InspectAPedia ^®

Life Expectancy of Well Pumps WaterAPedia © Enter your search terms Submit search form   Search This Website - InspectAPedia.com What is the expected life of a well water pump? How long should a well pump last? What factors affect the life expectancy and pressure ability of water pumps? How can we extend the life of a water pump, and how do we know when to replace the pump or pump controls? If we wire a well pump or other electric motor at 240V will it reduce the electric bill?

This article describes factors affecting the Life Expectancy of Water Pumps and pump controls. Readers of this document should also see WATER TANK LIFE EXPECTANCY and WELL LIFE EXPECTANCY, but before assuming that a water problem is due to the pump or well itself, see Water pump and pressure tank repair diagnosis & cost a specific case which offers an example of diagnosis of loss of water pressure, loss of water, and analyzes the actual repair cost. © 2008 Daniel Friedman, All Rights Reserved. Information Accuracy & Bias Pledge is at below-left. Use links 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.

Life Expectancy of Water Pumps - varies by pump type, usage, and other factors

In this article we discuss how long you can expect a water pump to last and what factors affect its life. Specifics of different types of water pumps can be read in detail at these articles:

  PUMP, ONE LINE JET
  PUMP, TWO LINE JET
  PUMP, SUBMERSIBLE
  PUMP, WATER PRESSURE BOOSTER

Factors Affecting the Expected Life of a Well Water Pump

• Water Pump duty cycle: a water pump which is called-on to run just a few times a day will have a considerably longer life than the same pump under heavy or continuous use. One of the reasons that owners install a larger or captive-air bladder-type water pressure tank is to extend the water draw-down cycle and thus reduce the frequency of turning the water pump on and off.
• Water Pump electric motor horsepower or motor size: for the same application and workload, a larger electrical motor, for example a 3/4 or 1 HP (horsepower, or CP, caballo podre in Latin America) motor will usually outlast a small fractional 1/8 or 1/4 hp electrical motor.
• Water pump motor quality will affect how long the pump's electric motor (or any electric motor) will last. Variables include the type and quality of electric motor bearings and its lubrication requirements. Where an electric motor is manufactured, even when it claims to be the same brand, can make a significant difference. For example according to our Mexican consultants, electric pump motors made in Mexico sometimes perform less durably than a similar motor manufactured to U.S. standards.
• Water sediment is a major wear factor on the pump assembly itself (as opposed to the electric motor that drives the pump). Sediment in water acts as an abrasive that wears pump bearings and other moving parts.
• Quality of Water Equipment Installation: can make a big difference in the life of the water supply equipment. Installers who simply hook up a pump and wiring, with no understanding of the importance of proper location of check valves, filters, proper electrical wiring, etc. are likely to be providing a shorter-lived water supply system.

Which Parts Wear Out on Water Pumps?

• Pump bearings
• Pump impeller or rotary vanes that move water - see sketch above
• Pump motor bearings inside the electric motor that drives the water pump
• Internal pump check valves
• Pump control switches which are normally physically separate devices, also wear or fail, becoming clogged with sediment or suffering burned electrical contacts. See PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT for details.

How Can We Maximize the Life Expectancy of a Well Water Pump?

• Install a sediment filter ahead of the water pump in above ground water pump installations. Most well equipment installers place a filter after the water pump, or even after the water pressure tank rather than ahead of these components. If the well water has a high sediment level placing a sediment filter upstream or before the water passes through the water pump will extend the pump life significantly.
• Install check valves where they will protect the water pump from loss of prime and having to work as hard to restore prime. For example, while most submersible pumps contain their own integrated check valve, installing a second check valve at the top of the well or further in the well piping reduces the load on the water pump's internal valve, protects against loss of prime in the well piping, and extends the life of the water pump itself.
• Select a pump motor horsepower or size which is appropriate for the anticipated usage or duty cycle for the well and pump installation. In general a larger motor will outlast a smaller pump motor. If your pump motor and control are labeled indicating that it is permitted to run the pump at either 120V or 240V, and if you are installing the pump new, there are some advantages to wiring the pump to operate on 240V rather than 120V. The motor will start more easily and you might improve the pump motor life.
  
