A big problem that many well pump owners face is that they do not know where to look when their equipment is failing. If you fall in this category of people, here is a look at some common well pump problems, and how they can be diagnosed.

Water system noises

If unusual noises are coming from your well pump, this is a sign of pump cavitation. Pump cavitation arises when the pressure of the water travelling inside your pump falls below vapour pressure and forms vapour bubbles. This can happen because the pressure at the suction nozzle has declined, the temperature of the water being pumped has drastically risen, the speed of water at the suction head has increased, or there are unfavourable flow conditions occasioned by the presence of obstructions. Most of the damage that normally occurs due to cavitation can be found within the impeller. The damage can be spotted on the underside or visible side of your pump's vane.

Troubleshooting the source of incidences of cavitation can help choose the best way to address it. The sooner you are able to detect and solve the issue, the higher your chances of avoiding unnecessary breakdowns arising from cavitation issues. More importantly, you can prevent costly damage that may reduce the lifespan of your equipment.  

No or low water pressure

If there is no water coming out of your faucets when the pump is running, or if the water pressure is lower than usual, it could be that your private well has dried out. So, before you can start troubleshooting for any problems, take some time to check the water levels in the well, especially if you have just experienced a long dry spell. 

If the water level inside the well is sufficient, then you can focus your attention to your water pump. Firstly, make sure the circuit breaker located inside the electrical breaker box is turned on. Then check the pressure tank to make sure it is not waterlogged or that the pressure switch inside it has not been broken. It is commonplace for pressure tanks to become waterlogged because they are designed to work as a pressurized reservoir system. When too much water gets drained from the pressure tank, the pressure switch can flip and shut down the entire the system. You can also check if there are any burst or leaky water pipes, as all the water being pumped may not be getting to their intended destination.