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What Are the Most Common Well Pump Repair Issues in Plymouth?
When constructed correctly, wells can last for decades. The average well, if maintained regularly, should last between 30 and 50 years. They are generally low maintenance, too, which is a benefit to homeowners. However, things can go wrong, and it’s most often with your pump. Here are some of the most common well pump issues in Plymouth to watch out for:
- You have corroded parts and pipes. The Boston Globe reported that up to 90% of Massachusetts water supply is corrosive. While that doesn’t make it bad for you to drink in most cases, it can be hard on your well pump. The acidity in the water will eat away at metal parts within the pump over time, causing them to break down more quickly. You can avoid problems with regular inspections of your pump. The inspections allow a well pump repair technician to replace any parts showing signs of corrosive damage. If you do experience issues with corrosion, you should test your water more frequently. It may be a sign of lead in the water supply.
- Drought conditions leaving the pump dry. As recently as May 2021, Plymouth was considered to be in mild drought conditions. These drought conditions can occur very quickly if the area goes too long without rain. When that happens, the groundwater level goes down. Even a tiny drop in the groundwater level can leave some well pumps high and dry. That means you won’t be getting the water you need in your home, but it’s also hard on your pump. It will work overtime to try to bring up the necessary water, putting extra strain on the mechanism, and can cause damage to the pressure tank as well. The only solution is to wait for water levels to rise again. If this happens more and more often, though, you should consider drilling a deeper well to replace your current one.
- Fault in the electrical supply to the pump. A fault in the electrical supply to your pump is the most common issue with well pumps, whether you live in Plymouth or another area of the country. Well pumps rely on electricity for power. If anything stops that electrical current, your well will stop, too. If your well pump comes to a sudden stop, the first thing you should check is the electrical supply. Start with your circuit breaker to see if the well pump’s circuit has been tripped. If not, there still may be an issue with the electrical, and you should call a well pump repair team to help determine the cause. If there has been lightning in the area recently, it may have struck your wellhead and shorted out the pump. Or there may be a fault in the wiring. Your repair team will help you find the problem, fix it, and take steps to prevent it from happening again in the future.
What Factors Cause Premature Well Pump Failure in Plymouth?
When you purchase a well pump, you can reasonably expect to get up to a decade worth of performance from it. That makes most pumps a good investment over the long term. Some pumps fail prematurely, though, meaning you’ll end up spending more money on your water supply while living on your property. The most common factors of premature well pump failure in Plymouth are:
- A corrosive water supply. If you don’t treat your well with anti-corrosion additives, you will end up replacing your well pump more often. Corrosion in the water can come from lead as well as naturally occurring minerals. These minerals attach themselves to water molecules while the water sits underground. As they pass through your well, they can leave behind a limescale deposit. Over time, those mineral deposits can build up and cause corrosive damage to your pump, pipes, and plumbing fixtures.
- The pump is too small. Some homeowners try to save money on their well pump by purchasing a too small pump for their household. You need a pump that can keep up with your peak household usage. Plymouth has an average household size of around 2.75 people. In an average three or four-bedroom home, you’d need a pump that can deliver between eight and 12 gallons of water per minute. If you try to get by with a smaller, less expensive pump, you’ll put a lot more strain on the system and wear out the pump much sooner. If anything, you should slightly oversize your pump to account for peak usage in the evenings and during the weekends.
- Poor maintenance. Taking care of your well pump will extend its life. Neglecting it, though, can drastically decrease its lifespan. Without maintenance, parts wear out sooner, and contamination is more common. Poorly maintained wells are more likely to fail, too, so you may face the cost of abandonment and have to drill a new well. Maintaining your well is always less expensive than replacing it. If you can’t do the work yourself, hire a local Plymouth well maintenance company to do the work for you.
How Much Does Well Pump Repair Usually Cost in Plymouth?
The cost of well pump repair in Plymouth will vary. You can pay anywhere from $200 to $1,800 for repairs, depending on what’s wrong with your pump, how long it takes to fix, and what parts are needed. On average, though, homeowners can expect to pay an average of $1,000 for well pump repair work. Your costs may go up or down, depending on:
How Long the Repairs Take
The longer the repairs take, the more you’ll pay. That’s because most well pump repair technicians charge by the hour. They set their hourly rate depending on the current market demand for well repairs and their experience and certifications. If you have concerns about the cost of well repairs, there may be some work you can do yourself, such as clean-up. Talk to your well repair team about options, but remember the state will require licensed contractors to do certain aspects of well work.
What Materials Are Needed
Most well pump repairs will require materials or parts of some kind. Your repair may only require a few dollars worth of wiring, for example. Or you might need to replace the well pump, in which case you could be facing thousands of dollars worth of materials. Your well pump repair team will talk to you about what parts and materials are necessary for the repair and give you an estimated cost. They will add this expense to your final bill.
Emergency Fees
Plymouth residents know how severe the weather here can get. Thunderstorms are frequent occurrences. Hurricanes hit the area periodically. When severe weather hits Plymouth, well repair technicians know they will start getting calls from private well owners. Lightning, flooding, heavy rains, and even wind can all affect your well pump. When there are widespread issues, the cost of well pump repair will increase. You may end up paying a premium charge for an emergency call-out or pay increased labor rates as teams try to keep up with demand. If you can wait without sacrificing the health and safety of your household, then you might get a better deal on repairs.
How to Avoid Costly Well Pump Repairs in Plymouth?
No one wants to pay thousands of dollars for well pump repairs. While every pump will eventually need repair work, you can keep those costs low and infrequent by practicing good well maintenance. The maintenance should include:
- Preventing well contamination. Contamination is terrible for your pump and dangerous for your health. Reduce the risk of contamination by protecting the area around your well. You should also maintain your septic system correctly to avoid contaminates leaching into your water supply.
- Do regular inspections of the wellhead. The wellhead is the part of the well that sticks out above the ground. Keeping the wellhead tidy and clear of debris is essential, as it helps keep pests away from your water source. It also allows you to check the wellhead for cracks, missing caps, and other damage.
- Hire professional well inspectors periodically. Have your well inspected regularly. Most places will recommend that you do this on an annual basis. An inspector will check every aspect of your well, from the mechanical parts to the water quality and the flow rate. Checking your well can help identify problems before they start to impact the quality of your well.
- Test well water frequently. Massachusetts doesn’t regulate private wells. That means they don’t monitor private well water quality, either. That is up to the well owner. You should have your well water tested on at least an annual basis. Poor quality water can be a danger to your health and hard on your well pump, too.
One other important step you should take is to make sure your well is constructed properly in the first place. Any Plymouth contractor drilling your well should register with the state and obtain the correct permits. Making sure they do this can give you peace of mind that your well is being built to the minimum standard required by the law.
When Do You Need Permits for Well Pump Repair in Plymouth?
According to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Private Well Guidelines, local health departments handle permits to construct new private wells. You can get a permit to build a new private well from the City of Plymouth website. There are no permit requirements for repairing an existing well, but the contractor doing the work must register with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection.
