BDR
New Member
I am hoping one of you well pump gurus out there will be willing to solve what is a puzzle to me. Seems it should have been a really, really simple normal wear & tear problem, ...but it's got me really, really beside myself. So here goes...
Bought the house 13 yrs ago. House built in 1973.
First 10 yrs = No problems with water.
2016 - Original pump (during my residence) began having problems. Initially, I would occasionally be without water... pump not running, but after a half an hour or so we would have water again. Problem got worse, more frequent "outages" until a month later the pump would never come on. Diagnosis... dead pump. I removed the pump with much trouble as it has an older type adapter and it was at the end of galvanized pipe. Anyway, finally got it out (1/2hp, 3 wire), bought and installed new pump from Menards (Simer). Ok, water works again. Hunky Dory. Very proud of myself.
Until only 2 years later, 1st Replacement Pump began to have same problem exactly. Buzzing sound in control box but pump would not start. Pump seemed to be timing out (from reading online I understand it is actually an issue of overheating?), but would eventually start again and work for 2-3 days. Problem got worse until dead. By the way, during the troubleshooting phase of the problem, before I replaced the pump the first time, I replaced the control box. Did not help the problem. Also could hear the bearing in the pump going... at least that is what I gather from reading online is the reason the pump is clearly audible and vibration can even be felt at the wall the pipe is coming through into the house. Well somewhere I had come to the understanding that sometimes these pumps can be defective. So I decided my workmanship had been, well, stellar, and I would go ahead and call it a defective product, and install a new pump (much easier this time with the PE pipe. I was still in the warranty period so got my money back. This time, though, I decided I would replace everything, you know, for good measure. New pressure tank, new pressure switch, new pressure gauge, new check valve, new pump, new torque arrestor, new control box, new pump. Ok. This time we are shiny all the way around. Pressure on tank - set per instructions and good. Cycle time - seems good. I am feeling good.
Ruh-roh. 2nd Replacement and only 11 months this time. Now I know I have an issue, obviously, but I don't have time. Put another one in right away. 1 hour switch out. but I did not replace anything else, not even the control box. Flip the breaker on for five seconds before putting it back into the well to make sure it runs. Yep. Back into the well it goes. Breaker on... no pump. Yikes! So I put the new control box on and it runs. But even that same day it cuts out. Yep new pump with issue from the get-go. Anyone know what is going on? Is it obvious. Could I have my wires crossed?
3rd Replacement Pump on its way out. Buzzing control box, pump timed out, vibration while pump runs etc.
GURUS, PLEASE HELP!!!
Now, one thing I need to get straight right off the bat. Suppose I did not use heat shrink on my ground wire splice at the pump, which I did not. It does not seem to me that this would cause a problem, as the only time (well I am not going to attempt to explain why I think it is Ok, because you guys are the experts. Just let me know if that would cause the problem. I am nearly certain that the first time I replaced the pump I did install heat shrink on all four wires.
Much thanks in advance!!
Bought the house 13 yrs ago. House built in 1973.
First 10 yrs = No problems with water.
2016 - Original pump (during my residence) began having problems. Initially, I would occasionally be without water... pump not running, but after a half an hour or so we would have water again. Problem got worse, more frequent "outages" until a month later the pump would never come on. Diagnosis... dead pump. I removed the pump with much trouble as it has an older type adapter and it was at the end of galvanized pipe. Anyway, finally got it out (1/2hp, 3 wire), bought and installed new pump from Menards (Simer). Ok, water works again. Hunky Dory. Very proud of myself.
Until only 2 years later, 1st Replacement Pump began to have same problem exactly. Buzzing sound in control box but pump would not start. Pump seemed to be timing out (from reading online I understand it is actually an issue of overheating?), but would eventually start again and work for 2-3 days. Problem got worse until dead. By the way, during the troubleshooting phase of the problem, before I replaced the pump the first time, I replaced the control box. Did not help the problem. Also could hear the bearing in the pump going... at least that is what I gather from reading online is the reason the pump is clearly audible and vibration can even be felt at the wall the pipe is coming through into the house. Well somewhere I had come to the understanding that sometimes these pumps can be defective. So I decided my workmanship had been, well, stellar, and I would go ahead and call it a defective product, and install a new pump (much easier this time with the PE pipe. I was still in the warranty period so got my money back. This time, though, I decided I would replace everything, you know, for good measure. New pressure tank, new pressure switch, new pressure gauge, new check valve, new pump, new torque arrestor, new control box, new pump. Ok. This time we are shiny all the way around. Pressure on tank - set per instructions and good. Cycle time - seems good. I am feeling good.
Ruh-roh. 2nd Replacement and only 11 months this time. Now I know I have an issue, obviously, but I don't have time. Put another one in right away. 1 hour switch out. but I did not replace anything else, not even the control box. Flip the breaker on for five seconds before putting it back into the well to make sure it runs. Yep. Back into the well it goes. Breaker on... no pump. Yikes! So I put the new control box on and it runs. But even that same day it cuts out. Yep new pump with issue from the get-go. Anyone know what is going on? Is it obvious. Could I have my wires crossed?
3rd Replacement Pump on its way out. Buzzing control box, pump timed out, vibration while pump runs etc.
GURUS, PLEASE HELP!!!
Now, one thing I need to get straight right off the bat. Suppose I did not use heat shrink on my ground wire splice at the pump, which I did not. It does not seem to me that this would cause a problem, as the only time (well I am not going to attempt to explain why I think it is Ok, because you guys are the experts. Just let me know if that would cause the problem. I am nearly certain that the first time I replaced the pump I did install heat shrink on all four wires.
Much thanks in advance!!