Symptoms
No water in the house: first steps for well owners
When the taps go dry on a well, the cause is usually in one of four places: power, controls, the pressure system or the pump. A few safe checks tell you which.
This is a referral line. When you call, you are connected with an independent local well pump company.
Start with power
Check the breaker or fuse for the well in your main panel. Some properties also have a separate disconnect near the pressure tank or the well. If the breaker tripped, you can reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off. A breaker that trips over and over is protecting something, and it is a job for the pump company.
If the whole neighborhood is dark, the pump cannot run until power returns. Ready.gov: Power Outages (opens in a new tab) has general advice for getting through an outage, including keeping drinking water on hand.
Read the pressure gauge
Most systems have a gauge near the pressure tank. Note the number. A gauge at zero with the breaker on suggests the pump is not delivering water. A gauge that reads normal while taps are dry points somewhere else, like a closed valve or a clogged filter.
Listen and look
Stand near the tank and switch while someone opens a tap. Does the switch click? Does anything hum? Is there water on the floor? Each answer is useful on the phone. Do not open the switch cover or a control box. Both carry household voltage.
What to tell the company
Say when the water stopped, whether it faded or quit all at once, what the gauge reads, and what you already tried. If you know your well depth or registration number, give it. The ADWR Well Record Search (opens in a new tab) can show your well record by parcel number.[source]
If it happens again
Write down the date, the weather, and what was running when the water stopped. Patterns help. Water that quits every evening during irrigation points somewhere different than water that quits after every storm. Keep the pump company's invoice and notes from each visit in one place, along with your well registration number, so the next call is faster.
Questions
Is no water always a dead pump?
No. Switches, controls, breakers and pressure tank problems can all stop the water.
Should I run the pump again and again to test it?
No. Repeated starts with no water can damage a pump. Call instead.
Can I drink the water once it is back?
If the system was opened or you see cloudy water, ask the company. The EPA has guidance on testing a private well.[source]
Related help
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