No Water After Replacing the Well Pump? Here’s What We Found in Lehigh Acres.
What the homeowner saw
This homeowner called us because they had no water. Nothing at the faucets. On a well system, that's about as stressful as it gets, and the first thing most people suspect is the pump.
What was tried
In this case, the original jet pump had failed, so we installed a new one expecting to restore service. That's a reasonable first move when a pump has clearly quit. But sometimes replacing the failed part isn't the whole story.
What we found
As we began priming the new pump, we found several leaks in the suction pipe coming from the well. We repaired those leaks, but the pump was still pulling mud instead of clean water.
So we kept digging. We pulled the suction pipe and discovered it wasn't reaching the water table. We extended the pipe from approximately 30 feet to 42 feet, which allowed the pump to reach water, but only for a short time.
As soon as the jet pump started pumping, the water level inside the well dropped below the pump's lifting capability. The pressure quickly fell, and the pump stopped producing water.
Here's why. A shallow-well jet pump is designed to lift water from approximately 25 feet under normal operating conditions. Once the pumping water level drops deeper than that, the pump simply can't keep up. No matter how new the pump is, it can't lift water it can't reach.
The fix
The correct repair was to eliminate the jet pump and install a submersible well pump below the water level.
The difference matters. A jet pump sits above ground and pulls water up. A submersible pump sits down in the well, below the water, and pushes water to the home. When groundwater levels have dropped, that makes a submersible pump the proper solution.
What homeowners should learn
The failed pump can be the symptom, not the cause. In this case, the pump failing was only part of the story. The leaks in the suction pipe and the dropping water table were the real problems.
A new jet pump can't fix a water level it can't reach. If your well's pumping water level has dropped deeper than about 25 feet, a shallow-well jet pump may not keep up.
Diagnose before you replace. This is a great example of why we don't guess, we diagnose. Finding the real problem saves homeowners from spending money on repairs that won't solve the issue.
Having well water problems?
If you've got no water, or a new pump that isn't doing the job, let Good Ole' Plumbing Services diagnose the real problem and fix it the right way the first time. Dan has 40+ years of plumbing experience, and well systems are what we do. You'll get a straight answer and a price before work starts.
Call (239) 541-0119 · goodoleplumbingservices@gmail.com
Serving Lee & Charlotte Counties.
We Fix Well Water.
