No water, help please
#1
06-16-13, 05:50 AM
No water, help please
What a way to start Father's Day! I have no water in my house. I am new to wells so I apologize up front for my lack of knowledge. Here is what I know, I have a submersible pump, the pump and the well are both 4.5 years old, the well is 140ft deep. We have had no problems at all up to this point. I have checked the breaker and it is not tripped. The pressure tank has 30psi at it. I have no water what so ever inside the house or outside. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Michael
Michael
#2
06-16-13, 06:49 AM
I see the gray box at the pressure tank, I pulled the cover off. I don't see a reset button or fuse to be checked? I ask because I am reading through some old threads to see if I could troubleshoot on my own but I think I am lost....
#3
06-16-13, 07:26 AM
A little more info, I have no pressure coming into the pressure tank and I have 30psi at the cap. The contacts at the pressure switch are clean and connected.
#4
06-16-13, 08:00 AM
Group Moderator
Welcome to the forums!
Check for voltage at the pressure switch. (If you do not have a meter, go buy one as they are only about $10) Set your meter to at least 240 volts. You should have 240 volts between the two hots coming from the panel. Then check on the load side of the switch (The wires going to the pump) Again, you should have 240 volts going to the pump.
Do you have a control box mounted close to the pressure tank? If you do you can also take some readings in there. You can check for voltage and check the resistance between the terminals. There should be info on the label, or paperwork if you have that.
Do you know the range of the pressure switch? It should say on the inside of the cover. Either 30/50 or 40/60. The pressure in the tank should be 2 psi less than your cut in pressure.
Check for voltage at the pressure switch. (If you do not have a meter, go buy one as they are only about $10) Set your meter to at least 240 volts. You should have 240 volts between the two hots coming from the panel. Then check on the load side of the switch (The wires going to the pump) Again, you should have 240 volts going to the pump.
Do you have a control box mounted close to the pressure tank? If you do you can also take some readings in there. You can check for voltage and check the resistance between the terminals. There should be info on the label, or paperwork if you have that.
Do you know the range of the pressure switch? It should say on the inside of the cover. Either 30/50 or 40/60. The pressure in the tank should be 2 psi less than your cut in pressure.
#6
06-16-13, 08:18 AM
When you say 'contacts at the pressure switch are clean and connected', are you talking about the contact pads that make/break the power, or the contacts where the supply/feed wires go ?
Have someone operate the breaker, you should see the contact pads open and close. If they are not closing, then you either have a power problem, or .. if you have one of those pressure switches with the little silver lever off to the side, you may have run low of water and the low water cutout operated. If so, notice the cutout lever moves over a 90deg range. Hold it at 45deg (manual override) until the water pressure gets to the switch cut-in pressure (30psi).
Have someone operate the breaker, you should see the contact pads open and close. If they are not closing, then you either have a power problem, or .. if you have one of those pressure switches with the little silver lever off to the side, you may have run low of water and the low water cutout operated. If so, notice the cutout lever moves over a 90deg range. Hold it at 45deg (manual override) until the water pressure gets to the switch cut-in pressure (30psi).
Note: You are working with high voltage and can be injured or killed.... Use caution. If you are unsure you may be best to call a pro....
#8
06-16-13, 06:32 PM
Ok, thanks all! I had a multi-meter, ran all the recommended checks and got the point that I knew I had power to the well cap. My son and a neighbor helped me pull the pump. Pulled 140ft of 1 inch PVC and a 3/4 HP pump. It ended up being a burnt wire. Replaced connectors on all 3 wires and ran the pump and the PVC back down the well and hooked everything back up and we are up and running! What caused the burnt wire? Who knows, but I spent all day on this site and YouTube learning about wells, pressure tanks, pumps and all things that apply and then using that knowledge to get up and running again. I now know more than I ever wanted too but I feel confident that instead of spending a big chunk of cash I can handle my own well issues now. Thanks!
