Well Pumps; Why don't they break between 9 am and 5 pm?

[DawnCt1]

I had water at 9:15 pm. At 9:30, no water. Not a peep out of the pump. I checked the circuit breaker, etc. Nothing. The well pump man can't come until morning. Nothing he can do at night if its in the well. I guess we will be picking up water for coffee in the morning, and teeth brushing. Showers will wait along with the dishes in the sink.

 

[C.Ann]

Are you serious? It's the same reason that a doctors office will call you and leave a message on your answering machine at 4:59 p.m. on a Friday - announce that they have your test results - and in a very worrisome voice say, "The doctor would like to see you in his office ASAP to discuss his findings.." - and Monday is a holiday!!

Murphy's Law..

 

[aprilgail2]

What in the world is a "well pump"????

 

[DawnCt1]

What in the world is a "well pump"????

It the electric motor that all of us with wells, who have no water bill, and haven't had one for 23 years, take for granted. When you turn on the faucet, water comes out. It is the well pump that removes the water from the well and deposits it at the end of the faucet.

 

[DawnCt1]

Are you serious? It's the same reason that a doctors office will call you and leave a message on your answering machine at 4:59 p.m. on a Friday - announce that they have your test results - and in a very worrisome voice say, "The doctor would like to see you in his office ASAP to discuss his findings.." - and Monday is a holiday!!

Murphy's Law..

Murphy's Law is right. At least its Tuesday!

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Your house knows that you are going to sell and it is seeking revenge.

 

[KirstenB]

You have my sympathy!! We have a well, 450 ft deep and it failed after only 9 yrs in the house. However, our well guys were at the house at 7 am, and they apologized for not getting there earlier!! They were awesome.

 

[DawnCt1]

Your house knows that you are going to sell and it is seeking revenge.

No kidding! After I get the well fixed, the ceilings painted and new light fixtures in the hallway, you will have to pry me out of here!

 

[redlight]

It's the same reason that the DVD player fails the day after the warranty ends.

 

[Breezy_Carol]

Our well pump broke several years ago on the morning we were taking DD to her freshman year of college.

Funny, I was just wondering and thinking about starting a poll as to how many people had a well and how many had city water.

 

[clh2]

We had an unusually high electric bill a couple of years ago - and we checked darn near every electrical appliance in our house. The culprit was the well pump...so we had the "well guys" within 2 days.

Apparently we were "this close" to having a pump failure...but the because of the electric bill, we got it fixed up before is failed. In retrospect, I was never so glad to get a high electric bill

 

[JR6ooo4]

I wonder how much it would be to add something lik a circulating tank that would hold maybe 30-50 gallons. enough for some drinks or a few flushes. Something that is in line so it is constantly exchanging fresh water. but there would have to be some way to know when it was not filling anymore, and you start to run out.

Mikeeee

 

[kbsparky]

Most water systems that have a well and pump also have a pressure tank as you have described. Modern pressure tanks have an internal diaphragm separating a pre-charged air pressure chamber from a water filled chamber.

This allows the water pump to build water pressure, allowing for water to be drawn without the pump having to run every time a faucet is opened or toilet flushed.

But once the tank has drained all its pressure, you are out of water until the pump can operate again and pressurize the tank.

 

[JR6ooo4]

Most water systems that have a well and pump also have a pressure tank as you have described. Modern pressure tanks have an internal diaphragm separating a pre-charged air pressure chamber from a water filled chamber.

This allows the water pump to build water pressure, allowing for water to be drawn without the pump having to run every time a faucet is opened or toilet flushed.

But once the tank has drained all its pressure, you are out of water until the pump can operate again and pressurize the tank.

Oh, so they just need to add a whole house alarm that the pump has failed to equalize the pressure! Hehehehheeee
then they can start to conserve.

Mikeeee

 

[Daisy14]

Most water systems that have a well and pump also have a pressure tank as you have described. Modern pressure tanks have an internal diaphragm separating a pre-charged air pressure chamber from a water filled chamber.

This allows the water pump to build water pressure, allowing for water to be drawn without the pump having to run every time a faucet is opened or toilet flushed.

But once the tank has drained all its pressure, you are out of water until the pump can operate again and pressurize the tank.

Daisys DH typing

You could also add several holding tanks and make sure that your check valve is in top notch condition as well, this will make sure that your precharged Pressure tank is going to give you a little extra water. But the biggest problems with systems like this is that you still won't know that your pump is down until you exhaust your "backup" water supply.

To answer your question as to the usual time of pump failure, its so that plumbers like myself can pay for 2 week vacations at Disney resorts every year.... as well as the odd cruise to hold us over... LOL...

 

[Pigeon]

For the same reason the dishwasher backs up all over the kitchen an hour before you're supposed to serve Thanksgiving Dinner.

 

[DawnCt1]

We had an unusually high electric bill a couple of years ago - and we checked darn near every electrical appliance in our house. The culprit was the well pump...so we had the "well guys" within 2 days.

Apparently we were "this close" to having a pump failure...but the because of the electric bill, we got it fixed up before is failed. In retrospect, I was never so glad to get a high electric bill

Ooh, that's interesting. I thought my electric bill was very high last month. We have a pool and the AC ran, but I wonder if the pump was going. He said that it is not uncommon for them to be struck by lightening. I hope mine was! He came and did an "override". (Don't ask me what it means other than it will push the pump with more amperage.) We have water for quick showers, etc He will be back later this afternoon to fix it.
Interesting "factoid" that he shared. You could replace your well pump every 4 years and still come out ahead, at least in Ct. than if you had to pay for water.

 

[aprilgail2]

I dont know...I think I would still prefer to have water just magically appear when I turn on the faucet, not have to wonder about a pump in the ground or a well in the yard. Water bills aren't that much other than in the summer when I water for 2 1/2 hours every morning...and that one is about 70.00 for June-August (we are billed on 3 month cycles) but normally the rest of the year the water bill is like 37.00 for each 3 months.

 

[petchie]

I dont know...I think I would still prefer to have water just magically appear when I turn on the faucet, not have to wonder about a pump in the ground or a well in the yard. Water bills aren't that much other than in the summer when I water for 2 1/2 hours every morning...and that one is about 70.00 for June-August (we are billed on 3 month cycles) but normally the rest of the year the water bill is like 37.00 for each 3 months.

Not me! We have a well and love it.

I feel icky after taking a shower in chlorinated water. Feels like I washed off in a pool.

 

[edandcolleen1995]

I dont know...I think I would still prefer to have water just magically appear when I turn on the faucet, not have to wonder about a pump in the ground or a well in the yard. Water bills aren't that much other than in the summer when I water for 2 1/2 hours every morning...and that one is about 70.00 for June-August (we are billed on 3 month cycles) but normally the rest of the year the water bill is like 37.00 for each 3 months.

And when the sewer bill comes in?

Take my well over town water. It is much better. Plus a well pump dying like the OP said is not common at all. It is like you saying you rather wash your clothes in the river because your washing machine pump might die..

Paying hundreds of dollars a year for the city water plus huge sewer taxes when they come up vs free water.. Not hard to pick which one.