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.
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.
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.
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.
It's good practice. There's no harm in doing this, your water main should not start leaking if installed correctly. There won't be much of a sudden increase in pressure, as when you shut off the water, unless you run your faucets before you leave, the water in the lines doesn't go anywhere.
Pipes can still burst in freezing temperatures even after you turn off your home's water. The pipes will still have water inside them, which means the water may freeze and potentially burst your pipes.
If you decide to turn your water heater off for vacation, it might be a good idea to test it beforehand. You could try turning it off and on over the course of a day to make sure it won't cause any problems. Otherwise, it's best to just leave it on for your time away.
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.
1 – Shut Off the Water Supply
After all, pipes can burst a leak, and plumbing fittings fail unexpectedly. A leak is always a headache to deal with, but if it happens while you're gone for even just a couple of days, it can be downright disastrous. Extensive and expensive water damage can result in short order.
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.
If you allow a dry pump to continue running, it will soon lead to overheating and other serious forms of damage.
How many watts does a Water Pump use? The average Water Pump uses 150 watts. Your devices wattage may be different depending on the brand, size, or other factors. You can generally find the wattage of your Water Pump in the user manual or on the device itself.
Starter borehole pumps can run for up to 24 hours. However, your everyday borehole pump will run between 6 & 8 hours. It is not good for your borehole pump to run continuously.
It is perfectly safe to turn it off by either turning the wheel clockwise or closing the lever. If you don't know where to locate the valve, you may find it: In the basement.
Don't Overload the Pump
One of the most common causes of water pump failure is overloading. Running the pump beyond its rated capacity can cause overheating and rapid deterioration of key components. Make sure that the pump is operating within its designed capacity for both pressure and volume.
The expected lifespan of a water pump is 60,000 miles to 90,000 miles, but many can last longer than that. Usually, once your car has reached the coveted 100,000 miles, you can plan on the need for a pump replacement soon. Sometimes, this cooling system part will give you signs that it needs to be replaced.
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.
To prevent damage to your home, it is advisable to turn off the main shut-off valve before going on a vacation. You can find the main valve in the basement, crawlspaces, concrete slab, or the attic. You might also find the main shut-off valve in a utility box near your front sidewalk.
If the pump is running without water, the seal will overheat and melt, If left running without water for a long period of time, the heat generated could damage the PVC pipe and other system components.
Turn your pump off. Unless it is going to be below freezing, don't worry about draining the lines. Just turn a faucet on to deplete any pressure in the system. Definitely turn the water heater off.
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.
If you're on a private well, your system will also have a main shut-off valve to stop any leaks in the home.
Else, if you have a full water tank, and you need to turn off the water for an issue unrelated to your water heater, then it really doesn't matter if you turn the water heater on or off.
Pipes: Turn off water supply to the house and drain pipes to protect them from freezing. You can empty pipes by running the water and flushing the toilets after the water has been turned off. After draining the pipes, it is a good idea to leave the faucets open to prevent pressure build up from any water that remains.
After shutting off the main valve, ensure you drain the water from all the fixtures. In summer, the temperature of the water raises the pressure inside the pipes. If there is a crack, parts of your plumbing could burst. It is even more critical to drain hoses and faucets in the winter.