It's safe to say that your well has a complex mechanism and several moving parts. And as time passes, some parts might deteriorate. So, if you have a private well system installed in your house, here are a few tips you must follow to maintain your water well pump.
Let’s look at some less common tips that will make your life a lot easier, along with the ownership of your well system. Let’s dive right in.
Write Down Important Information For Later Reference
The idea here is to take a sharpie and write the model number of your pump, the depth that your pump was set at, the date of installation, and all of that relevant information because when it's down in the well, it's not easy to pull it out and look at it.
So, the first tip is to jot down all this crucial information on your control box relating to your well pump system. If your well system doesn’t have a control box, you can do it either on your breaker panel or some other area near this type of equipment. Maybe your pressure tank would be a good place for this information.
Apart from model information, we have the amp information, installation date, service due dates, etc. You can take an amp reading using an amp meter as the pump fills the pressure tank to get the amp information.
So, go open a valve somewhere, and when the pump kicks on, you must do an amp-reading and document it. That way, as the years go by, you'll have that as a reference for whether the amperage is increased or decreased, which will provide you an idea if there’s a problem in the future.
Also, if you don't know how to test amperage or feel inexperienced doing that, you can ask your installer to take those readings for you. You can ask them to show you how to do it and then put those on the box. Again, it is live electricity. So, be safe.
Preserve the Papers
You never should lose your owner’s manual. It’s highly recommended that you keep all documentation relating to your pump, motor, control box, and receipts for later. Ensure that everything is stored safely for future reference during maintenance or repair.
You can take all your information, throw it in a gallon ziplock bag and mount it up to the wall near the well system installation. Just make sure everything is handy and easily accessible for you and anyone who might come to perform a well water pump service. This way, you can save time for the person servicing your system and save yourself some money.
Jot Down Pressure Switch Markings
Always be clear with the functioning and marking on the pressure switch. Suppose it’s marked forty sixty on the side for the pump’s on and off. Here, 40 PSI is the lower pressure setting when the pressure switch triggers the pump to kick in, while the cut-off pressure (60PSI) is higher when the switch turns the pump off. With this information, you can check your pressure gauge and know whether or not your pump system is operating normally. Obviously, this number can change depending on your system. So you must adjust these numbers accordingly.
You will also find dots and arrows that correspond with what's inside the switch. Generally, these units have four terminals. Suppose you denote the line terminals from the breaker with dots and load terminals to the pump with arrows.
This will guide you if you have the chance to rewire your pressure switch later on. This way, you can ensure that you put your wires back the way they were. The dots correspond with your incoming and outgoing power terminals. This makes it nice and simple for you, which otherwise would become extremely confusing.
Another thing you can do if you don't like the drawing or find it too confusing is to use some tape and tape each of your wires, put a number on it, and then write your numbers.
Periodic Pressure Tank Checks
Check your pressure tank at least once a year. Suppose your tank’s optimum pressure is thirty-eight psi. You want your pressure tank to be two to three psi below your cut-in pressure.
As we mentioned earlier, if the pressure switch markings say it's 40-60, you can mark the same on the tank. In addition to that, this will be your standard pump or pressure switch setting. Now, you must also check and set the pressure at 38 PSI. So to summarize, check the pressure now and then, keep the pressure in the appropriate setting, and write it on there, so you don't forget.
Know Your Pump System
This tip is more about general knowledge and staying proactive with your well pump system ownership. You need to stay well-informed about what you’ve fixed at your home or office. So, ask questions, understand how it works, and try to learn about the individual components, what they do, and how they work because all of that stuff will help you save money in the long run when you face maintenance or repair issues.
In addition, when you have experts you're not familiar with come and service your system, you can hold them accountable because you know what's going on.
Of course, it goes without mentioning that Hydrowells is always standing by to answer your calls and questions relating to any situation you encounter with your water well pump system.
Always Know Where Your Pump Breaker’s At
Never forget where your pump breaker’s at. Many people fret when they lose water supply instantly and start scrambling around because they can't find the problem. It could be as simple as an overload or spike that tripped the circuit breaker.
Knowing your system can save you a ton of time and the cost of calling in a service person. As we discussed in tip 6, if you’re well versed with your system, you will be able to switch the breaker back easily and get your pump back up and running.
Periodic Well Water Tests
Know what's in your water. You shouldn’t be drinking something that will likely cause you health problems. It’s highly recommended that you test your water at least once a year. More frequently, if you've had potential contamination before. In case you are wondering, the water-safety-test-kits test for bacteria, pesticides, nitrates, lead, iron, nitrites, hardness, pH, chlorine, and copper.
Conclusion
So that wraps up our tips that will help you stay well versed with your well pump system so that your life’s easier when you face regular maintenance or repair issues. Also, our expert specialists at Hydrowells are available to take your call anytime if you have any questions or concerns about your water well pump system.