Well Pump

Last night we had a power outage and this morning we had no water. Went to breaker panel and found breaker for well pump tripped. So I reset it and had a couple different reactions. Sometimes it would trip right away and then a couple of times it stayed on but made noise and even started smoking. So I turned it off and took off the panel to make sure there was no fire.

Landlord had a plumber out here and they say there is a short in the wiring between the pressure switch (for pressure tank) and the well pump outside. I’m don’t quite understand how the pressure switch is wired in as the incoming wires do not run to the switch but it does look like the wires run out to the well.

Any plumbers or electricians with experience with this?

 

Not sure if there are other ways of doing it, but my well pump feed goes to the pressure switch which makes and breaks the circuit and then the wire goes outside to the pump. Panel > pressure switch > pump. Your short could even be in the wire that goes down the well sleeve to feed the pump, or the pump itself is shorted to ground. I’d say that is the most likely if it coincided with an incoming power issue and then your well pump suddenly started tripping the breaker.

 

With the wiring removed from the pressure switch to the pump the breaker does not trip. Even with this wire connected to the pressure switch, but with the pump disconnected at the top of the well, it trips. I’m also measuring a short between these two wires that go to pump.

I was confused earlier bc I couldn’t get any continuity from the breaker to the pressure switch, but then I found another breaker all by itself below the panel that the plumbers must have tripped that once I reset that I have continuity and 240VAC to the pressure switch.

So it’s definitely looking like there is a short somewhere in the buried line. Just not sure how that happened.

 

Does your pressure switch have 4 wires? Outside wires are line and inside are loads.

 

Yeah, sounds like you’ve at least narrowed down the section of wire that is the problem. Perhaps a rodent chewed the wire, as they all come inside this time of year and F things up.

 

Yes, but I think they have the two outside wires coming from the panel and the two inside going to the load (pump).

The load side wires are currently disconnected and measuring there is a short across the white and black wires. I think the plumbers also left the pump disconnected in the well. So that should be out of the equation.

 

I think so. Just sucks bc it’s 250’ + from well to house and I’m not sure how they would go about permanently fixing.

We’re going to run a temp line tomorrow so we at least have running water.

 

The pressure switch controls the pump. The pump runs when the pressure tank falls below lowest setting and the pump runs until max preset pressure is met. The wire from the pressure switch runs to the control box that controls the well pump.
If something isn’t working replace the pressure switch first, they are cheap and don’t last too long. I had to replace that and the control box after about 12-13 yrs since we built our house. It would be very hard to find a fault in the wiring unless it’s generationally older than it should be.

 

The house is about 40 years old. I think I am going to replace the switch just bc the contacts do look pitted.

But the breaker only trips when the load wires are connected. Even with the load (pump) disconnected.

 

Might be a good idea to pull the pump and rewire it. To be honest it’s a fairly low cost refit. Some of the old pumps will go from high amp to nice low amp just because way more efficient.

 

I doubt my landlord will do that. But we’ll see.

 

Don't even mention rodents too me. I have
had the fucking tree rats attack my truck 3 times in Florida. All 3 times knock sensor wires under intake. Now as of yesterday I find evidence of meeses inside my truck now. Shredded roll of paper towels. Living in the woods in Pa. I have blocked the holes by the windshield cowl. Don't know how the little bastards are getting in. They haven't touched the Camry or the Supra. Thank God for that. Im about ready to throw a starving cat in my truck. I hate cats, what to do, what to do...

 

You could try a snake instead.

I have a well and had to replace the pressure switch too. Like said above, it’s cheap and you can pick one up at a local hardware store. Maybe it only shorts when your well is connected but it is the problem. It’s a lot easier than burying a new cable.

 

If he truly tested it with the wires to the pump disconnected at the pressure switch, and disconnected from the pump itself and he is still measuring continuity between the 2 wires then they are shorted phase to phase within the wire sheathing somewhere along the way. I agree it would be a good time to change the pressure switch out though anyway. Contacts do get pitted over time.

 

Update, ran 250’ of 10/2 from the pressure switch to the well and bypassed the old wiring. Flipped the breaker and immediately heard water rushing in.

So as Silver said, I definitely have a short between the wires somewhere. At least now I have water until the landlord gets someone here next week for permanent fix. I was scared the pump failed and took the wires with it, but it does appear to be working fine this evening.