I need help ... I have a weekend cabin with a well - a week ago Saturday I all the sudden had no water. I check the well pump: It didn't run. The breaker was okay, so I turned it off and on again. The pump ran, but produced diminished pressure. I didn't pay much attention to it for next few hours, but I lost water again the next day. I also realized that I had used twice the electricity I usually do over that period of time. I turned the power off over the week.
Returned this weekend and turned the power back on: Pump works, but give less pressure that expected. After the pump stops, I checked the breaker box and ralize that the pump is drawing power even though it's not running (I can hear and feel it when it does).
There are no apparent water leaks anywhere. I took the cap of the pressure switch and saw a lot of corrosion (see attached picture). What I have NOT done yet: Look at the filter (might be clogged with debris) or "jumped" the pressure switch to see if the pump runs better then.
What might be going on here? - Pump destroyed? Pressure switch needs replacing? ...?
FYI:
- the pump is a submersible one
- water has lot of iron and some sediment
- well casing in cast iron
- well was drilled 40 yrs back
- don't know the depth, but think 100-200 ft
- we've been in a drought for a while
Any help / guidance is highly appreciated ... thx.
Returned this weekend and turned the power back on: Pump works, but give less pressure that expected. After the pump stops, I checked the breaker box and ralize that the pump is drawing power even though it's not running (I can hear and feel it when it does).
There are no apparent water leaks anywhere. I took the cap of the pressure switch and saw a lot of corrosion (see attached picture). What I have NOT done yet: Look at the filter (might be clogged with debris) or "jumped" the pressure switch to see if the pump runs better then.
What might be going on here? - Pump destroyed? Pressure switch needs replacing? ...?
FYI:
- the pump is a submersible one
- water has lot of iron and some sediment
- well casing in cast iron
- well was drilled 40 yrs back
- don't know the depth, but think 100-200 ft
- we've been in a drought for a while
Any help / guidance is highly appreciated ... thx.