Well pump issue - NO WATER!

[mzamborini]

Hello

I want to post an experience that I just had with having no water and gather some opinions from others on what they think about it.

I live in a 7 year old home. The well was dug 430 feet deep. The pump was about 400 feet deep. I had some folks come out and look at my 'no water' issue, and they started to troubleshoot by checking the control panel (which showed it wasn't the culprit) and then they told me that the next step was that we need to pull the pump out of the ground....so they started....

At about 280 feet, they approached me and said that there was a break in the wire, and that they could either fix the break in the wire AND replace the pressure tank, and control panel for $2800 total. OR they could do the whole thing (go down the extra 120 feet, pull the pump out, replace the pump, wire, control panel and water reservoir all for $4900 total.

I didn't get a good answer as to how all these things can start with a short in a wire. But one explanation is that the casing is @ 200 feet, and beyond 200 feet theres a chance that the pipe moves scrapes the limestone, then causes a crack in the wire, which then the water when it hits the break in the wire shorts the pump out.

Some of my concerns - how did the bladder break (how can there be any correlation with the wire breaking in the well hole)? I didn't get any good answers on that - just said it was a bad pressure tank and that they don't like that model (even though they were the folks who sold it to me).

Why did the control panel need to be replaced? They said that the capacitor was leaking some white stuff, and because of that it will probably need to be replaced. Yet, asking them to replace the capacitor (alone) and not the $187 control panel - they said they don't do that.

Does anyone else see some concerns here? Oh, I did keep all the 'broken' parts. Maybe someone can help me understand just how broke the parts are. I plan on filling up the pressure tank with water and seeing if it does hold air in it. I do remember that when I was checking the pressure gauge (when I did NOT have water) that it read

50 PSI. How would that show 50 PSI if the bladder in the pressure tank was broken?

Frustrated, and much much poorer.

[Frank]

Sounds a little pricey but I have not had any well work done in a couple of years. All these parts can last 20 years and maybe all you needed was the wire spliced. Guess a lot depends where you live and current prices. Plumbers (a plumber does mine) around here have raised hourly costs considerably due to increase licensing fees and liability insurance. Pays to shop around when you can.

[dpb]

[e-mail] wrote: ...

...

Superficially sounds like time for a different well service in the future, perhaps, or more forceful response. Then again, wasn't there so an abbreviated recount isn't necessarily conclusive. Just some thoughts follow...

On discovering the break, the service (and I'd be looking, too) would've looked at the wire condition and tried to come to a conclusion as to what was the cause of the break. If it were apparent there's a rubbing problem, would have added an bumper at and at some distance above/below that point. Depending on condition, would have made a "real time" decision on whether to splice or go w/ running new wire.

Either way, would have connected pump and tested before making decision on pump replacement.

Then, once had pump repaired and operating would been time to diagnose if was a problem w/ the pressure tank or not.

There would be no connection to the tank if the problem began at the wire break; otoh if there was a bladder leak initially, that could cause excessive pump cycling and that could have caused the increased wear and thus indirectly been a contributor to the break...but, still, if they didn't make the determination of a tank problem by observation after the pump was working again, that would seem bad technique unless it was already waterlogged.

As for the controller, and the caps, it would seem unlikely would need to replace the controller instead of; I agree on that. Again, unless they had leaked to the point had caused significant corrosion thus making it needed. One thing I've noted w/ some is that on the electrical end they don't want to spend time w/ repair; they'll rather just replace. Also, if had new controller on the truck but not right caps, depending on location to shop/distributor and/or time/day, they get going w/ what have on hand instead of going to get parts.

If they went thru the sequence, probably ok. If just started throwing parts at it, maybe they tend to pad the call. Again, w/o having actual "film at 11" it's mostly supposition.

--

[Jules]

Because they're "engineers" trained to inspect and diagnose problems at the module level, not the component level, as so many are these days.

Caps can go bad in various ways. Sometimes they do cause damage to other components (either outright killing them, or shortening their lifespan), sometimes not. Hard to say for sure without doing any tests. If it were me though I'd be spending a couple of bucks on a replacement part and a few minutes with a soldering iron and then taking it from there.

I suppose on a total bill of $2800 (or $4900) the panel cost is only a small part of it. I'm curious about that tank though and why that needed replacing.

430ft seems hellish deep - ours is about 80ft and I always thought that seemed like a lot :-) (our pump's at the surface though - maybe they just can't do that with the deeper wells. I think I did see something in the manual once saying the 200ft was about the max for the setup we have)

I think we were told around $3500 for having a new well (of similar depth to our current one) drilled, so maybe $2800 isn't *that* unreasonable, as I'm sure a lot of the cost is in the labour and equipment, rather than parts.

cheers

Jules

[George]

I seriously doubt any engineers were involved. It is one thing for someone to tinker on their own time but when the billing clock is running it makes very little sense to troubleshoot beyond whatever the field replaceable unit might be unless there is some circumstance such as a replacement can't be obtained or the item is really expensive and there is a reasonable chance it can be repaired.

[Harry K]

The mere fact that they are proposign to replace every part of the system tells me they think they are looking at a sucker. Kinda expected a bid to drill a new well be tacked on.

