DIY Well Repair

Having a well is a great way to get water to your home.  Wells draw water up out of the ground and into the well, making them a self-sufficient and renewable water source.  Although having a renewable source of water for your home is convenient, expensive well repairs are not.  There are several ways to repair a well yourself.

Leaking Pipes

Leaking or broken pipes can cause serious water flow and water pressure problems.  To fix broken or leaking pipes, pull them up through the top of the well, remove the broken or leaking section, replace it with a new piece and put the pipe back down the hole.  If the leak is from a joint in the pipe, check and make sure the joint still has integrity.  If the connecting ends of the pipe are cracked or stripped out, the piece needs replaced.  If for some reason the pipe is just not tight enough, use some plumber's tape or cement to repair the seal and make it watertight.

Pump Problems

If the water pump is not working, there may be an electrical problem causing the pump to fail.  To troubleshoot a problem with the pump, flip the circuit breaker to see if that was the only problem.  If this does not solve the problem, replace the electrical breaker in case there is a problem with the breaker itself.  If these steps do not solve the problem, a failure in the pump itself can be confirmed with a voltmeter.  If the wires to the bottom of the well measure a very low charge or no charge at all with the voltmeter, this is evidence that the water pump has failed and needs replaced.

Water is Not Pumping

If there is no water pressure and there is not any water coming out of the well, then the pump may need re-primed.  The pump may need re-primed after energy losses to the pump.  Look to see if there is water in the well pipes and if there isn't any the pump must be re-primed so that it will pump water again.