A lot of homes and small farms around Webster still get their water from a shallow well with a jet pump. These pumps are simple, they last a long time, and they’re easy to work on. When one acts up, though, you notice fast. The pressure drops, the pump runs and runs, or you turn on the faucet and get nothing.
AL’s Well Drilling & Pump Service is based right here in Webster, and we’ve been fixing jet pumps in Sumter County and the surrounding area since 1980. Below we go over the problems we see most often and what usually causes them.
How a Jet Pump Works
A jet pump sits above ground, usually in a pump house, a utility room or right next to the wellhead. It doesn’t go down into the well like a submersible pump does. It pulls water up by creating suction, using a small nozzle and venturi (the “jet”) to help lift the water.
Shallow Well vs. Deep Well Jet Pumps
A shallow well jet pump pulls water from about 25 feet down or less. That covers a lot of older wells in the Webster area, where the water table can sit fairly close to the surface. A deep well jet pump uses two pipes and a jet assembly down in the well, which lets it reach deeper water. Most of the jet pumps we work on around here are the shallow well type.
Why They’re Common Around Webster
Jet pumps cost less than submersible systems, and since the motor is above ground, you don’t have to pull anything out of the well to repair it. For a house, a barn or a garden with a shallow well, they make a lot of sense.
Common Jet Pump Problems We See in Webster
-
The Pump Runs but No Water Comes Out
This is usually a lost prime. A jet pump needs to stay full of water to work. If air gets into the suction line, the pump spins but can’t pull anything up. The most common causes are a leaking foot valve at the bottom of the suction pipe, a cracked fitting, or a loose connection somewhere on the line. A dry spell can also drop the water level below the end of the pipe.
-
The Pump Keeps Turning On and Off
If you hear the pump click on and off every few seconds while water is running, that’s called short cycling. Most of the time the pressure tank is waterlogged or has lost its air charge. A bad pressure switch can do it too. Short cycling is hard on the motor, so it’s worth fixing before it burns the pump out.
-
Low or Weak Water Pressure
Weak pressure can come from a clogged jet or impeller, a worn pressure switch, or a small leak in the suction line. In our area, sand is a big one. Our soils are sandy, and over time fine sand gets pulled into the pump and wears down the parts or plugs the jet.
-
Strange Noises
Grinding or screeching often points to worn motor bearings. A rattling or gravel sound can mean the pump is pulling air or sand. A humming motor that won’t start is usually an electrical problem, often a bad capacitor or a burned contact on the pressure switch.
-
Pump Won’t Turn On at All
Check the breaker first. If it’s fine, the problem could be the pressure switch, the wiring or the motor itself. Florida storms play a part here. Lightning strikes and power surges knock out a lot of pump motors and switches every summer.
Repair or Replace?
Most jet pump problems can be fixed without replacing the whole pump. Foot valves, pressure switches, capacitors, seals and pressure tanks are all parts we swap out regularly.
If your pump is older, has been rebuilt more than once, or the motor is burned out, a new pump often makes more sense. We’ll tell you straight which way we’d go and why. If your water needs have grown, or the water level in your well has dropped, it might also be time to look at a different setup.
You can learn more about how we diagnose and fix these systems on our jet pump repair page.
Simple Things You Can Do to Keep Your Jet Pump Running
-
Check the Pressure Tank
Your tank should have the right air pressure in it, usually a couple of pounds below the pump’s cut-on setting. Checking it once or twice a year keeps the pump from short cycling.
-
Protect It From the Weather
Keep the pump covered and dry, and make sure ants and rodents can’t get in. Fire ants love electrical boxes, and they can short out a pressure switch. A surge protector is also worth having, given how much lightning we get.
-
Pay Attention to Changes
If the pump starts running longer than usual, the pressure feels different, or the water looks cloudy or sandy, call someone early. Small problems turn into big ones fast with a pump that’s working too hard.
Need Your Jet Pump Fixed in Webster?
We’re a family-owned company in Webster, and we work on jet pumps all over the area, including Bushnell, Center Hill, Coleman, Wildwood, Sumterville and Ridge Manor. We’re licensed and insured, estimates are free, and we take emergency calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
If your pump is giving you trouble, book a call with our team and we’ll get someone out to take a look. You can also call us directly at (352) 568-3559 today!