  Most well pumps, except the very smallest models, can be wired to run at either voltage level. The higher voltage will make it easier for the pump to start. The efficiency of the water pump and its operating cost will be about the same regardless of the voltage used. See  Efficiency of 120V vs 240V Equipment for an answer to the question of whether or not changing a well pump from 120V to 240V will save in operating cost. (Basically, no.) Also see DEFINITIONS of ELECTRICAL TERMS for definitions of Amps, Volts, Watts, Ohms, etc.
• Perform necessary pump maintenance: some water pumps require inspection and replacement of internal parts such as bearings or impellers as often as after just four or five years of use. While it may be possible to ignore this maintenance for a while, the effect may be to so wear the pump or pump motor parts that complete pump or pump motor replacement are necessary.
• Check available voltages on the pump motor circuit. We speculate that some electric motors will fail sooner if they are required to frequently operate at voltages lower than their design voltage range.
• Maintain the water pressure tank: a water pressure tank which has lost its air charge and is short cycling is very hard on and shortens the life of a water pump. See SHORT CYCLING WATER PUMPS

See WATER PUMPS & TANKS for a discussion of common failures and repairs on water pumps and water tanks.

Life expectancy of water pump controls and switches

See PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT and its companion articles which include a discussion of the life expectancy and common modes of failure of water pump and tank pressure controls.

Water Tank Maintenance & Repair Chapter Index

Use links just below or at the left of each of the pages at our website 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 GUIDE
  WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL ADJUSTMENT
  WATER PUMP PRESSURE CONTROL REPAIR
WATER PUMPS & TANKS & WELLS
WATER PUMP CONTROLS & SWITCHES
PUMP TYPES & LIFE EXPECTANCY
  PUMP, ONE LINE JET
  PUMP, TWO LINE JET
  PUMP, SUBMERSIBLE
  PUMP, WATER PRESSURE BOOSTER
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

Technical Reviewers & References

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 ^TM Website
• Thanks to Alan Carson and Bob Dunlop, Carson Dunlop, Associates, Toronto, for permission to use illustrations from their publication, The Illustrated Home which illustrates construction details and building components. Carson Dunlop provides home inspection education, publications, report writing materials, and home inspection services. Alan Carson is a past president of ASHI, the American Society of Home Inspectors.
• Critique, contributions wanted: Contact Us to suggest text changes and additions and, if you wish, to receive online listing and credit for that contribution.

environmental hazards residential properties for home buyers home owners contamination water damage,ASHI American Society of Home Inspectors Air testing ASHI home inspections inspectors (C)trap Daniel Friedman, Construction failures drinking water contamination contaminants lead, pesticides, organics lead paint hazard advice,

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
• Cheating on water tests: Testing Water for Real Estate Transactions - make sure your water test is valid
• Drinking Water Testing Advice for home buyers home owners home inspectors
• Interpreting Drinking Water Test Results and Correcting Unsatisfactory Water
• Drinking Water Contaminant Levels - Maximum Allowed
• Lead Contamination in Drinking Water: Testing & Correction - Advice (This Article)
• Lead Testing & Correcting Contamination from Lead Water Supply Lines/Entry Mains - Lead Pipe Problems/Advice
• Water testing for Pesticides: comprehensive and pesticides-example parameters
• Water Testing: background comments on classes of water contaminants, & links to home buyer advice about water testing, drinking water, water supply
• When and How to Shock or Chlorinate a Well - Procedure for Shocking a Well to (temporarily or maybe longer) "Correct" Bacterial Contamination
• Water Requirements, Home & Outdoor Living
• Typical Water Tests & Fees this water test fee schedule applies when testing is combined with other onsite building inspection services
• Drinking Water testing, contamination, correction - all topics
• General water testing and corrective measure advice: contact your local health department.

InspectAPedia.com ^TM  - Home Page - Building Inspection, Diagnosis, & Repair, Environmental Inspection & Testing - 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