Troubleshooting reference
Start with symptoms, rule out homeowner-safe basics, and escalate conservatively when safety, structure, utility service, or water damage is involved.
Call soon
No water from private well
Likely causes
- Failed pressure switch
- Pump failure
- Dry well or broken drop pipe
Homeowner-safe check
Check breaker and pressure-tank gauge; do not keep resetting a tripping pump circuit.
When to call
Call same day if pressure is zero, breaker trips, or pump runs without building pressure.
Call soon
Water is cloudy, sandy, or suddenly dirty
Likely causes
- Well screen failure
- Pump set too low
- Surface water intrusion
Homeowner-safe check
Stop drinking untreated water until tested; flush only if directed by a well professional.
When to call
Call promptly for inspection and bacteria/nitrate testing.
Call soon
Pressure surges, short-cycles, or pump clicks often
Likely causes
- Waterlogged pressure tank
- Bad pressure switch
- Leak in system
Homeowner-safe check
Turn off power before touching pressure-switch components; check for obvious leaks.
When to call
Call soon; short-cycling burns out pumps quickly.
Call soon
Well cap is cracked, loose, buried, or below grade
Likely causes
- Sanitary seal failure
- Floodwater entry risk
- Old noncompliant wellhead
Homeowner-safe check
Keep debris and runoff away; do not bury or landscape over the cap.
When to call
Call for sanitary wellhead correction and water testing.
Routine
Sulfur, iron, or rotten-egg odor appears
Likely causes
- Hydrogen sulfide
- Iron bacteria
- Water heater anode reaction
Homeowner-safe check
Note whether odor is hot water only or both hot/cold; do not shock chlorinate blindly.
When to call
Call for water testing before selecting filtration or disinfection.
Emergency
Bacteria test comes back positive
Likely causes
- Surface contamination
- Recent well work
- Failed cap/seal or flooding
Homeowner-safe check
Use bottled/boiled water per health guidance until corrective action and retest pass.
When to call
Call a registered well contractor for disinfection, repair, and retesting.
Emergency
Pump runs continuously
Likely causes
- Major leak
- Failed pressure switch
- Well yield below demand
Homeowner-safe check
Shut off pump power if pressure will not build; continuous running can destroy the pump.
When to call
Call immediately if the pump cannot build pressure or the well may be dry.
Routine
Water treatment system reduces pressure
Likely causes
- Clogged sediment filter
- Media bed fouled
- Undersized softener/filter
Homeowner-safe check
Bypass only if you understand the valves and water is safe for intended use.
When to call
Call routinely for media service, sizing, and raw/treated water testing.
Call soon
Well is near septic, fuel tank, or chemical storage
Likely causes
- Setback problem
- Contamination pathway
- Old site layout
Homeowner-safe check
Do not relocate hazards without checking setbacks; sample water before property transfer.
When to call
Call for setback review, testing, and possible well sealing/replacement planning.
Emergency
Abandoned well is open or unknown on property
Likely causes
- Unsealed old well
- Fall hazard
- Aquifer contamination path
Homeowner-safe check
Keep people away and do not dump debris into it.
When to call
Call a registered well contractor to locate and properly seal it.
Maintenance schedule
Seasonal tasks
Spring
- In spring, confirm the well cap is above grade, tight, screened, and not surrounded by ponding snowmelt or mulch.
Summer
- During dry spells, log pump run time, pressure swings, and recovery before heavy irrigation masks a low-yield well.
Fall
- Before freezing weather, insulate exposed pressure lines only where appropriate and keep well-house heat safe and ventilated.
Winter
- After floods, keep contaminated water out of use until the well is inspected, disinfected if needed, and tested.
Interval tasks
Monthly
- Monthly, watch pressure gauge cut-in and cut-out behavior and listen for rapid clicking at the pressure switch.
Annual
- Yearly, test for bacteria and nitrate, especially after well work, flooding, or changes near septic or livestock areas.
Every few years
- Every few years, review pump age, tank drawdown, treatment media, abandoned-well records, and whether casing height still meets code.
Cost components
Labor
Crew planning covers labor depends on pump depth, hoisting equipment, drilling access, pressure diagnostics, sanitary repairs, water testing, and local health coordination. The quote should call out pump depth, pull rig access, wire condition, pressure-tank setup, water testing, and sanitary wellhead work.
Materials
Cost swings come from submersible pumps, drop pipe, wire, pitless parts, pressure tanks, switches, gauges, caps, and treatment media, while routine material coverage includes pumps, drop pipe, wire, pitless adapters, pressure tanks, switches, caps, casing, grout, treatment media, and sampling kits.
Permits and inspections
Plan for permit time if the work touches well drilling, abandonment, pump changes, disinfection, water samples, and setback issues. The responsible filer should be named.
Broad range discipline
The homeowner budget should separate a pressure switch visit, a pump pull, water treatment, and new well drilling. Pressure switches and tanks are mid-range; submersible pump pulls and well rehabilitation are higher; new wells and abandoned-well sealing vary by depth/geology.
What moves price
Pushes price up
- Deep pump setting; added cost is usually tied to pump depth
- Poor rig access; added cost is usually tied to pull rig access
- Contaminated or failing well; added cost is usually tied to wire condition
- After-hours no-water call; added cost is usually tied to pressure-tank setup
Can reduce price
- Accessible wellhead; lower pricing is likelier when submersible pumps is clearly defined
- Known well log and pump data; lower pricing is likelier when drop pipe is clearly defined
- Simple above-ground pressure repair; lower pricing is likelier when wire is clearly defined
- Bundled testing with service; lower pricing is likelier when pitless parts is clearly defined
Hiring red flags
- A serious bid explains pump replacement quoted without depth, wire, and drop-pipe evaluation before asking for a deposit.
- The estimator dodges questions about checking sanitary well cap and casing height.
- Discounted pricing depends on leaving out yield test, water sample, or disinfection steps and closeout evidence.
- The service promise is silent on dry-well risk, sandy water, and treatment-media responsibility after completion.
- No water testing after sanitary repair or contamination event.
- Buries, hides, or lowers a well cap below grade.
- Shock-chlorinates every problem without diagnosis.
- Cannot document registration or local health process.
Contract checklist
- Pump horsepower, voltage, depth setting, drop pipe, wire, torque arrestor, check valves, and pitless adapter with brands, sizes, locations, and exclusions.
- Pressure tank size, switch setting, gauge, relief valve, treatment bypass, and plumbing tie-in before work starts, including who schedules inspections.
- Yield test method, water-sample lab, disinfection procedure, sanitary seal, and cap replacement for access, protection, cleanup, and disposal.
- Excavation, pull rig access, casing repair, abandoned-well sealing, and setback conflicts as unit pricing or written allowances.
- Warranty for pump, tank, controls, labor, sand damage, dry-well conditions, and lightning or power surge; collect completion photos, owner manuals, registrations, and lien paperwork.
- Well location, depth/log if known, pump model/depth, tank size, and pressure settings.
- Water testing scope, sanitary repair, disinfection, and retest plan.
- Permit/local health responsibility for well work or sealing.
- Excavation/rig access, restoration, and protection of septic/utility setbacks.
- Pump/tank warranty, dry-well exclusions, and emergency water plan.
Warranty norms
Well warranties vary sharply between pump, tank, controls, drilling, and water-quality work. Pump failures from sand, lightning, low-yield operation, dry running, clogged treatment, or contaminated floodwater are often treated differently from installation workmanship.