at the faucets
Sputtering faucets mean air is getting into the water line. The usual causes are a water level that has dropped close to the pump, a leak in the drop pipe or suction line, or a torn tank bladder. If it happens after heavy use and clears after a rest, the well may be running low.
Pump runs nonstop
A pump that never shuts off cannot reach the cut-out pressure. Nebraska Extension says a check valve in the pump or in the riser pipe may be stuck open. A leak, a worn pump, or a water level near the pump intake does the same. A pump left running can burn out, so turn it off at the breaker.
Dirty water after pump work
Cloudy, sandy, or discolored water after pump work is common. Work in the well stirs up sediment and can let air and bacteria in. Run an outside tap until the water clears, then test for bacteria. A pro who opened the well should disinfect it before leaving.
How to check a well pump, in order
- Check the power. Look at the breaker panel. Reset a tripped well breaker one time. If it trips again, stop and call a well pro.
- Read the pressure gauge. The gauge sits next to the pressure tank. Note the number with the pump off and with the pump running.
- Close every tap. Make sure no toilet is running, then watch whether the gauge falls or the pump keeps running.
- Check the tank air charge. Turn off the pump at the breaker and drain the tank. The air valve should read 2 psi below the pump start pressure.
- Rest the well. If the water sputters or stops after heavy use, rest the well a few hours and try again.
- Call a pro for the rest. Wiring, the pressure switch, the pump in the well, and anything that trips a breaker belong to a licensed well pro.
Questions
Why did my well suddenly stop giving water?
Check the breaker first, because power is the cheapest cause to rule out. Reset a tripped well breaker once. If it trips again, the fault is electrical and a well pro should look at it. If power is fine, the cause is the pressure switch, the pump, a broken pipe, or a low water level.
Why does my well pump turn on and off every few seconds?
The pressure tank has most likely lost its air cushion. Nebraska Extension says that when the pump runs only a few seconds and shuts off, there is not enough air in the pressure tank. Check the tank air charge with the pump off and the tank drained.
Why does my well pump run all the time?
The pump cannot reach the shut-off pressure. Nebraska Extension lists a check valve stuck open in the pump or riser pipe. A leak, a worn pump, or a low water level can do the same. Turn the pump off at the breaker if it never shuts off.
Is low water pressure the pump or the tank?
Read the gauge. If pressure reaches the shut-off number and then falls with every tap closed, look for a leak or a check valve problem. If the pump runs but never reaches that number, the pump, a clogged filter, or a line leak is more likely.
What can I check without a plumber?
You can reset a tripped breaker once, read the gauge, close the taps and watch it, change a filter, and check the tank air valve with a tire gauge. Leave wiring, the pressure switch, and anything inside the well to a licensed pro.
Is dirty water after pump work normal?
Some cloudiness is normal because work in the well stirs up sediment. Run an outside tap until it clears, then test for bacteria. Pump work can let bacteria in, so the well should be disinfected before the pro leaves.
Go deeper
- Short cycling, running nonstop, or no water
- Well pump pressure switch
- Low water pressure from a well
- Well running dry
- Well pump repair
Want your well's depth and water level in front of you? Look up your well, then ask a local well pro to take a look.
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General guidance, not a repair manual. Turn off power before you open anything electrical, and call a licensed pro for wiring.