When it comes to your family’s water, we know there is no good time to have an issue. Water is essential for every aspect of modern life, and dealing with a faulty pump can be a huge problem.
Many people believe we are living in the midst of a DIY revolution, and they are not wrong. On the internet, you can find an incredible wealth of information about nearly everything. You can learn how to play the guitar or how to build one. You can learn how to tie a tie or educate yourself so you no longer have to wear one.
However, there are some aspects of DIY culture that should be approached with a huge amount of caution. If DIY become DIWHY with a guitar you built, it might not sound very nice when you play it.
If it happens to your family’s water supply it could lead to contaminated water, broken pipes, and worst of all, it can be a danger to your family’s health.
In this article, we will lead you through some best practices when it comes to identifying and fixing problems with your well water pump. We’ll show you which problems are okay to DIY, and when it’s best to hire an expert.
No Water Whatsoever
There’s nothing worse than turning the tap handle and NOT getting any water. When this happens, it can justifiably cause a panic!
The most common solution to this (and the easiest fix on our list) is that the pump has been accidentally switched to off.
Go down to your utility room and locate your water pump. There should be a switch (like a lightswitch) nearby. If this is in the off position, turn it on. Then try the tap. Do you have water? If so, well done you DIY Dominator, you’ve fixed the problem! If not, check the circuit breaker the pump is attached to. If the pump is on and the circuit is in the on position, you may have a problem with your wiring or need a full or partial pump replacement.
In this case, it is always best to call the experts. Dealing with water pump issues is relatively uncommon, and, especially when it comes to water and wiring, you’ll want to trust the people who have proper training.
Intermittent Water Pressure
Sometimes the water in your faucets does not cut out completely. Instead, the water pulses, which is to say it changes pressure and comes out in spurts.
While this isn’t as major of a problem as having no water at all, it is the sign or something amiss with your water pump that will need to be addressed sooner rather than later.
While a few things might cause this to occur within your water tank, one of the most common is a failure of the pressure bladder within your pump.
You see, your pump tank is filled with air as well as water. The air is stored in a rubber bladder, which uses pressure sensors to tell the pump when the tank needs more water.
If you are concerned this might be the issue, use the valve at the top of your water pump to test.
Simply unscrew the top of the valve and push down on the nozzle. If water comes out instead of air, the rubber bladder inside your pump has failed, and will need to be replaced.
While it is possible to do this yourself, it is a several hour job which requires some plumbing experience. Doing it incorrectly can lead to further problems, broken pumps and flooded basements, none of which we want to see!
Dirty Water
If the water coming from your taps is dirty, silty, or muddy, DON’T DRINK IT! The problem could be caused by either a failing water filter or by a shifting water table in your actual well. Neither of these fixes should be considered DIY, and the experts should be consulted immediately.
Smelly Water (or Water That Tastes a Little Funky)
Bad smells and tastes can come from corrosion within the pipes or from contamination within the source of the well. While these effects don’t necessarily indicate that water is unsafe to drink, it should always be filtered using a Brita or something similar, and steps should be taken to mitigate this problem by contacting a well specialist.
The Bottom Line
Water is life. It may be a cliché but it’s true. When it comes to the water in your home, the water you drink, cook with, and clean with, only the very simplest tests should be conducted DIY.
Attempting to fix issues with your well or water pump can result in serious dangers to your water, and expensive mistakes with installation.
If you ARE feeling extra intrepid, it is ALWAYS a good idea to hire an expert to help diagnose the problem. After all, there’s nothing worse than performing a costly, time-consuming fix, then suffering the same problems.
