Common Water Well Problems and How to Troubleshoot Them

Access to clean, reliable groundwater for household use comes mainly from water wells. However, just as with any other complicated system, there can be issues that disrupt your water supply. If you know what the most common water well issues are and — at a minimum — you know how to troubleshoot these first, you can get your water service back up and running more quickly and determine if professional repairs are necessary.

No Water or Low Water Pressure

By far, one of the most common and disruptive water well problems is a complete loss of water or diminished water pressure throughout your home. There are several possible causes for these issues:

Power Supply

First check the well pump has power. First, turn to check if the circuit breaker that controls your well pump has not flipped to the off position. Power surges and outages can trip circuit breakers to protect equipment. Flip the circuit breaker back on and find out whether the water pressure has returned.

Pressure Switch

If power supply to your pump looks normal, the next place to check is the pressure switch. The pressure switch turns the water pump on when pressure drops below a set point, and off when pressure reaches the proper operating range.

Clogged Pipes

A clogged water line or well screen can greatly limit water flow, potentially causing low pressure. Sediment, bacteria growth, rust flakes from piping, excess iron or manganese, and mineral scaling can slowly block passages over time.

Failing Well Pump

With age and sustained use over years, components on the submersible well pump can slowly deteriorate. Problems like leaky seals, stuck impellers, eroded bearings, and shorts in electrical wiring can cause reduced water flow.

Water Leaks

Cracks, pinholes, and loose joints anywhere in your well line allow water to leak out, contributing to pressure loss. Listen and look closely for the sound of air hissing or sight of water bubbling up around any well components or buried water lines.

Cloudy or Dirty Well Water

Another common water quality complaint is the sudden appearance of cloudy, muddy, or discolored water. Potential contaminant sources leading to this include:

Lowered Water Table

The water table refers to the uppermost level of water saturating underground aquifers and wells. In times of drought or periods of heavy usage, water tables can drop significantly. Lower water levels allow submerged sediment and debris at the base of your well to get stirred up when the pump turns on.

Well Construction Defects

Sometimes, murky water comes from flaws in the physical construction of a well. This may include cracks in surface seals and well casings that allow contaminants to infiltrate from surrounding soil and bedrock. If casings were not cemented properly during installation, gaps can form that draw in sediments.

Failing Pump Intake Screens

Submersible pumps rely on metal intake screens to filter out sand and particles before water enters the pump body. But over decades of use, these screens can corrode and develop holes or gaps along welded joints. A compromised screen lets more sediment into the water line, reducing clarity.

Air Pockets in Plumbing System

You may occasionally notice sputtering faucets and showerheads, or even see air bubbles spraying out with water from fixtures. This indicates air sucked into household water lines coming from your well. Typical causes include:

Lowered Water Table

As with cloudy water problems, the water level dropping below your well pump intake allows air to mix with water during pumping. Check with local groundwater agencies to see if wider drought conditions or increased usage is affecting supply.

Malfunctioning Well Pump Valves

Key components on submersible pumps are foot valves and check valves. Foot valves sit at water intake openings, closing when pumps are off to prevent water from draining out from above. Check valves permit pressurized water flow in one direction only, preventing backflow.

Constantly Running Pump

Hearing your well pump motor turning on and off with short cycles is normal, maintaining consistent household water pressure between 40 to 60 PSI.

However, if your pump runs non-stop with no off cycles, or runs for longer periods before shutting off, it likely indicates a problem. Reasons for this include:

Water Leaks

Hard-to-detect leaks in underground piping or plumbing joints allow pressurized water to continuously seep out. Your pump has to keep pumping to replenish water loss. Inspect all visible pipes, valves, and connections for moisture or dirt buildup indicating small leaks. Use leak detector fluid to check questionable areas.

Failing Pressure Tank

Most well systems have a pressurized tank that holds reserve water. This provides water instantly when a faucet turns on, without lag from the pump restarting. When tank pressure drops, a sensor turns the pump back on to refill the tank.

Defective Pressure Switch

As mentioned before, the pressure switch controls the power supply to the well pump based on measured water pressure. If a pressure switch fails or contains buildup interfering with its operation, it can trigger too early and rapid cycling of the pump trying to reach its pressure setpoint.

Smelly or Bad Tasting Well Water

One morning you turn on the faucet and notice a foul rotten egg odor coming from your water. Or perhaps you detect hints of chemicals or hydrocarbons as you drink a glass. Contaminants creating bad smells and tastes could originate from:

Sulfur Bacteria

Sulfur bacteria naturally occur in some groundwater aquifers, as they use sulfur compounds in water for metabolic processes. Byproducts include hydrogen sulfide gas, causing the infamous rotten egg smell associated with wells. While smelly, sulfur bacteria are not hazardous at typical background levels.

Iron Bacteria

Like sulfur bacteria, various species of iron bacteria are normal inhabitants in many well water supplies. As their name suggests, they derive energy from oxidizing dissolved ferrous iron in water. This forms visible slimy biofilms, gelatinous masses, and rusty slime that can clog pipes.

Electrical Issues

Like any motorized equipment, electrical problems can affect water well pumps despite their durable construction. Warning signs of possible electrical defects include the pump failing to start at all, starting then quickly shutting off, or making loud humming noises without pumping water. Specific causes can include:

Damaged Wiring

The power cables supplying electricity to the well pump experience extensive handling during installations and service work. Over time, brittle wire insulation can crack, exposing bare copper. Rubbing against well casing and submersion in water causes shorts. Damaged wiring requires replacement to avoid electric shock risks and restore function.

Burnt Out Pump Motor

Motors on deep well pumps endure significant run time over years pumping large volumes of water. Eventually, components like windings, bearings, and insulation wear out. Prolonged strain accelerates demise of an aging motor. The motor will simply stop operating as internal parts seize up or short out.

Faulty Electrical Connections

Corroded and loose contacts between wiring and pump motor components can randomly disrupt power transmission. Intermittent connectivity may explain why the pump runs sometimes, but other times just hums without turning on despite power being present.

Conclusion

Properly maintained water wells provide clean water, and reliable quantities of it, but problems can also begin to develop over time. Identifying changes in your water early and monitoring troubleshooting of potential causes of the changes helps to reduce disruptions.

Some things can be solved on your own, but major problems, like contaminated water, well casing collapse, or electrical defects, need professional diagnosis and repair. Knowing when to call a certified well contractor for the more complex repairs when your water ain’t and won’t flow.