Turning off your well pump reduces your risk of flood and water damage. Additionally, many people cannot stop themselves from thinking about their well pump that they left running. If you tend to overthink, turning off your pump before leaving town can bring your peace of mind.
Shutting off the pump is best. A pump switch could go bad and the pump could end up running continuously and burn up without you knowing as well.
You should turn off your pump using the circuit breaker located in your home's electrical panel. But be careful: if your pump shares a breaker with another appliance or system, you'll be cutting power to it, too.
Since cold weather is the number one cause for a burst pipe, turning off your well pump will help protect your property. Also make sure that you have a well pump cover that fits securely. This will keep cold air from disturbing the pipes in and around the well pump itself.
Your borehole pump should last you several years. All depending, your borehole pump should run continuously for a couple of hours daily. This, however, will depend on many factors. These are the size of the borehole, the capacity of the pump, and demand.
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. However, you should also shut off the power to the hot water heater. In rare cases, a broken water line can siphon water out of the hot water heater, causing damage to the unit.
Run time is another piece of the puzzle: 4” motors up to ¾ horsepower should run for at least one minute and motors over ¾ horsepower should run a minimum of two minutes to dissipate the heat build up from starting current.
These pump motors do have a thermal overload switch that is supposed to shut them down if they overheat. I contacted the manufacturer of these pumps and they stated that the thermal switch should trip at around 120 degrees Fahrenheit.
However, If you have an above ground pump, it needs to be kept in an area where the temperature stays above 40 degrees in order to prevent the water in the pump and water lines from freezing. If the pump is located in an area where temperatures drop below 32 degrees, the pump should be housed in an insulated enclosure.
If the unprimed pump runs for too long, it will overheat and soon burn out.
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.
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.
Turn on each kitchen or bathroom tap, one at a time, and run each for 10 minutes or more.
Average Energy Consumption
The average power rating of a well pump is about 700 to 800 watts. However, there is more to consider in calculating its average monthly electricity consumption than the power rating.
While a well pump can last 40 years or more with exceptional care and maintenance, most pumps have a typical lifespan of 8 to 15 years. Regular inspection and servicing can help extend the pump's lifespan.
If you plan to stay away from your home for a long time, switch off your well pump before leaving incase some type of electrical problem occurs this will not continue until you arrive home. Prevent Water Damage and Potential Health Issues: Your water pump can develop leaks, or a pipe may burst while you are away.
When preparing to close your vacation home for the season, leaving the home vacant and unheated, you must winterize the plumbing to protect it from bursting in freezing temperatures. This process includes going through the steps to winterize your water well pump.
To avoid pipes from freezing over, turn off your home's main water valve or pump if not in use. Even if the pipes do freeze, it will greatly reduce the possible damages.
It is advised to run the pump for no more than 10 hours in a single run. Give it time to cool down and then you can start the motor again.
If your well pump keeps running, it's usually because of one of the following issues: You have a running appliance. The well pump may have lost prime. The pump pressure control switch is faulty.
Then when the pump shuts off, the motor is still warm, and it takes about a minute for the motor to cool down where it is safe to restart. So a minute on and a minute off has always been the minimum rule of thumb.
One of the most common indicators of a failing well pump is fluctuation in water pressure. Water pressure issues can result from a number of factors, including scaling inside your pipes from hard water, bacterial buildup, low water levels at the well, or a pressure tank issue.
If you allow a dry pump to continue running, it will soon lead to overheating and other serious forms of damage. If you do not know the protocol for priming your pump, contact a plumber as soon as possible. A well pump that repeatedly loses its prime likely has underlying problems.
The average cost to replace a well pump is $1,889, but most spend between $974 to $2,813 depending on the pump size you need.
The tanks should be flushed semi-annually to remove accumulated sediments by opening the tank drain valve. These sediments could harbor and shield harmful microbes from chlorination should the well and home plumbing system require disinfection.