Well died tonight

[brokenknee]

I was in bed and the wife woke me up to say that we didn't have any water. The first thing I was thinking was a frozen water line; but then it really hasn't been that cold.

I will have to check in the morning but thinking the pump may have died. I did a search on here on pump replacement and the only one I found said they paid over five grand. I believe it was a five hundred foot well with a five horse pump.

I am not sure the depth of my well; but talking to my neighbors in the past they say around one hundred feet is pretty common in the area.

Just wondering if anyone has had there pump replaced recently and what it cost?

One problem I am looking at is the weather is going to turn cold starting tomorrow afternoon. They are talking 27* f below zero Sunday night with a high of around 10* f below zero. With cold temperatures to last for at least a week.

 

[henryswe]

My well quit pumping water years ago. Found out the start capacitors in the gray box in the pump house split apart. After replacing the capacitors pump has been working since. Worth a check. If that is the problem check your air bladder as it could be not working.

 

[avillahdw]

Lots of variables here that would affect replacement (if needed) cost. Jet (top of the ground) or submersible? Pressure switch functioning properly? If submersible, 3wire (no control box) or 4 wire (has control box)? Details will help diagnose.

 

[brokenknee]

Thanks, I will check the capacitors once it gets light out. I am usually sound asleep at this time of night, but the thought of being without water for an extended period is keeping me awake.

 

[brokenknee]

Lots of variables here that would affect replacement (if needed) cost. Jet (top of the ground) or submersible? Pressure switch functioning properly? If submersible, 3wire (no control box) or 4 wire (has control box)? Details will help diagnose.

It is a submersible pump, most likely about 100 feet deep. I believe it is a 3 wire as the only thing I have seen in the well pit is a bladder tank and the start capacitor.

 

[MikePA]

Our submersible pump (150' deep) was damaged by lightning a few years ago. We had to replace from the control box in the basement down to the pump itself. Cost was approximately, $2,000. There were storms in the area, but the lightning strike wasn't even near us. The guys who pulled the pump out said the damage was clearly caused by lightning. Homeowners ins paid for it.

I re-read my post, and to be clear, everything but the pressure tank and pipe down to the pump had to be replaced, that's what cost about $2k.

Control box, pressure switch, wiring, pump, torque arrestors, etc.

 

[randy41]

i had the same experience as mikepa. i just had to replace the pump. $700 or so sounds about what i paid for that. sometimes the cable that runs to the pump gets frayed/worn and that would be a cheaper fix if that's the case.

 

[DutchHenryBrown]

I was worried about the well when I moved here and so I had a 3K gallon storage tank put in just in case something went wrong. A couple of times minor things have gone wrong but with the storage tank I have always had water. Good luck I hope it's something like the capacitor that is a cheaper fix. :thumbsup:

 

[MarkF48]

My well pump quit working last spring. I was able to figure out what was going on with a clamp on ammeter and an ohmmeter, but had a well company pull everything up and replace the wire. The wire had worn from the torquing of the pump when it started and rubbing the wire against the well casing. And I do have torque arrestors. Pump is down about 240'. He charged about $330 for the pull and repair. I think he said a 3/4hp pump would have been about $500 on top of the repair.

 

[lakngulf]

I have had a couple of issues with mine over the years....since 96. First, as others have said, the torque of the submersed pump engaging was causing a tear in the electrical line. Quick fix. Second, couple of controllers have gone bad. Third, the pump would go on and off for short periods. Replaced the pressure tank as I assumed the bladder had gone bad. So far so good.

How long does the typical submersed pump last?

 

[randy41]

my first pump lasted more then 20 years and would still be going strong i think were it not for lightning.

 

[deerseeker001]

I had to replace mine after 25 yrs,was around 700.00 for 3/4 hp.

 

[tomcat7359]

I am curious, for the gents that posted that your well pumps/motors lasted 20+ years.. did you check your system occasionally, ie pressure tank, leaks, etc? I know pump life is rated in cycles, not in hours, so it seems to me, your systems are correctly designed and installed. I just wanted to make sure I am doing everything I can, to make sure mine last a long time too.. Thanks

 

[C4Ranch]

Yep, mine died about a month ago. 17 yrs old. Lots of things can cause the pump to not work, capacitor, pressure switch, I've replaced both due to failure over the years.

Mine cost about $4k to replace.... 370', had to replace my 3 wire with 4 to bring it up to code, also upgraded from 1 3/4 to 2hp and replaced the PVC couplers with galvanized.

 

[C4Ranch]

As an aside, the well guys said I was extremely fortunate to get the 17yes and that most have a life of 7-8yrs. Pump was a Gould.

 

[Xfaxman]

Turn the breaker off and back on. Check the voltage if you have a meter.

Check the pressure switch also, some have a lever to turn it off, if so cycle it off and on, the contacts may be going bad.

 

[2LaneCruzer]

We have lived here for 42 years; we are on our 3rd pump and our third tank. In addition, I have had to pull the pump and replace the pipe from the pump once. The last pump I had replaced about 5 years ago cost me about $750. Replaced the pressure tank about a month ago; about $600. Our first tank did not have a bladder, was fairly large, and lasted about 3 years. The last two are much smaller and have air bladders. The last one was full of sediment, the result, I believe, of the rash of small earthquakes we have been having the last 2 or 3 years.

 

[SPIKER]

I had my pump pulled and replaced a couple years ago now (2011 fall) that cost somewhere around 1200.00 with it set at 56feet. It (well) was bailed also at that point which added to the cost 400.00 to clean out the bottom of the well of sand/silt... I thought it was somewhat expensive at the time, pump went bad at that summer was real dry in area. I had my pole barn concrete poured by Amish crew. They brought one of the sons (9 years old) that used hose to wash up some of the tools as soon as someone sat one down he grabbed it and washed it off. What I didn;t know was he flipped the hose lever to hold it on, well went down and pump started sucking air. I walked by some 20 min later and heard the well pump sucking air. shut off the CB but too late pump impeller ended up melting and motor stuck.

Mark

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Hopefully by now the OP has had time to check each component in his well system and determine where the problem is. I dread the possibility of having to replace the well pump, but there are lots of other reasons that could cause no water being available. Hopefully his was something much easier to fix and we'll hear soon that all is well (sorry, couldn't resist).

My well feeds a 2500 gallon holding tank that is plumbed to a jet pump and pressure tank. Last year I lost water pressure and traced it to a clog in the small pipe that supports the pressure switch. I found that out when I removed the pressure switch to replace it with another, and flakes of rust came out of the bottom of the switch. At that point I removed the short length of small galvanized pipe and cleaned it and the pressure switch before reinstalling both. Everything's been working fine ever since, and I have a spare pressure switch on the shelf just in case.

 

[brokenknee]

Just got in from checking the well. Disconnected all the leads and put an ohm meter from the green (ground) to each of the hot leads. It did show a short on one of the leads. I got a call into three of the local well drillers waiting for them to call me back.

I did get a hold of a well driller a little further out and he said the cost would most likely run from $700 to $1,000. Although not cheap better than some of the prices some of you guys have paid.

I will update once I hear back from a local driller.