InspectAPedia ^TM

How to Diagnose & Repair Loss of Water Pressure from Municipal or Well Water Supply
WaterAPedia ^©

	Enter your search terms Submit search form
	Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com

• How to Diagnose and Fix Bad Total Loss of Water Pressure, Water Pressure Repair Guide - What causes loss of water pressure?
• How to diagnose loss of water pressure or loss of water in a building

This article describes how to diagnose the total loss of water pressure and the need for water control, tank, piping, water supply main pipe & valve, or water well repairs. The process of diagnosis and the costs of the repair are explained. Consumer advice on saving money on well repair costs includes a review of the parts and labor costs of a typical well pump and pressure tank replacement case.

© 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use the links at page left to navigate this document or to go to Other Website Topics. Green links at left show where you are in our document & website.

No Water? Diagnosis of Loss of Water Pressure which Does Not Recover on its Own

Here we give basic diagnosis for cases where you lose water pressure and it does not recover. Water flow in the building simply stops dead. By contrast with these "no water at all" causes, if water pressure in the building gets very low or stops but later recovers, you have an intermittent or other water system problem and you should see How to Diagnose Loss of Water Pressure which later Returns or Recovers "on its own".

Guide to Repair of Lost Water Presssure for Homes Supplied by Municipal or Community Water

1. Is the Main Water Valve on? Has someone shut off the main water valve? Has somone been messing with the water pressure regulator? This is an adjustable water pressure which is often (not always) present on the piping at a municipal water supply pipe entry point ?
2. Has water been shut off in the neighborhood: is water off in your neighborhood. Sometimes work on the water mains leads to a shut down of all water in an area. Check with your neighbors and your water department.
3. Is there a burst pipe? A pipe may be burst somewhere you don't see such as in a wall, crawl space, basement, or even outdoors. Listen at your water pipes for the sound of running water.
4. Is there a frozen pipe? In freezing climates, even in a heated building a pipe might run through a cold location where freezing can stop water supply entirely or in a part of the building.
5. Is there water pressure but the pressure and/or flow are poor?
   1. See Bad water pressure regulator
   2. See Bad water pressure Clogged Pipes & Water pipe clog repair guide
   3. See if a water filter is installed and check to see if it has become clogged. See WATER FILTERS.
6. See our detailed water pressure diagnostic list at: WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE

Guide to Repair of Lost Water Pressure for Homes Supplied by a Well

If the building water supply stops and takes minutes to hours to recover, you may have problem with the well flow rate. But the problem of lost water supply and pressure could be more mechanical: a bad well pump. The well pump, in turn, could have been damaged or hastened to the end of its life by a bad water pressure tank which has caused well pump short-cycling. Short cycling of the pump motor can burn up the pump relay control.

Readers of this document should also see Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safet

1. First Check the Pump and Well Basics:
   1. Is electrical power on at the pump: is power on for the water pump? Is the water pump running at all? Did lightning hit your pump or well?
   2. Is the water main turned off: Has someone shut off the main water valve?
   3. Is there a burst pipe? A pipe may be burst somewhere you don't see such as in a wall, crawl space, basement, or even outdoors. Listen at your water pipes for the sound of running water.
   4. Is there a frozen pipe? In freezing climates, even in a heated building a pipe might run through a cold location where freezing can stop water supply entirely or in a part of the building.
   5. See our detailed diagnostic list at: WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE
2. Well or water supply piping leaks: If inside the well there is a leaky or broken water line rising from the well pump, the pump could run but deliver less or no water to the building. If this defect is present, the system will not recover to normal operation on its own. For example, if a well piping connection in the well becomes totally disconnected or the pipe bursts this condition occurs.
3. Water pump failure or damage: If the well pump keeps running and you have no water it is also possible that the pump itself is defective, such as having broken internal parts so that the motor runs but the pump does not move water. But if the impeller blades in the pump are broken, the system would never recover. You'd have either no water or only very low pump output no matter what conditions in the well.
4. If the water pump keeps running and you have no water it is also possible that you have a problem with the well or well piping or foot valve in the well -- maybe. See contrasting cases after this list. Turn off the water pump so that you don't burn out the motor. Some water pumps depend on having water inside the pumping mechanism to avoid wear or overheating.
5. If the well pump keeps running and won't turn off, but you do have water pressure in the home, it may be problem with the well pump water pressure control switch. A pressure switch failure can also cause the water pump to fail to turn off - say if someone has adjusted that control to ask the pump for higher pressure than it can achieve. If no one has adjusted the pressure control switch, it could still be a problem if its pressure sensor is clogged with debris or if another problem is keeping it from turning off. See step 6 below.
6. If the water pump has shut itself off and the well pump does not restart, the pump may have tripped an internal or external overload switch. Check the fuse or circuit breakers supplying power to the water pump. If the pump motor is accessible look on the motor for a red or yellow reset button that may have popped "up" indicating that the motor's overload protection circuit has activated. When the pump motor cools you may be able to reset this button and the pump may run and deliver water but further diagnosis is needed as this problem will recur.
7. Problems with the well pump water pressure control switch: such as sticking "on" or "off" or working irregularly may be diagnosed by these articles:
   • How to Adjust Water Pump Pressure: The detailed, step by step procedure for inspecting and adjusting the water pressure control switch is discussed in detail at ADJUST PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL.
   • Diagnosing Water Pump Short Cycling on and off: If your water pump is clicking on and off too often or quite rapidly see SHORT CYCLING.
   • Diagnosing & Repairing Lost Air in the Water Tank: The problem of lost air in the water pressure tank along with how to correct that condition are discussed beginning at SIGNS OF AIR LOSS.
   • Diagnosing & Repairng a Water Pressure Control or Water Pump Control Switch: We discuss diagnosing and repairing a water pressure control switch that sticks "on" or "off" or simply won't operate, at water pump Pressure Switch Repairs.
8. If the pump is in the well you can't see these conditions directly but an electrician or plumber can do some diagnosis from the building by noting the amperage draw on the pump circuit.
9. Problems with well casing or well flow and recovery - loss of ground water and many other causes of loss of water are discussed at our comprehensive article: WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE
10. Is there water pressure but the pressure and/or flow are poor?
    1. See Bad water pressure regulator
    2. See Bad water pressure Clogged Pipes & Water pipe clog repair guide
    3. See WATER FILTERS if you have a water filter installed
11. If water pressure is intermittent or varies in flow rate, see Water Pressure Intermittent
12. See our detailed water pressure diagnostic list at: WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE

