When your faucets are producing water the way they should, it can be frustrating. Ultimately, we need water to live. Not being able to shower or cook a meal can create unnecessary stress in life. If your water supply is stagnant, there are a multitude of reasons your water isn’t working. The main reason your water isn’t running properly is because there are Water Pump Problems
Water pumps are invaluable to your home because they help move water from one place to another. They also provide pressure for the water in your home, besides supplying water to your sprinklers, showers, and other mechanisms that provide your home with water.
Whether you have low water levels, foul smelling or discolored water, spitting faucets, or little to no water pressure, the problem needs to be solved before it becomes serious or irreversible.
Common water pump problems in the home happen more often than people realize. However, there’s always a reason your water pump isn’t working correctly and there’s always a solution to that problem. Some common household water pump problems and how to troubleshoot them are:
Leaking
If your water pump is leaking, it’s a sign there might be damage to your water pump.
Troubleshooting this issue requires a thorough investigation of your water pump. Closely look at the top, bottom, and sides of your pump. If need be, ask a friend or family member to help you.
An important tip to remember when investigating your water pump is even in the daytime, use a flashlight. This will provide an extra source of light and may even help you find the smallest of damages to your water pump.
If you cannot find where the source of the leakage is coming from, call a professional. If this issue is not taken care of right away, it could lead to further damages or even breakage.
Faucet Issues
If your faucets are spitting out water when you turn them on, it may be because your water pump is faulty or needs to be replaced. When a water pump is damaged, it’s unable to provide your home with a consistent supply of water.
The reason your faucets may be sputtering water is that there’s too much air in your water pump system. Another reason your faucets may be spitting water is because there’s a hole in the water pipe that connects your water line to your water system.
You can check the air regulator and see if there is too much pressure. However, the problem still exists after trying this solution, call an expert.
Shortened Water Cycle
If your water cycle isn’t lasting as long as it should, about 2 to 3 minutes, this may indicate that your water pump doesn’t have the proper air amount in the tank. This means your water pump tank has too little or too much air in it.
To fix this problem, you may need to repair your water pump tank’s air volume control. You can do this by completely turning off your water pump. You can turn off your water pump using the breaker box.
Next, you’ll need to pump air into the tank, drain the water, refill the tank, and turn your water pump back on.
If this simple solution does not work, there may be damage to your water pump that is not visible. In this case, call an expert.
Age
Your water pump has a limited lifespan. Regardless of the issues you face with your water pump, it’ll become aged or overused and you’ll eventually need to replace it.
Use a red lion water pump to solve your current water pump issues and maximize your experience. These quality water pumps offer your home a dependable source of clean water. This brand also offers different options and various water pumps, depending on your water pump needs.
Eventually you’ll have to replace your water pump and when you do, ensure you purchase a quality water pump from a reputable company.
Lack of Water Supply
If you turn on your faucets and water doesn’t come out, you may have a water pump with an electrical issue. This is a common issue that happens when your water pump motor or engine needs replacing.
You can also troubleshoot this problem by shutting off your water pump and turning it back on again. If you turn on your faucets and water still doesn’t come out, you might need to replace your water pump motor or engine.
If you replace the motor or engine and the problem persists, call an expert. It may be a more complex problem than a simple electrical issue.
Mechanical Issues
If your water pump stops working, it may be a mechanical issue or a part your water pump uses to function may need replacing.
Your pump may have an electrical fault and your motor may not be working properly or not working at all. If this is the case, you can easily repair an electric issue by replacing the motor or engine. A water pump motor is relatively inexpensive and will run you anywhere from $200 to $1,500.
Loud Water Pump
If your water pump is making more noise than usual and you hear abnormal squeaking, grinding, or ticking, your water pump bearings may be old or worn.
You can fix this problem by simply replacing the bearings for your water pump. New bearing typically costs about $200.
Water Supply Low
If your water supply is low or your faucets aren’t producing as much pressure as they should be, you may have a problem inside your water pump tank.
Your water pump may fail from dirt or debris clogging the water pipes or tank, which slows the water supply from reaching the faucets in your home.
A quick fix to this problem is to clean out the tank. You can clean your water pump tank by following these steps:
- Shut off the power to your water pump. You can turn off the power by using the breaker box.
- Drain the water in the tank completely. All you have to do is attach a hose to the drain, which is usually found on the bottom of the tank. Be sure to grab a bucket before releasing the valve to drain the water from your tank.
- After you release the valve and drain the water out of the tank, use a pliers to remove the air regulator. You can find the air regulator at the top of your water pump. This device shows how much pressure is inside of your tank.
An important tip to remember when removing the air regulator is to remove it slowly and cautiously, so you don’t damage it. A new air regulator could cost you up to $2,000, so be careful.
- Loosen the screws from the access hatch, located at the top of your water pump, and lift the hatch away from the tank.
After you’ve successfully lifted the hatch, use a flashlight to look inside the tank and wipe away and possible debris or calcium buildup. This will eliminate any issues to that your tank is causing to your water supply.
Use disposable rags to remove dirt, debris, calcium buildup, or anything else that may be blocking your water supply.
If you cannot remove the dirt with a rag, use steel wool or a scrubbing pad. Also, wear gloves during this process while you clean your tank.
- Place the hatch and air regulator back in to place before turning your water pump on. To figure out if your air regulator is installed correctly, test the air pressure.
If you are unsure how to clean your tank properly or are worried you might damage something and would rather have someone who has experience cleaning water pump tanks, call a professional.
Unusual Smell
If your water smells foul, there may be debris or some sort of buildup inside your tank. You can clean the tank yourself by following the directions provided above.
If you clean your water pump tank and the smell is still present in your water, contact a professional.
Dirty Water
If you turn your faucets on and the water isn’t clear like it should be, you may have an issue inside your water pump tank. A simple solution to this problem is to clean the tank out.
If the problem still exists after you clean out the tank, call an expert and refrain from using your water until the issue is resolved.
Another reason you have discolored water running from your faucet may be that your water pump is broken. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace your water pump immediately.
Regardless of the reason why your water is dirty, do not drink it until the problem is solved. There may be harmful bacteria or another pathogen contaminating your water that could get you and your family sick.
Overheating
It’s common for water pumps to overheat. There are several reasons a water pump overheats. The water pump could have a faulty design, average wear and tear, or parts that need replacing. The water pump could overwork itself or age to where you need a new one.
This is a common problem that needs to be fixed as soon as possible. If your water pump overheats too much, it can lead to further damages, contaminate your water, or the excessive heat can break your water pump.
Unusually High Electric Bill
If your electric bill is higher than normal and you cannot find the cause for it, there’s a good chance your water pump is consistently running.
It’s abnormal for your water pump to run constantly. If your water pump is running constantly, it may be an indicator that there is dirt, debris, or something else clogging the pump, which requires it to work harder than it has to.
A common fix for this problem is to clean your tank out. If the problem continues after cleaning your tank, call a professional.
Rust
A common household water pump problem lies within the water pump itself. The water pump could become rusted because of the constant flow of water running out of it daily. This problem will eventually happen unless you catch it before it happens.
The only solution to this problem is to replace your water pump. Rusted water pumps can contaminate your water supply.
A good quality water pump should last you 15 or more years. To ensure the same problems don’t occur when you replace your old water pump, ensure you buy a solid water pump from a reputable company. Do your research before purchasing a new water pump if you absolutely need to replace it.
Before replacing your water pump, see what you can do to repair it. There are simple solutions you can implement to repair your water pump. Something as simple as cleaning your tank or shutting the power off for a money could have significant impact.
