Short answer: A well pump that runs without stopping is usually fighting a leak, a pressure switch that is stuck or set wrong, a worn pump that cannot build enough pressure, or a well that is running low. If nobody is using water and it still runs, turn it off at the breaker until you know why.
- Who this is for: homes on a private well with a pump and a pressure tank.
- Different from short cycling: short cycling is a pump that clicks on and off over and over. This page is a pump that runs and runs.
- Act now: pump running with every tap off, or no water coming out while it runs. Turn it off at the breaker.
- Call or text Ryan if: you find no leak, the pressure never builds, or the pump will not stop.
What the Pump Is Supposed to Do
On a typical home well, the pump fills a pressure tank. A pressure switch watches the pressure and turns the pump on when it drops to a low setting, then off when it reaches a high setting. In between, the tank supplies water so the pump can rest.
If the pump runs without ever reaching the high setting, or the switch never gets the signal to stop, it runs constantly. That is a different problem from well pump short cycling, where the pump turns on and off every few seconds. If the water stopped completely, go to no water from the well.
Check These First (Ten Minutes)
- Shut off every tap and appliance. Make sure no one is running the washer, the dishwasher, the ice maker or an outdoor hose.
- Look and listen for running toilets. A toilet with a leaky flapper can pass a steady stream of water, enough to keep a pump on. See why a toilet runs and how to fix it.
- Check the hose bibs and irrigation lines. A frost-damaged hose bib or a split line outdoors can leak where you cannot see it. Look for wet ground or a new patch of green grass between the well and the house.
- Look at the pressure gauge on the tank. If the needle sits low or keeps falling while the pump runs, the pump is not keeping up or water is escaping.
- Check the water meter if you have one, or shut the main to the house at the valve after the tank and see if the pump finally stops. If it stops when the house is shut off, the leak is inside the house. If it keeps running, the problem is at the pump, the tank or the line from the well.
The Four Usual Causes
1. A leak somewhere. A leak lets water out as fast as the pump supplies it, so the pressure never climbs. The leak can be a toilet, a faucet, a water heater relief valve, a line in a crawlspace, or the buried line between the well and the house. A hidden leak is the most common reason a pump runs and runs. Our guide to finding a hidden water leak shows how to track one down.
2. A pressure switch that is stuck or set wrong. The switch has electrical contacts that can pit or weld together. When that happens, the pump has power and nothing tells it to stop. The pressure gauge will show pressure well above where it should be, or the pump keeps running even though the gauge shows full. That is a case for turning the breaker off, and not for poking at the switch. The switch carries line voltage.
3. A worn pump. As a pump ages, it moves less water and builds less pressure. If it can no longer reach the high setting, it runs all the time. You may notice weak flow, or the pressure sags when you shower. A pump that has been running constantly for a while may also be damaged from heat.
4. A well that is running low. In a dry spell, or in a well that is not very productive, the pump can pull the water level down to the intake. Then you get sputtering, air in the lines, and a pump that never catches up. Wells in mountain rock can swing with the season. If the water comes back after the pump rests for a few hours, this is a likely cause.
Pump will not quit?
Turn it off at the breaker, then text Ryan a photo of the tank and gauge. He is a licensed Master Plumber and answers his own phone, day or night.
How to Keep From Burning Out the Pump
A pump that runs nonstop is working hard and getting hot. If the pump is submersible, the water around it helps cool it. If the well runs low and the pump runs dry, it can overheat and fail.
- If you cannot find an obvious cause, turn the pump off at the breaker panel. Use the breaker, not the pressure switch lever.
- Fill a few jugs or the bathtub first, so you have water for drinking and flushing while the pump is off.
- Leave the pump off until it has been looked at, unless you are sure it is a running toilet or an open hose.
A burned-out pump is a bigger job than a switch or a tank, so shutting it off early can save money. If you want to know how repair compares to replacement, read well pump repair vs. replacement.
What Ryan Can Do
Ryan does well pump installation and well bladder (pressure) tank installation. When a pump will not stop, he works out which of the four causes it is. A waterlogged or failed pressure tank, a bad switch, a worn pump or a leak each has a different fix, and he explains the options before any work starts. The estimate is free, with no trip fee and no diagnostic fee.
Because he is based in Ellijay and works in the mountains, text is often the fastest way to reach him. Send a photo of the pressure gauge and the tank, and tell him what you have already tried. See the well pump service page for more.
"Job two: Ryan installed a new bladder tank for my well. He showed up promptly and finished quickly at a better than fair price."