Water well pump, always on??

Question

It hasnt rain in quite a while, but I havent had any problems with the water or pressure, but it seems like the pump is always "on". I purchased this house almost a year ago, never
had a well, so I now very little about it.
I moved in December, rain season here in NC, and remember the pump going on and off, now its constantly running, Is it normal for the pump to be running that much? any websites to read up on how a water well works?

thanks

Answer 1

In the first place the pump should be able to run constantly without a problem, they're made to do this. In the second place go check your tank, see what the pressure is. You must have a "water logged tank"

First: unplug the electric to the pump and then drain the tank completely. Once this is done make sure the tank is drained, plug it back in, wait and see where it stops at, the pressure. It should be about 55 to 65 pounds. When it stops have someone flush the toilet, it should slowly go down, it may settle without turning on, some do. If so, flush it again. Watch it again.
When it starts up, keep your eye on it, it should go back to where it was to start with. If it doesn't then the volume control on the end of the tank, with the small tubing coming from it to the switch is out and should be replaced. You have to turn it all off again, drain the tank and replace the volume control.

If the switch doesn't stop but, it comes to the end and doesn't open to stop and keeps running, then your switch control is shot and you'll have to replace that.

If you have a bladder tank, it should say on the side, then you should empty the tank, as in the upper questions and then using an air pump put in about 38 pounds or whatever the tank says to put in the bladder, then fill it with water again. See if that's the problem.

Answer 2

very good KAT, She is right.

BUT RIGHT NOW, GO SHUT OFF THE PUMP.

You are overworking the pump and it WILL burn up very soon.
Seen it a lot. They aren't cheap either.
That is if it is running constantly. or even half time. or on then off then quickly on again. this is hard on that pump.
Better to have to throw a breaker to shower than to be without water all together.

If you shut the water supply to the house off and the pump still runs on your well may be running dry, your pressure tank may leak or the pipe from well to shut off is broken.
IF pump shuts off completely, pump pressure tank and line is fine. You have a leaky pipe in the house somewhere or maybe your landscape irrigation. Could be a toilet running on, but probably not.
I some cases it is likely a busted pipe under your foundation.
The most important thing is that you fix it quickly as most well pumps are not meant to run continuously. This is an expensive repair, you don't need to buy a well pump as well.
Shut if off until youhave time to deal with it.
If your well is drying up, that is major$
If your pipes are busted, could cost a lot depending on where it is and how to get to it.

But the pump is overworked now and you should shut it off right now and fix it before you do anything else.
If you have the money, call a plumber.

If not, definitely go throw the breaker and shut off that pump.
I don't know, by what you said about the rain, you may need a deeper well, but until you can get it done, that pump is going to burn up.
Just Google residential well water or well pump and sift the results for a good site. or ask.com and ask a question with the right keywords.
Might be why you got a good deal on the house. Did you have it inspected or buy coverage? check it out they may pay for the new well.

Answer 3

Really need a bit more info about your well. Is it a Submersible pump or a Jet pump at the surface ? Most wells today are pumped with a submersible pump but shallow wells are still sometimes pumped with a Jet pump at surface. Since the problem you described is difficult to find, and somewhat common with submersibles, I will assume it is a submersible pump. Given that, the problem could be one of two things. Either your well is running low on water level and your pump is struggling to try and meet the pressure switch setpoint OR, you have a leak in the piping between the pump and the pressure switch. The leak could actually be anywhere but because you have not seen it we will assume it is either downhole or underground between the well and your house. Hope it isn't the later because that will involve a backhoe and digging up your yard.
If it is a low water level by the time you read this your problem will likely be resolved because the pump will have burned out. Submersible pumps use the water they are submerged in for cooling and if they run out of water for too long they overheat and burn out.
To check for a leak turn your main breaker for the pump off and watch the pressure gauge at your water pressure tank. If it goes to zero fairly quickly ( one or two minutes ) then you have a leak between your house and the pump. To check for a low water level in the well do not use any water for a few hours and see if the pump "catches up" and shuts off.
That's about all the advice I can offer without knowing more particulars. Go ahead and try that and if you need to contact me feel free to send me an e-mail and I will try to help out as I am able.

EDIT: Usually a water logged pressure tank will switch on and off rapidly not run constantly. Your pressure tanks needs a head of air inside to act as a cushion for the water to compress and decompress as water is pumped in or out. If there is no air then the principles of hydraulics take over, that is, a fluid cannot be compressed, so the pump hammers on and off as the water level drops below the switch setpoint and rapidly goes above it again. Running constantly indicates the pump is unable to reach the switch setpoint for whatever reason. ie. leak or lack of water

Answer 4

Sounds like you have a holding tank problem. Check to see if it is leaking air. Or you could have a busted pipe somewhere, you could cut the water off in the house but not at the pump to see if it continues. If so the problem is at the well, if the problem stops after the tank refills you have a busted pipe between the pump and the house.

Answer 5

i had the same problem... twice. first time was due to a break in the well line. second time was a faulty precharged water tank. i was able to insert smaller soft plastic pipe into the old line, avoiding the backhoe. the second fix was to replace the tank. you do have to watch it tho, i melted my old pump motor due to a brown out. now that i think about it, your impeller could be worn , and the pump cant make pressure. good luck.