Why does my water quit working in my house?

Question

Every so often, our water will quit working. We have a well and sometimes it will come back on, on it's own but most of the time my husband has to climb down and try to fix it. Before, what he did was take sandpaper to the terminals on the pressure switch and that usually helped. We recently replaced the switch and it hadn't done it for a while. Now, all of a sudden, it quit working again. What do you think we can do to make it stop doing this?

Answer 1

sounds like its time to call a pump installer.NOT A PLUMBER!!! Your pump may be going south.There are so many things that can cause this that its better to let yhe people who do this all the time to look at it.

Answer 2

Depends on the water supply. Under heavy use it may drop below the pick up and have to recover. This usually with a Submersible pump. The up top pumps usually lose prime when the water level drop. I know the switch contacts can get dirty or wear out, but, if, you replaced this it should be good for many years. All I really can think of is the Water level and possibly the holding tank may have too much air pressure, called the "Air Charge" I think. It keep the pump from running every time the water on. The Air pressure push the water until it not have enough pressure and then the pump kick on.
I really feel your water level dropping low. Wells are measured in GPM (Gallons Per Minute) normally the well driller give whoever a piece of paper that tell this, it will also be filed downtown, but, I not sure who they file this with. You could ask a well driller and then contact that State/County office to see what the Well GPM is. If it 5 GPM it can run out.

I keep thinking and adding;
Sometimes a well go dry and you have to drill another one, also, if the water hard, the pump may need cleaned as the screens stopping up. This usually down in the well. Screens on a submersible pump and screens on the foot valve of an up top pump. But both are at the end of the hose down in the well and no fun to pull up.

Answer 3

I too have a well, as does everyone in my area. The next time that your husband needs to go to the switches, after he uses the sand paper, spray a little WD 40 on them, that may help if the switches get rusty or corroded.
I really hope that this will help. There is nothing more worrysome that hoping that your pump doesn't go out.