To turn off your well pump, go to your electrical panel and shut off the breaker that connects to your well pump system. Consider cutting the power to your water heater to prevent a broken water line from pulling water from it.
By shutting off the breaker, there should be no harm to the well pump system, provided the pump system is in good mechanical working order.
A pressure switch is a mechanical component most commonly found at the tank tee of the pressure tank. This switch senses pressure in your home's plumbing system by utilizing a small diaphragm and spring system that causes the switch to turn the well pump on and off.
If you're on a private well, your system will also have a main shut-off valve to stop any leaks in the home.
To turn off your well pump, go to your electrical panel and shut off the breaker that connects to your well pump system. Consider cutting the power to your water heater to prevent a broken water line from pulling water from it.
Check inside your house first.
If your home has a basement or crawlspace, the shut-off valve is probably located on a wall near the front of your house. If your home is built on a slab, check in the garage or near the water heater for the shut-off valve.
If you're going to be out of town for more than a few days, for instance, you might wonder if you should turn off the power to your pump. The answer, in most cases, is yes—but that's not all you'll need to do.
The well pump is set to operate when the pressurized water tank depletes, which in most cases means the well pump will only run for short bursts of time. However, if a faucet or toilet is running at all times, it will also mean that your well pump will run constantly as well.
Starter borehole pumps can run for up to 24 hours. However, your everyday borehole pump will run between 6 & 8 hours.
As will all mechanical equipment, well pumps can give out over time. If a well pump has internal mechanical damage, it won't raise water pressure to the control switch cut-off point which will make the pump run non-stop. Solution: Contact a plumber to repair (or likely replace) your well pump.
We already mentioned turning off your well pump, in which case you'll want to turn off the water heater as well. Otherwise, setting your water to vacation mode is recommended. If your model doesn't offer vacation mode, lower the temperature to save energy and money.
If you have a private well, you may have two valves to turn off. Check near your well's pump and then near the pressure tank. Turn both (or just the one if there's only one) clockwise to turn the water off. And remember: When turning the water back on, GO SLOW with your counterclockwise turn.
If the water pressure is too high, the pump turns off. This process of turning on and off is called cycling. Unfortunately, cycling can be very destructive to a well pump because it shortens the life of the motor and puts excessive wear on the control components.
Not necessarily, but it's a little bit like tempting fate. Nothing is definitely going to go wrong with your water pump if you leave it on, but leaving it on allows for the possibility of problems like leaks, floods, and drained batteries.
Every home was required to have a main water shut-off valve installed inside the home when it was built. For most emergencies or repairs, shutting off the proper inside valve is all you will need to do. However, there are also underground shut-off valves installed outside at the property line.
In most cases, the master shutoff valve to the home will have a wheel (gate valve) or a straight handle (ball valve). Gate valves (pictured to the right) are operated by turning the wheel clockwise until the water is off. Ball valves are operated by turning the handle a quarter-turn clockwise until the water is off.
In a home the inside stop tap is usually located under the kitchen sink, but can also be in an airing cupboard or under the floorboards near the front door. You should be able to operate the valve yourself. Turning the valve clockwise will close it, reducing the amount of water passing through.
All of the pressure in your house water comes from the main water valve. As soon as you shut that off, the pressure stops. There is water in the pipes, but no pressure on it, like a full bucket. Open any faucet, and there's nothing pushing on the water.