If you have a power outage at your home and have no water once the power is restored, it could be a problem with your well pump. Fortunately, there are things you can check on your own so you can determine if this is the problem. You can then get the help you need so you and your family will have water.
Check the Circuit Breaker
It could be something as easy as the circuit breaker. Find the circuit panel in your home. This may be in a closet, in a hallway, etc. Open the panel door and you will see the circuit breakers. Each breaker should be labeled for what it powers. Find the one that is marked well pump. If the breaker is in the opposite direction as the other breakers then it has tripped.
Simply flip the breaker so it is going in the same direction as the others. Now go outside and see if you hear your well pump running. If you do, go inside and check that that you have water. This should fix your problem. If you do not feel comfortable working with the circuits, you can hire an electrician to check this for you. If you still do not have water, however, there could be a problem with the low-pressure switch.
Check the Low-Pressure Switch
Often when there is no water after a power outage it is due to the low-pressure switch. This is because the tank has to have a certain amount of pressure to keep the water levels where they need to be. When there is no power, the pressure drops and causes the pressure to drop. This then causes the water levels to drop. When this happens, the low-pressure switch automatically shuts off. The switch turns off to prevent damage to your well pump, as running a pump dry will cause severe problems.
Fortunately, you can check this yourself when the power is restored in your home. Got outside to the well pump and look between the pressure tank and the well. You will find the pressure switch located here. The pressure switch is a box and you will see a lever on the box. The lever is likely down. If so, use a pair of pliers and lift the lever back up. Keep lifting it until you hear the water pump start back up and then stop. Look at the pressure gauge to ensure it has raised as well. What the pressure should be depends on your well pump. A plumber can give you this information if you need help.
Go into your house and turn on one faucet to see if you have water. When you first turn the faucet on the water will likely sputter for a few minutes and then it should start flowing freely. Contact a company like County Pump & Supply Co for more information and assistance.
Share11 July 2017
My homes have always had either copper or PVC plumbing pipes. But when my plumbing system needed an overhaul last spring, I wanted a piping system for my home that I could work on myself when needed. There were a lot of good reasons to choose PEX piping, but my favorite thing about the PEX piping is that it's easy to work with, even if you're a beginner like me. Now I can make small repairs myself instead of calling the plumber every time I have a minor leak or other small problem. I still call the plumber for the big stuff, but it's more affordable now that I can take care of small issues myself. I started this blog to help others learn how they, too, can do DIY plumbing repairs at home.