Q: Why would a well pump fail?

• <div><p>Age is certainly a factor in <a href="https://www.angi.com/articles/signs-you-may-need-new-well-pump.htm">well pump failure</a>. The older your pump, the more likely it is to fail. </p><p>Beyond age, other factors can cause your well pump to fail, too. Things like poor water quality can cause sediment buildup in your pump. Without proper cleaning, your pump can seize up and fail. Having a dry well for too long can also cause your pump to fail, as it keeps working even though there's no water for it to pull. </p></div>

Question 1

Why would a well pump fail?

Accepted Answer

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Age is certainly a factor in well pump failure. The older your pump, the more likely it is to fail.

Beyond age, other factors can cause your well pump to fail, too. Things like poor water quality can cause sediment buildup in your pump. Without proper cleaning, your pump can seize up and fail. Having a dry well for too long can also cause your pump to fail, as it keeps working even though there's no water for it to pull.

Question 2

Do services include leak detection?

Accepted Answer

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Yes, most professional repairs include checking for leaks, sealing connections, and ensuring proper drainage.

Question 3

How long does a well pump last?

Accepted Answer

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With regular servicing, a well pump usually lasts between eight and 15 years. Variables include level of usage, frequency of servicing, and pump quality. You may also be able to hire a local well pump repair service to fix your pump rather than replace it.

However, often the cost to fix significant problems is as much as or greater than replacing the damaged pump with a new one.

Question 4

What pressure should I set my well pump pressure switch to?

Accepted Answer

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Most well pump pressure switches have a factory setting of 30 to 50 PSI. There’s some flexibility with this if you’d like a lower or higher water pressure, but remember that it should sit 2 to 3 PSI above your well tank’s general pressure setting.

The inside of your pressure switch cover will usually indicate minimum and maximum settings—going below and above the numbers might damage your well pump.

Question 5

How long can a deep well pump run continuously?

Accepted Answer

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Most professionals recommend that a deep well pump shouldn’t run more than 10 hours consecutively before cycling off. Overworking the well pump beyond the recommended amount can prematurely wear out your pump and burn out the motor, which means replacing it more often than you otherwise should need to. Your well pump should also come with the manufacturer’s use and maintenance recommendations that are specific to the model.