3 Indications of Well Pump Problems You Need to Know

Familiarize yourself with the signs of trouble so you can address problems as they arise. The more proactive you are, the easier it is to maintain your water supply. Here are a few of the things you need to watch for and tips to resolve those problems.

1. Reduction in Your Water Pressure

The water supply from your well should flow at a fairly consistent pressure level. A sudden drop in water pressure across all of your fixtures could indicate that your well pump is failing. As a well pump ages, the wear and tear on the pump itself can cause that pump to run less efficiently reduce the flow of water to your fixtures.

Your well pump installation contractor will inspect the pump, repair any worn components, or replace the pump with a new, properly functioning unit. Contact your well contractor right away when you notice the lower water pressure. The sooner the problem is addressed, the less risk you'll have of complete pump failure and lack of water.

Reduced water pressure in only one fixture, however, is usually a sign that a broken pipe or damaged fixture is causing a leak somewhere between that fixture and the main inbound water line. If this is the case, you'll need to talk with a plumber who can trace the problem back.

2. Sputtering Water Flow

When you turn on the faucets, the water flow should be smooth. Sputtering, splashing water from the faucet, even briefly, often means that air is in the pipes or coming into your well pump. Intermittent sputtering is not normally a cause for concern, but prolonged or persistent problems with it mean that you should have your well pump examined.

Not only can air in the system be indicative of your well pump needing to be purged and re-primed, it could also be an indication that the well itself is low on water. When the water level gets low, the well pump will draw air in as well as water, leading to the sputtering at your water fixtures.

Your well-drilling and -pump manufacturer should inspect the water level in the well and test the pump to resolve this. He or she can purge the air out of the system and then re-prime the pump to eliminate the air pockets.

An odor present in the water indicates that the sputtering is the result of gas pockets, such as methane. Contact your well company immediately in this case, as those gases could prove dangerous to your family's well-being.

3. Dirty Water Flow

Many people assume that dirt is just a fact of life in well water. The truth is that you should not be seeing dirt in your well water at all. A pump drawing dirt in with the water may be placed too far into the well or could have insufficient water reserves.

Dirt in your well water can be heavily damaging to the pump. The dirt in the water is flowing through the pump, leading to dirt settling in the pump itself. Those particles can cause severe wear on the delicate parts inside the pump, ultimately causing it to fail.

Maintain your well and pump consistently from the time that you move into the house or have the well drilled. This is essential, and knowing the signs of well problems helps you to do this. With the information here and the help of a reliable well drilling and maintenance company, you can do just that. For more information, contact a company like Henry Drilling . We would be happy to help!