If the building water supply stops and takes minutes to hours to recover, you may have problem with the well flow rate. But the problem of lost water supply and pressure could be more mechanical: a bad well pump. The well pump, in turn, could have been damaged or hastened to the end of its life by a bad water pressure tank which has caused well pump short-cycling. Short cycling of the pump motor can burn up the pump relay control.

Readers of this document should also see Water pressure tanks - how to diagnose the need for air, how to add air, stop water pump short cycling to avoid damage - water storage water pressure tank safety.

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

Technical Reviewers

Particular thanks are due to experts and also consumers who read these articles and suggest corrections, changes, and additions to the material. Content suggestions, technical corrections and content critique are invited for any of the content at our website.

• Daniel Friedman - principal author/editor of the InspectAPedia ^© Website
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

These pages are chapters of our comprehensive article: WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS GUIDE

Use links just below or at the left of each page to navigate this document or to view other topics at this website. Green links show where you are in our document or website.

PLUMBING TOPICS
OIL TANKS
SEPTIC SYSTEMS
WATER PRESSURE REPAIR GUIDE & COSTS
WATER PRESSURE LOSS DIAGNOSIS
  Water Pressure Intermittent
  No Water Pressure
  Water Pressure Tank Problems
  Water Pressure Tank Diagnosis
  Bad water pressure regulator
  Water pipe clog diagnosis
  Water pipe clog repair guide
  Making the "right" repair
  Typical Water Tank & Pump Prices
WATER PUMPS & TANKS & WELLS
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
  IDENTIFY WELL PUMP TANK COMPONENTS
  MAIN WATER SHUTOFF VALVE
  PUMP ELECTRICAL SWITCHES
  PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL
    WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT
    WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR
    WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPLACE
  PUMP RELAY SWITCH
  TANK AIR VOLUME CONTROLS
  TANK AIR INLET VALVE
  TANK AIR VALVE REPAIRS
  TANK PRESSURE GAUGE
  TANK DRAIN VALVE
  TANK RELIEF VALVE
  CHECK VALVES
  WATER FILTERS
PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER PUMP & TANK SAFETY
WATER SUPPLY & DRAIN PIPING
WATER TANK TYPES: WATER, OIL, EXPANSION, ALL
WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY
WATER TANK REPAIRS
WATER TANK AIR, HOW TO ADD
WATER TANK REPLACEMENT
WATER TANK PRESSURE CALCULATIONS
WATER TANK SIZE & VOLUME
WATER TANKS HOW THEY WORK
WATER TESTING
WELLS CISTERNS & SPRINGS
WELL LIFE EXPECTANCY

More expert information on this topic

More Information on Plumbing & Other Building Diagnostic Inspections and Repairs

Plumbing Diagnosis & Repair: Water supply, drainage, septic systems, water testing, water contamination, defective plumbing materials & products.

• Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost
• Water pressure tank failures & water pump short cycling diagnosis and repair
• Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost an specific case offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost
• Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living

Building & Building Inspection, Environmental Inspection/Testing, Construction Diagnosis & Repair - Research Website

Home Inspection Construction Consulting Services & advice for home buyers

Contact Daniel Friedman for website content suggestions or for fee-paid consulting

	Enter your search termsSubmit search form
	Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com