Well pump maintenance: schedule, lifespan and costs
Updated
Overview
A private well is a cased hole into the water table, a pump that lifts the water, usually a submersible pump down the well itself, and a pressure tank in the house that stores it so the pump doesn't start at every tap. Nobody tests the water or watches the pump but the owner. The maintenance is a yearly test of the water and a look at the well head and the pressure tank, and a whole-house filter changed on schedule so sediment from the well doesn't reach the fixtures and the water heater.
Lifespan
A well pump lasts 8 to 15 years. A submersible pump lives underwater in the dark and has an easy life as long as it doesn't cycle too often. Short cycling, where the pump starts and stops every minute because the pressure tank has lost its air charge, is what wears a pump out early. Sand and sediment pulled up with the water abrade the impellers. A pump that runs dry because the well's level dropped overheats within minutes.
What extends the life is a pressure tank with its air charge kept right, so the pump runs in long, steady cycles, a sediment filter that takes the grit out before the fixtures see it, and a well kept sealed at the top. The signs a pump is near the end: sputtering faucets, pressure that drops or swings, a pump that runs far longer than it used to, a breaker that trips when it starts, and an age past the middle of its lifespan with any of those.
Maintenance schedule
The jobs that keep the well safe and the pump running, in the order they come due.
| Task | How often |
|---|---|
| Test the well water and inspect the well | once a year |
| Replace the whole-house water filter | every 3 to 6 months for a sediment filter, up to 12 months for a carbon filter |
Replacement cost
Replacing a well pump costs $1,000 to $3,500 installed for a submersible pump. The range depends on the pump's size and the depth of the well, since a deep well needs a bigger pump and more labor to pull and reset it. A pressure tank, a pressure switch and a control box are separate parts, each cheaper than the pump, and often replaced on their own.
The repair-or-replace rule: a pressure switch, a pressure tank that's lost its charge, a control box or a check valve is a repair, and those are the usual causes of well trouble. The pump itself is rarely repaired, because pulling it from the well is most of the cost. A pump that's failed, or one past the middle of its lifespan being pulled for another reason, is replaced while it's out.
Common problems
- Sputtering faucets, with air in the water: a low well level, a leak in the drop pipe, or a pump drawing air. Have the well service company check the level and the pipe.
- Pressure that swings or drops: a pressure tank that's lost its air charge, which makes the pump short cycle. Check the tank's charge with a tire gauge at its valve, with the pump off and the tank drained.
- Lower pressure than usual through the house: a clogged sediment filter first. Replace the whole-house water filter before suspecting the pump.
- A change in taste, smell or color: contamination, or a change in the water table. Test the well water and inspect the well right away.
- The pump runs constantly: a leak in the system, a failed check valve letting water drain back down the well, or a pressure switch set wrong.
- No water at all: a tripped breaker, a failed pressure switch or control box, or a dead pump. Check the breaker and the switch before calling about the pump.
FAQ
How long does a well pump last?
About 8 to 15 years. A pressure tank that keeps the pump from short cycling is the biggest factor, along with a filter that keeps sediment out of the impellers.
How much does it cost to replace a well pump?
$1,000 to $3,500 installed for a submersible pump, depending on the pump's size and the depth of the well.
How often should well water be tested?
Once a year for bacteria and nitrates, and right away after flooding, nearby construction or any change in the water.
What are the signs of a failing well pump?
Sputtering faucets, swinging or dropping pressure, a pump that runs much longer than it used to, and a breaker that trips when it starts.
Why does my well pump keep turning on and off?
The pressure tank has lost its air charge, so there's no cushion of stored water. Recharging or replacing the tank fixes it, and stops the pump wearing out early.