As the owner of your own water well, you need to stay on top of your equipment and water supply. Someone who rents or lives in an apartment may be able to ignore issues with their utilities until the landlord takes care of it but private well owners don’t have this luxury. One of the more common water well problems is when the well pump runs continuously without stopping. If you don’t check your water well regularly, it may only be after a large utility bill that you notice your well hasn’t stopped running. If your water pump is running continuously, it’s important to look for common causes and call an experienced professional.
Continuously Running Appliances
In some cases, a continuously running water well pump isn’t caused by issues with the well itself but the appliances it is pumping water to. For example, if your toilet or sink is constantly running, that demand for water will cause water well problems like continuous pumping. To test this issue, first, turn off the main water supply to your home. If your pump stops running once the main water supply is shut off, there is a possibility that one of these appliances/fixtures is keeping the water pumping.
Turn the water supply back on and check if any hoses, sprinklers, showers, toilets, etc are constantly running or leaking. If the well keeps pumping after the water supply is shut off, this is probably not the cause of the issue.
Well Pump Prime
A well pump is primed when the intake pipe on its jet system is filled with enough water so there is sufficient suction to pull water out of the well and into the house’s water line. When a well loses prime, it will continuously pump water and could cause other water well problems. Once a well loses prime, continued use can severely damage your entire water well system. If you suspect your well has lost prime, turn off the pump to prevent further damage. Leaks in the suction line are often the cause of this issue so if the issue occurs, you will need a professional to fix both the suction line as well as prime the pump.
Pressure Control Issues
A malfunctioning or incorrectly set up pressure control switch can also cause a well pump to run continuously. Your water well’s pressure control switch regulates the water pressure that makes the pump turn off and on. Sometimes these can malfunction due to clogged tubing or burned contact points. You can also come across issues if the switch was incorrectly set up. If the water pressure was set above your pump’s capacity, the water well pump will not stop running. Fixing or adjusting water well problems like this requires dealing with electrical hazards, so the job should only be handled by trained professionals.
Reduced Water Level
To maintain a working water well, the well pump must always have a sufficient amount of water supplied at a steady pace. If the water level becomes too low or the water flow is inconsistent, the pump will run continuously. This can occur when the water table on your property drops, droughts occur, or you have a sudden increase in your demand for water. Since there are multiple causes for reduced water levels, you will need a professional to troubleshoot and fix the problem for you.
Leaky Pipes
Water well pumps shut off when a specific pressure is reached. If the pipes in your system are leaking, this water pressure will never be attained, meaning the pump will continue to run. If this is the case, you will need a water well expert to find and fix those leaks before the pump will run correctly.
Broken Well Pump
There is always the possibility that the well pump itself is too damaged to function correctly. Over time, well pumps degrade through erosion and wear and tear. If there is damage on the inside of the pump, the water pressure may be unable to become strong enough to shut the pump off. Your well pump must be fixed in order to stop it from running continuously.
Diagnosing and Solving Water Well Problems
Water wells are complicated, even the handiest person should probably let a professional take the wheel. At A1 Well Drilling & Pump Service, we offer a variety of services including well drilling, well and pump service, water treatment installation, and more. Our expert technicians are fully equipped to handle any problem that may be happening with your well. Whether it’s too old and you need a new one or you’re simply in need of a few well repairs or service after a flood, we’ll be there for you! So, if you’ve noticed any of the things listed above causing problems with your well or you just think it’s time for a check-up, give us a call today!
