If you have a well for your house, you rely on it to supply running water for your home. Therefore, if the pressure of your well is off, you may have a difficult time doing your dishes, showering, or even drinking from the faucet. It can be incredibly frustrating if your well pump is running but not building pressure, so it is important to review some of the most common reasons why this might be happening.
You may have issues with your pressure tank contributing to these problems. Or, the well itself might have a faulty pump. There could also be a problem with the pressure switch itself.
It is critical to take a closer look at some of these issues, how they can contribute to problems with your well (including your foot valve, jet pump, or pump motor), and what you can do to address them.
A Review of How a Well Works
Before diving into some of the problems that you might be experiencing with your well, it is critical to take a closer look at how it is designed. Some of the most important components of your well include:
- The Aquifer: If you do not have an aquifer, you do not have a well. The aquifer is responsible for storing the water that your house uses. This could be significantly below the ground, but the exact size and shape of your aquifer will depend on the geology of your property.
- The Pump: Of course, you need to have a pump submerged in the aquifer as well. This pump is responsible for withdrawing water from the ground and supplying it to your home.Â
- The Pressure Tank: You should also have a pressure tank, which is usually a large container, that stores water within a certain pressure range. It is critical for your pressure to be within the right range because it protects your plumbing system.
- Water Line: You need to have a water line that runs from the well to your home. This is responsible for providing your home with water.
- Power: You also need to have power flowing to your well. If you do not have a steady power supply to your well, the pump will have a difficult time working properly. Always think about your well pump’s power supply when you see low pressure.
With a brief overview of how your well works, it is time to take a closer look at some of the issues that could have an impact on your well. This could include issues with your pump controls, pump pressure switch, and even your water pressure. What do you need to know about pump troubleshooting?
Common Reasons Why Your Pump Runs, But You Have No Water
There are a variety of reasons why your pump might be running, but your house might not have a steady supply of water.
Some of the most common causes include:
1. Your Pressure Switch Has Malfunctioned
One of the most common reasons why the pump might be running, but you don’t have any water going to your house, is that there is a malfunction with the pressure switch itself. If you take a look at the pressure tank, you will see a pressure switch at the bottom. The switch itself attaches to the tank using a T-fitting, and it should be located just above the water line.
This switch is supposed to shut the pump off when the pressure limit has been reached. If you have a problem with the pressure switch, the pump might not be firing properly. If you can hear the pump turning on and off quickly, it is a sign that something might be wrong with the switch, or that there could be an issue with the control box. You may need to get a new pressure switch.
2. Your Pressure Tank Has a Problem
There are a variety of reasons why your pressure tank may have a significant issue that causes your water supply to dry up or completely run out. For example, there may be a rupture in the bladder tank itself. What this means is that there is a significant hole in your pressure tank, which means that you don’t have any water available in the tank to move to your house.
There is also a chance that there could be some sediment clogging your tank. From time to time, significant sediment could build up in the tank, and it could clog one of the valves that should be responsible for directing water from the tank to your house. You may want to use a pressure gauge to check the air pressure of the valve at the top of the tank. If the pressure is off, you know something is wrong with the tank.
3. There Could Be A Problem With the Submersible Pump
Another reason why there might not be any water flowing to your house even though the pump is running is that the pump itself might be broken. For example, you may have a clog in the pump. This means that the impellers might continue to spin, but the pump is not actually drawing water from the well.
You may want to see if you can dislodge the clog yourself. If that does not work, you may want to reach out to a professional who can take a look at the impellers for you to see if they need to be fixed. The solution will vary depending on the nature of the problem with the impellers and the submersible pump itself.
4. Your Water or Air Pressure Could Be Off: A Broken Water Line
There could be a leak in one of your main water lines. This could cause your pump to run too much, and it could have an impact on your water or air pressure throughout the entire system, causing your utility bills to go up significantly. If you notice that your water and electricity bills are going up, it is time to take a closer look at your water lines.
You should not have a lot of trouble spotting a potentially serious leak involving your pressure pump. If you see water spilling out of the water lines, you should shut off the water supply until you can figure out the issue. While you might feel like you can repair your water lines on your own, you may need to reach out to an expert who can help you identify why the leak happened and prevent it from returning.
5. You Have an Issue With the Water Table
Do not forget that your aquifer supply is not unlimited. There is a chance that your water table could be a bit low, and you may need to make some changes to the well itself. You may also need to think carefully about how much water you are using, as you do not want your well to dry up.
One way you might be able to address this issue is to collect rainwater and use it to water the lawn or similar activities. That way, you are not drawing as much water from your well. This could make a difference in the overall lifespan of your well.
Rely on Pump Controllers From DROP
Even though there are a lot of issues that you need to address, you do not necessarily need to face them on your own. At DROP, we have reliable pump controllers that you can use to maximize the quality of your water supply. If you would like to learn more about how we can help you, take a closer look at our product selection today.
