Get matched with top well and pump technicians in Sturgis, SD

If your well pump gets stuck in its casing, you may be able to free it loose by gently wiggling the line or by vibrations from tapping the line with a hammer. However, if your pump is stuck in a buildup of minerals around the casing, you’ll probably have to call in a well pump contractor to get it out. They’ll likely use a muriatic acid solution—a strong, corrosive acid—to break down the minerals and free the pump loose. 

To avoid a stuck pump in the future, experts recommend a professional well cleaning once every 10 years. 

A leaking well pipe is quite different from if the well itself is leaking. To seal a leaking well, pour a cement mixture or bentonite into the space between the well casing and the borehole wall. The heavier cement collects at the bottom to form a solid seal, pushing lighter materials like mud and fluids up toward the surface. Professional well installation companies have the equipment to do this properly. 

The precharged pressure tank should start at around 28 psi. The two pressure settings of note are the cut-in and cut-out pressure. The well pump starts when the tank reaches the minimum cut-in pressure. It turns off when the tank reaches the maximum cut-out pressure. The desired water pressure in the household is usually a few psi above the cut-in number. The difference between the cut-in and cut-out pressure settings should be 20 psi. Typical settings for household applications include 20/40, 30/50, and 40/60.

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.