Water from well running out

webpal

I'm on a private well that at the top of my garden. Lately the cold water tap in the kitchen has been running out i.e. as if the well has run dry. When left alone, it comes back a few minutes later and pressure is quite intense. It runs ok for a while all the time the pressure is decreasing until after a while it just runs out again. I was washing the car recently and it was a nuisance and I have noticed the washing machine stopped one day probably due to this. Anyone any ideas whats going on?

OverRide

webpal wrote: »

I'm on a private well that at the top of my garden. Lately the cold water tap in the kitchen has been running out i.e. as if the well has run dry. When left alone, it comes back a few minutes later and pressure is quite intense. It runs ok for a while all the time the pressure is decreasing until after a while it just runs out again. I was washing the car recently and it was a nuisance and I have noticed the washing machine stopped one day probably due to this. Anyone any ideas whats going on?

You need to get this looked at immediately by someone reliable
It's likely the pump has just silted up and is running at low capacity
If you don't take the pump up and get it cleaned you will destroy the pump and Or motor
That will be a very expensive replacement

First step, fill what you need andswitch off the pump when you're done until a local pump guy has a look

You can switch it back on briefly if you run out again before he comes but do keep it off

Also check for leaks as they would be the principal cause of the silting

webpal

thanks, who would i call? a plumber?

OverRide

Do you know who installed the pump in the well?
Your best bet is to ask one of the local farmers who they use as they will have had to call in a repair more often (once or twice a year in my case)
It's usually someone who specialises mostly in this work and there's often a few in each area rather than a plumber
Sometimes they are also a plumber
Do you know anything at all about the well btw,how deep it is,how old etc

webpal

Yeah I know who put it in so I'll give him a call. It was put in 10 years ago when house was built, other than I don't know anything about, thanks

Wearb

Could be as simple as a blocked pressure switch. Installer will know.

flints11

I'd say its the switch alright,simply enough fix,about 20 euro for the part.

OverRide

Yup switch is the simplest but even if it's just that the pump needs to be turned off as it will keep pumping without cutting out

Also if there's dirt in the switch there will be dirt in the pumps impellers so if the installer is there,insist on pulling that pump up and cleaning it/giving it a good service
It's better than a new pump and motor

Wearb

It's usually not dirt but corrosion that causes the blockage. So let the repairer decide if the pump needs looking at.

cruiser202006

+1 on pressure switch. Get vessel checked too and also capacitor checked to save another call out fee few months down the line!

TPM

OverRide wrote: »

Yup switch is the simplest but even if it's just that the pump needs to be turned off as it will keep pumping without cutting out

Also if there's dirt in the switch there will be dirt in the pumps impellers so if the installer is there,insist on pulling that pump up and cleaning it/giving it a good service
It's better than a new pump and motor

generally when the pressure switch blocks its due to a build up of oxidised iron, this builds up because the pressure switch is a dead leg and not enough flow to prevent it building up. there is unlikely to be any significant build up in the impellers. I have been called to many blocked pressure switches and never pulled up the pump because the pressure switch was blocked. it can be quite expensive. and even if it is pulled up it would be a big job to strip the pump to inspect the impellers

webpal what area are you in