No water from your well? What it can mean

Safe checks you can do

1. Is it only your house? If you share a well or are on village water, ask a neighbor.
2. Check the breaker. Find the well pump breaker (often a double breaker). If it has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call a pro; repeated restarts can burn out the motor.
3. Read the pressure gauge near the pressure tank. Note the reading with a tap running and with all taps off. That number helps the contractor.
4. Look for leaks or a running fixture. A leaking pipe, a running toilet or an outdoor hose can keep the pump running.
5. Check any filter on the line. A clogged sediment filter can cause low pressure.
6. Write down what happened: when it started, what you heard, the pump's age if you know it.

Symptoms and what they can mean

No water at all

Common causes include a tripped breaker, a failed pressure switch, a bad control box or capacitor, a failed pump motor, or a low water level in the well. A failed switch can leave a healthy pump off, so the contractor should test the switch and control box before pulling the pump.

Pump runs constantly

Angi lists a pump running non-stop among the signs of a failing pump. It can also mean a leak in the house plumbing, a broken drop pipe or fitting inside the well, or a pump that can no longer reach the switch's cut-off pressure. Shut off the breaker if the pump runs with no water flowing and call a pro; running dry can overheat a pump (HomeGuide).

Short cycling (rapid clicking on and off)

The pump turns on and off every few seconds. This usually means the pressure tank has lost its air charge or has a ruptured bladder, or the pressure switch is faulty. Short cycling shortens pump life. See pressure tank and switch repair.

Low or sputtering pressure

Weak flow, pressure that swings, or taps that spit air can come from a clogged filter, a waterlogged tank, a worn pump, or a falling water level. HomeGuide lists decreased pressure and spitting faucets among the signs a pump may need replacing.

Jet pump losing prime

Jet pumps sit above ground and pull water up, so they must stay primed. Air leaks in the suction line, a failing foot or check valve, or a low water level can make a jet pump lose prime and run without moving water. Re-priming fixes the symptom only if the cause is found; a contractor can find the leak. Submersible pumps do not need priming.

Sulfur or rotten-egg smell

The Minnesota Department of Health explains that hydrogen sulfide gas causes a rotten-egg odor and can come from the groundwater, sulfur bacteria in the well, or the water heater. If the smell is only in hot water, the water heater's magnesium anode is a common cause. If cold water smells too, have the water tested; see well water testing in Kankakee County.

When to call a pro

• The breaker trips again after one reset.
• The gauge reads zero or near zero with power on.
• The pump runs without stopping, or clicks on and off every few seconds.
• Water is sandy, cloudy or air-filled after a pump problem.
• Any repair needs a cover opened or wiring touched.

For what a repair or replacement typically costs, see our well pump replacement cost guide and well pump repair. We are a referral service and do not do the work. Call or send the form and we pass your request to one independent contractor who serves your town; they follow up with you directly.