Our water runs dry and my submersible well pump turns off after a few seconds; bad pump; dry well; or other?

Question

Sometimes the water is fine with good pressure. The water is very (hard?). We have replaced every fitting in the house since we moved in 6 years ago. The house is about 30 yrs old. I dont think the well is very deep. We have gotten sediment (could it be a clogged filter? I checked the voltage after the pressure relay and there is 220 VAC and the currrent is there for a few seconds and then 0 amps (pump shuts off). Thanks in advance!!

Answer 1

Sounds like the pressure switch.  Here's how to tell.  First find the pressure switch.  It's near your water bladder tank, and covered with a grey plastic cover with a single nut on top of it.  Undo the nut.  Take the cover off.

Now you have a 220v live electrical component in front of you, so don't touch anything in there, ok?  OK, now get a hard plastic something with no metal on it at all, about 6" or longer.  Use the thing to move the metal plate back and forth, you'll see round copper "pucks" on the ends of each side of this piece.  Those are the contacts.  If you move the plate so they are contacting each other, does the pump come on?

Yes?  Does pressure build?  Yes? Replace the pressure switch.  Turn off the power for that, then wire the new one just like the old one was, and you're done.

No?  Problem's not the pressure switch.

I've seen iron sediment clog the vanes on a well pump more than once.  You'll want to pull that up as a last-case thing though, since it'll cost....

Good luck.

Answer 2

did you check the points on the pressure switch ???if they dont open up this could be your problem. this happened to me about 2 years ago and the pressure tank was brand new .