Well Pump Repair in Southwest Florida

Submersible or Jet Pump: Which Do You Have?

Most homes on a well in Lee and Charlotte Counties have one of two kinds of pump. Knowing which one you have helps explain what might be going wrong.

• Jet pump. Sits above ground, usually near the well or in a pump house, and pulls water up out of the well. A shallow-well jet pump is generally designed to lift water from about 25 feet. If the water level in your well drops deeper than that, the pump can't keep up, no matter how new it is.

• Submersible pump. Sits down inside the well, below the water, and pushes water up to your home. You won't see it, but you'll usually see a control box and pressure switch above ground. When the water table has dropped, a submersible is often the right answer.

Not sure which you have? That's fine. We'll figure it out when we get there.

Well Pump Problems We Fix

Pump won't start

You've got no water and you don't hear the pump running. That can be a tripped breaker, a failed pressure switch, a bad capacitor or control box, a wiring problem, or a pump motor that's quit. Each one has a different fix, so we test before we replace.

Pump runs continuously

The pump keeps running and never shuts off. That can mean a leak somewhere in the system, a pressure switch that isn't cutting off, a water level that has dropped below what the pump can reach, or a pump that's worn and can't build enough pressure. A pump that runs nonstop can burn itself up, so it's worth a call sooner rather than later.

Short cycling

The pump clicks on and off over and over, and your pressure surges up and down. The most common cause is a waterlogged pressure tank that has lost its air charge. A bad pressure switch or a leak can do it too. Short cycling wears a pump out much faster than normal.

No water

Nothing at the faucets. It might be the pump, but it might also be power, the pressure switch, a leak in the suction line, or a well that isn't giving the pump enough water. More on that on our No Water page: /no-water

Electrical problems

Breakers that trip, a pump that hums but won't run, burnt or loose wiring, and failed capacitors or control boxes are all common. Well pumps run on high voltage, so this is not a do-it-yourself job.

Pressure switch problems

The pressure switch tells the pump when to turn on and off. If the contacts are burnt or pitted, the settings are off, or the little tube underneath is clogged, the pump can fail to start, fail to stop, or chatter. A pressure switch is often a much smaller repair than a pump.

Pressure tank problems

Your pressure tank stores water under pressure so the pump doesn't have to start every time you open a faucet. When the tank loses its air charge or the bladder fails, the pump short-cycles and your pressure swings. If your main complaint is weak water, see our Low Pressure page: /low-pressure

Do I Need a New Pump?

Maybe. But often it's not the pump.

When the water stops or the pressure goes wrong, the pump is the part everyone thinks of first. It's also usually the most expensive part to replace. That's exactly why we don't start there. We diagnose the whole system first, so you don't pay for a pump you didn't need, or put in a new pump that still won't fix the problem.

What else can look like a bad pump:

• A pressure switch that's burnt, clogged, or set wrong

• A waterlogged pressure tank or a failed bladder

• A tripped breaker, loose wiring, or a failed capacitor or control box

• A leak in the suction line, the supply line, or under the slab

• A clogged sediment filter, or a softener or filter valve that's restricting flow

• A water level in the well that has dropped below what the pump can reach

What we check before we tell you it's the pump:

1. Power. Breaker, wiring, and voltage at the pump and control equipment.

2. Controls. The pressure switch and, on a submersible, the control box and capacitor.

3. Pressure tank. The air charge and the bladder.

4. Leaks. The lines we can see and the signs of the ones we can't.

5. Filters and treatment. Anything between the well and your faucets that could choke the flow.

6. The well and the pump. How the pump is performing and whether it can actually reach the water.

A real example. We wrote up a job in Lehigh Acres where the homeowner had no water and the jet pump had failed. A new jet pump went in, and there was still no water. The real problems were leaks in the suction pipe and a water level that had dropped below what a jet pump can lift. The fix was a submersible pump set below the water level. You can read the whole story here: /blog/no-water-after-replacing-the-well-pump-heres-what-we-found-in-lehigh-acres

When it really is the pump, we'll tell you that too, and explain why. Then we'll recommend the right pump for your well and your home. Sometimes that's the same type you already have. Sometimes, like in Lehigh Acres, it means switching from a jet pump to a submersible.

How We Handle Well Pump Calls

1. Listen. You tell us what you're seeing, hearing, and when it started.

2. Diagnose the whole system. Power, pressure switch, control box, pressure tank, lines, filters, the pump, and the well.

3. Find the real cause. We don't guess, and we don't replace parts until we know what's wrong.

4. Straight answer and a price. We explain what we found in plain language and give you the price before work starts.

5. Repair or replace, done right. If a repair will do it, we repair it. If the pump needs replacing, we size the new one for your well and your home, then make sure your water and pressure are back.

Well Pump Replacement

When a pump does need replacing, getting the right one matters as much as installing it. We look at the depth of your well, where the water level sits, and how much water your household uses. Then we recommend a pump that fits, whether that's a jet pump or a submersible. We also check the pressure switch and pressure tank so the new pump isn't set up to fail by a worn part next to it.

Ask Gator 🐊

"My pump keeps clicking on and off. Is it dying?"

Gator says: Not necessarily. That's called short cycling, and a lot of the time it's the pressure tank, not the pump. But it does wear a pump out fast, so don't let it go.

"I just put in a new pump and I still have no water. What gives?"

Gator says: That happens more than you'd think. The pump might not have been the problem, or the well may not be giving it enough water to pull. That's why we test the whole system first.

"Can I reset the pump myself?"

Gator says: Checking the breaker is fine. Please don't open the pressure switch cover or the control box. There's live power in there. Give us a call and we'll check it safely.

Safety note: Well pumps and pressure switches run on high-voltage power. If you smell burning, see scorch marks, or the breaker keeps tripping, turn the breaker off and call us.

Well Pump FAQs

How do I know if my well pump is bad?

Common signs are no water, a pump that won't shut off, a pump that clicks on and off, or a breaker that keeps tripping. But a pressure switch, pressure tank, or wiring problem can cause every one of those. A diagnosis tells us which it is.

Should I repair my well pump or replace it?

It depends on what's actually wrong. If the problem is the pressure switch, tank, or wiring, a repair is usually the answer. If the pump itself is worn out or can't reach your water, replacement makes sense. We'll tell you straight.

What's the difference between a jet pump and a submersible pump?

A jet pump sits above ground and pulls water up from the well. A submersible pump sits down in the well, below the water, and pushes water up to the house. If the water level in your well has dropped, a submersible is often the better fit.

Why does my well pump run all the time?

It could be a leak, a pressure switch that won't cut off, a worn pump that can't build pressure, or a water level the pump can't keep up with. It's worth a call soon, because a pump that never stops can burn out.

Can a bad pressure tank damage my pump?

Yes. A waterlogged tank makes the pump start and stop far more often than it should, and that wears it out faster.

My water smells like rotten eggs. Is that the pump?

Usually not. That's typically a water quality issue. See our Stinky Water page (/stinky-water) and our Water Treatment page (/water-treatment).

Will you tell me the price before you start?

Yes. You'll get a straight answer and a price before any work starts.

What areas do you serve?

Lee and Charlotte Counties, including Cape Coral, Fort Myers, North Fort Myers, Lehigh Acres, Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, and North Port.