Get at new company to look at it.

Harry K

[Ed Pawlowski]

On Nov 10, 11:40 am, " [e-mail]"

I think it would be easier just to give them your checkbook with a half dozen signed checks. Maybe you can sign them up to your on-line banking so they can transfer money whenever needed.

I'd find another well service.

[dpb]

These are the motor start and run capacitors, not some control board component. A standard home-well submersible pump has to fit in a 4" diameter circle which means there's no room for them onboard (plus, it would make for even more maintenance issues to have them downhole as well). They're those roughly 2" diameter/4" long or so can-types w/ spade terminals so there's no soldering needed, for sure. :)

And, of course, they do have to be specifically-sized for the particular pump motor hp and starting inrush, etc., they aren't just any cap one happens to have at hand.

That said, it would seem unusual for the service truck to not have them onboard for the range of pumps they tend to service, particularly since this isn't that old an installation and apparently they were the original installers they should have all the skinny on what pump it is, etc. This is the most puzzling of all, imo, and I'd be tempted to follow up on it w/ them.

--

[Jack Valance]

Go to your well pipe take off the lid. Pull the pressure switch out.. 1st listen to see if you hear the pump humming. Take stick and pull the contacts back a few times . Sometimes Ants or something can get between you contacts.

Has your switch been hit by lightning? Is the black spots on your screws. I had lightning hit mine and I replaced the switch... About a week later my pressure was gong off and on high and low. Turns out the lightning went down my pipe to the ground and busted the pipe.

Look on the bottom of your pressure sitch. Make sure the yellow hose connected on the bottom is round. Sometimes they bend and will not let water pressure to your switch...

What is your switch doing... Is it cutting off and on. I had one going off and on about every 10 seconds.. Turns out the bladder in my tank went out. Dig down to your tank if it is in the ground. If not go to it check the pressure in the tank.. You put a gauge on it and water comes out big time you need a new tank.

Wire you pump directly to a outlet to see if it runs.

All the thing above is what I have delt with over the last 10 years of having this well. Good luck

[Harry K]

Exactly. That whole thing screams of "scam". I'm surprised at the number of posters who are taking them seriously.

Hrry K

[Tony]

Damn, you posted too late. Probably could have saved you a couple thousand dollars. Don't call then again!

[Tony]

Mine is somewhere close to 800'.

[dadiOH]

Hey, times are hard...

I had a well guy out a month or so ago, the start capacitor needed changing. Cost with service call, $120. Still had problems, he came again and replaced the whole control box, no charge. Later on, more problems...turned out that ants had set up residence in the pressure switch and their little ant bodies were keeping the contacts from contacting well. They (contacts) were also burned a bit. Cost to install new switch with service call, $110.

So what's that have to do with times being hard? Well, I was making conversation with the guy and asked how things were going. "Bad", he says, "I'm lucky to make $1000 a week now, used to make $1000 a day". Your guys still are...and more.

[dpb]

And find...

nothing but air...down to the exit of the discharge pipe and the wire bundle.

Can't assume something don't know OP has for an arrangement.

--

[Harry K]

Looks like you need a new service person also. First thing a good one will check when the pump doesn't run is the pressure switch. You can even do it yourself and save a bundle on calls. Nothing to it, pull the little cover and take a peek. Manually operate the contacts with an insulated screwdriver, check for ants and mice (yes I found that once in the breaker box). Tap on it gently with a BFH. None work and the contacts weren't closed? replace it. Around $30 at the store and a few minutes work - just be sure to note which wires go to which terminal before undoing them. Whole job of check and change out should be more than 30 minutes plus trip to the store. If you fiddling and replacing don't cure it, it may be time for the service call (would be for me) depending on your knowledge and test equipment you have.

Harry K

[dadiOH]

He did. Actually, I did before calling him and he did when he arrived. Nothing wrong with it at the time, ants came later.

[Jules]

Ahh, I missed that. He said "Why did the control panel need to be replaced? They said that the capacitor was leaking some white stuff" which threw me. Like you say, the start/run caps are probably separate, just on side grounds alone (and likely with screw terminals).

My assumption was that "control panel" meant a box that had some sort of low-voltage electrickery inside of it for monitoring and running the pump, whilst displaying status to the user (our well setup's ancient - wall-mounted power disconnect, pressure regulator on the pump/motor unit, expansion tank, and that's it. Nothing I'd want to call a 'control panel' :-)

For sure. But I doubt they're difficult to order...

... or that.

I'm curious as to why this "control panel" needed replacing if the bad cap is separate - particularly if the OP asked about replacing the cap and was told that the company don't do that. That reads like they replaced something that didn't need replacing, and the bad part is still there, which can't be right. (but I am on the wrong side of having had enough coffee this morning ;-)

cheers

Jules

[Van Chocstraw]

Get a second and third opinion from other companies.

[Harry K]

And never again let anyone from that rip-off company on the property.

Harry K

[trader4]

Actually about half the submersible pumps sold today have the capacitor inside, so size is not an issue. Most companies offer the same pump either way. Your point about whether it's better to have the cap above ground for easy replacement is valid. But I recently had a well installed by a large local well company and they said from their experience, the subs with onboard cap are just as reliable.