No Water from Well
#1
01-31-19, 09:50 AM
No Water from Well
In western PA, it was -8 degrees this AM. We did not have running water this morning from our well. My first thought was the plumbing coming into the house through the old below-grade well house was froze - this was not the case, the plumbing was well above freezing. The well pump is pulling 5 amps with zero flow.
Is it possible that my well pump happened to coincidentally go bad during this extremely cold weather, or is there another possibility related to the cold that I am missing?
On Sat (2 days) temps are expected to reach the mid-50's. I can wait until then to see if flow resumes, but was hoping to have running water sooner.
Thanks!
Is it possible that my well pump happened to coincidentally go bad during this extremely cold weather, or is there another possibility related to the cold that I am missing?
On Sat (2 days) temps are expected to reach the mid-50's. I can wait until then to see if flow resumes, but was hoping to have running water sooner.
Thanks!
#2
01-31-19, 10:41 AM
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#4
01-31-19, 11:10 AM
Group Moderator
That is very low. It could be a small pump.
If the pump was pumping into a frozen/blocked pipe..... I'd expect the amperage to go up and possibly trip the motor overload.
You have an underground well house. Do you have water at that point ?
If the pump was pumping into a frozen/blocked pipe..... I'd expect the amperage to go up and possibly trip the motor overload.
You have an underground well house. Do you have water at that point ?
#5
01-31-19, 11:32 AM
The plumbing from the current well comes through the old below grade well house and then into the house. Well house entrance is off the basement stairwell. I don't think I have a way to check for flow in the well house. The pipe is insulated with fiber glass. I put a space heater in the well house for about 5 hours this AM with no change.
#6
01-31-19, 11:45 AM
Group Moderator
It's hard to tell where the problem is when you can't check for water.
Is the well head inside the well house ? If yes..... it would not likely be frozen there.
The well itself won't freeze..... just the lines from the pitless connector in.
Is the well head inside the well house ? If yes..... it would not likely be frozen there.
The well itself won't freeze..... just the lines from the pitless connector in.
#7
01-31-19, 12:12 PM
The well head is not inside the well house. The "new" current well was drilled about 15 feet away from the well house, with the lines run below the frost line. This is the first well issue I have had in the 13 years I've been in the house.
#8
01-31-19, 12:46 PM
Group Moderator
I'm at a loss. There are really only two possibilities.... a frozen line between the pitiless and the well house or the pump has a problem.
A 1/2hp submersible pump could draw 5-6 amps during normal operation.
As I mentioned the current would have to increase if it were pumping into a restriction.
A 1/2hp submersible pump could draw 5-6 amps during normal operation.
As I mentioned the current would have to increase if it were pumping into a restriction.
#10
02-01-19, 02:10 PM
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Actually the amps from a submersible pump will drop if block off or is trying to pump against a frozen or blocked off pipe.
It may also be a broken pump shaft, that would mean the amps you see are just the motor running without turning the pump end or wetend.
It may also be a broken pump shaft, that would mean the amps you see are just the motor running without turning the pump end or wetend.
#11
02-01-19, 03:13 PM
Had the pump replaced today, shaft was frozen. The old pump was installed in 1991, so can’t complain about that.
#12
02-01-19, 03:40 PM
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