DawgTalkers.net Forums DawgTalk Everything Else... Need help with my well

I have a well with a submersible pump at about 95 feet deep.Our water stopped running yesterday.Checked the breaker...O.K. getting no water at all to the holding tank so I assumed something was wrong with the pump.Was getting power to the wiring at the well head.Pulled the pump out of the well and hooked it up to see if it was working.Wasn't working.Went and bought a new one for $380.00.Installed it and put it back in the well.Turned on the breaker and still no water at all.Any suggestions?

Could the well have run dry? Happened to my mom about 10 years ago. Had to dig a new, deeper well.

Did you check your tank pressure?

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Could the well have run dry? Happened to my mom about 10 years ago. Had to dig a new, deeper well

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Had a new well drilled about 5 years ago and I heard it hit the water when we put the new pump back in.Going to pull it back out this morning and see where the water level shows up on the pipe.

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Did you check your tank pressure?

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No water even getting to the tank to get any pressure.I open the valve coming to the tank and no water at all.It's not pumping for some reason.I even went with a bigger hp motor than the one that was on it.it had a 1/2hp and I increased it to a 3/4 hp so it would deliver the water faster.Don't know what is going on.

I don't know much about well pumps, but I assume they are self priming. Sounds like it isn't primed or it doesn't have enough water to prime.

I just pulled the pump back out of the well and it has water about 15 or 20 feet above the pump so I have plenty of water and the well didn't go dry.I was told that submersible pumps are self priming if they are under the water level.I do know jet pumps need primed on the above ground pumps.

Does the pump come on but not move water, or is the pump not coming on at all?

At least you have water...that was the big concern.

Stick both of the pumps is a 5 gal bucket of water. Make sure they suck water.

Is the pump line blocked or kinked?

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Turned on the breaker and still no water at all.Any suggestions?

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Are you getting power ?

Can you tell if water is pumping at any point? Possibly a blockage?

Should be able to feel or hear the pump running in the line, I know I can feel ours which is 200' down. Of course being in south Florida i have 18" of piping coming straight up from the pump line before going underground to the pressure tank.

I would first ensure the pump is working, like other said, try in a bucket of water.

My pool is close to the well head.When I get some help this afternoon,gonna stick it down in the pool water and see if it pumps water.Will go from there I guess.

It shouldn't make any difference that I went to a little higher horsepower should it?

the HP shouldn't matter, it will increase the pressure a little, so you may want to check that when you get things running, but otherwise no.

Like others have said, check the pump. Wouldn't be the first time something didn't work when it was brand new, although it's unlikely.

From the well to the pressure tank......do you know where the water line runs, and if so, do you have a wet spot in the yard? I only ask because a few years ago I noticed a big puddle in our yard.......and even after several days of dry weather, it was still there. Had to dig up the line and fix a leak. Since it was just a leak, we weren't without water, and again, it's unlikely your line completely snapped.....but it's a possibility I guess.

Here is a site that may help. http://www.inspectapedia.com/water/pumprepair.htm

Harley.

Did you check to see if you had electric at the pump? Could be a short in the line. Also check the voltage. I assume 220 make sure your breaker is not bad. giving only one hot leg or no electric at all.

Next, since you pulled the pump, check the strainer basket for debris. If you have mud or silt, check the pump in a bucket, no line attached.

Next, with pump attached to line check in a bucket. Also if there is a check valve on the line(a valve that keeps the water in the line) check to insure it's not stuck in a closed position.

Make sure you have a good seal between the pump and the line. You might be pumping water and letting it run back into the well.

If all these pass test, the line might be clogged. Disconnect both ends and test with a water hose.

If that does not resolve the issue, use a plumb bob and twine to test the level of water in the well or better yet call a "well man".

Your post reminded me (the part of checking the pump using a bucket) of when I worked in an equipment rental business when I was in high school. My job was basically to clean the equipment when it was returned, and to make sure it worked.

When water pumps came in, I put them in a bucket of water to check them. No problems. First time we had a sump pump returned, I had it plugged in, then put it in the bucket. Of course, my face was right above the pump.......

Took the new pump back off and returned it and guess what? I got a defective pump brand new.Put another one in the ground and now I have water out the ying yang.thanks to everyone for your suggestions and help.Tried and checked most of them but I guess New doesn't always mean NEW!!!!!! It's just frustrating and a back killer for an old man to pull that out of the ground so many times because someone at the factory didn't test it before it was shipped out.

Glad to hear you got it working.

Good deal. Although it was a bad deal. Anyway, you got things figured out.

Made in China?