Symptom – Pump Motor Not Running
Probable Cause
Recomended Action
Motor thermal protector tripped
Allow motor to cool, thermal protector will automatically reset
Incorrect control box
Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair as required
Incorrect or faulty electrical connections
Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair as required
Faulty thermal protector
Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair as required
Low voltage
Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair as required
Ambient temp of control box/starter too high
Have a qualified electrician inspect and repair as required
Pump bound by foreign matter
Pull pump, clean, adjust set depth as required
Inadequate submergence
Confirm adequate unit submergence in pumpage
Symptom – Little or No Liquid Delivered by Pump
Probable Cause
Recomended Action
Faulty or incorrectly installed check valve
Inspect check valve, repair as required
Pump air bound
Successively start and stop pump until flow is delivered.
Lift too high for pump
Review unit performance, check with dealer.
Pump bound by foreign matter
Pull pump, clean, adjust set depth as required.
Pump not fully submerged
Check well recovery, lower pump if possible
Well contains excessive amounts of air or gases
If successive starts and stops do not remedy, well contains excessive air or gases
Excessive pump wear
Pull pump and repair as required
Incorrect motor rotation – 3 phase only
Reverse any two electrical leads
Ask the Expert
My well pump is not working; does that mean I need a new pump?
My well pump is not working; does that mean I need a new pump?Answer: Not necessarily. At Accurate Plumbing and Well Service LLC, our core philosophy is to pursue the least cost repair first. Accordingly, we do a complete diagnostic of your well system including: visual inspection, checking the pressure switch and the control box (if applicable), checking the bladder tank and finally checking the pump.
What maintenance should I be doing to my system?
Answer: First and foremost, you must check the air pressure in the draw down or bladder tank yearly. This is done by turning your well pump off, draining out the water and checking the pressure inthe tank using the air valve on the top of the tank.
Is it okay to make adjustments to my well system?
Answer: A properly designed and fine-tuned well system should not need “adjustment” regularly. Our advice to our clients is as follows: you should definitely have an understanding of your well system, but when we leave after adjusting your well system, we like to establish a baseline of well performance so that you can tell that there is a problem.
My water is cloudy, what does that mean?
Answer: The short answer is that it depends. Oftentimes, when water is “newly” clouded or stirred up, this indicates a leak down the well.
Whose pumps do you use?
Answer: Since the inception of our company, we have been a proud installer of Gould’s pumps. They have stood by us whenever we have had an issue and we really like their equipment. Their well pumps are 100% stainless steel and they last. The standard warranty on Gould’s submersible well pumps is a full five years and most importantly, they are made in America.
Do you have experience with constant pressure well systems?
Answer: Certainly. We have seen a surge in the installation of these well systems simply because the name of our game is water pressure and these systems deliver.
How long should a bladder or draw down tank last?
Answer: The answer to these equipment lifespan questions are difficult because it depends on water conditions, usage and a variety of other issues, but a good benchmark is about ten years.