What It Is
A well pump is an electric pump that draws water from a private well and delivers it to the household plumbing system. Most residential wells use a submersible pump installed deep inside the well casing, though shallower wells may use a jet pump located above ground. The pump works with a pressure tank and pressure switch to maintain steady water pressure throughout the home.
What It Does
Homes on private wells do not receive water from a municipal supply - they depend entirely on their well pump to move water from the aquifer below ground into the house. The pump runs on electricity and is controlled by a pressure switch that monitors system pressure. When you open a faucet or flush a toilet, water flows from the pressure tank. When tank pressure drops to the cut-in pressure, the switch signals the pump to run. The pump pushes water up the well casing, through the supply line into the pressure tank, until tank pressure reaches the cut-out pressure and the switch turns the pump off.
A working well pump is the foundation of water service for a private well home. Without it, there is no water pressure and no water at fixtures. Well pumps typically last 10 to 15 years with normal use.
Where It Is Located
In most modern residential installations, the pump is a submersible unit located at the bottom of the well casing - often 100 to 400 feet underground. The only visible part of the system at ground level is the well head (a capped pipe or casing extending above grade) and the pressure tank, which is usually located in the basement, utility room, or crawl space near where the well supply line enters the house. Jet pumps, used on shallower wells, are typically in the basement or a pumphouse and have more visible components.
How It Works
A submersible pump has a sealed motor below a multi-stage centrifugal impeller assembly. The motor is waterproof and runs submerged in groundwater, which also helps cool it. When energized by the pressure switch, the impellers spin at high speed, drawing water in from the aquifer and pushing it up the drop pipe to the surface and into the pressure tank. The pump only runs during recharge cycles, not continuously - the pressure tank stores enough pressurized water to handle modest use without cycling the pump on every single draw.
Common Problems or Signs of Failure
- No water at any fixture - pump may have failed completely or lost power
- Low or inconsistent water pressure - pump may be struggling, pressure tank may be waterlogged
- Pump runs continuously without building pressure - pump worn out or well may be running low on water
- Pump cycles rapidly on and off (short cycling) - usually a waterlogged pressure tank, not the pump itself
- Grit or sand in the water - pump may be drawing sediment, indicating wear or a drop in water table
- Unusually high electric bills - a pump running too often consumes significantly more power
Can a Homeowner Check It?
- Check the circuit breaker for the well pump - a tripped breaker is the most common and easiest fix
- Check that the pressure tank pressure gauge reads within the normal range (typically 40-60 PSI when pump is not running)
- Listen for the pump running - if it runs continuously without pressure building up, that indicates a problem
- Note whether multiple fixtures are affected or just one - a single low-flow fixture may be a clogged aerator, not a pump issue
When to Call a Plumber
If you have no water and the breaker is not tripped, a well pump technician or plumber who works on well systems should diagnose the problem. Submersible pump replacement requires pulling the pump from the well using specialized equipment - this is not a DIY job. If the pump is over 12 years old and experiencing issues, replacement is often more practical than repeated repairs.
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