Well pump repair in Knox County and nearby
Tell us what the well is doing and we will put you in touch with a TDEC-licensed pump installer.
Call (865) 509-8938
A well system is more than the pump. Between the bottom of the well and your kitchen there is a drop pipe, a check valve or two, a pitless adapter where the line turns sideways under the frost line, a buried line to the house, a pressure tank, a pressure switch, and a breaker. Any one of them can make it look like the pump died. A good repair visit finds the actual failed part before anything gets pulled out of the ground, because pulling a pump from a deep East Tennessee well is real labor.
Symptoms and what they usually point to
| Symptom | Common causes |
|---|---|
| Nothing at any tap | A tripped breaker, the pressure switch, the wiring, a water level that has fallen below the pump, or the pump motor itself. Start with the no-water checklist. |
| Pump starts and stops every few seconds | The pressure tank has too little air in it. University of Nebraska Extension's well guide says rapid cycling means pressure is building too fast because the air cushion is gone. See pressure tanks. |
| Pump never shuts off | A check valve stuck open, a leak in the line between the well and the house, or a leak inside the plumbing. The same guide points to a soggy spot in the yard, away from the septic field, as a sign the buried line has broken. |
| Pressure slowly bleeds off with nothing running | A leaking check valve or leak in the line. With all taps closed, the gauge should hold steady. |
| Good pressure at first, then it fades during long use | The water level is dropping toward the pump intake during heavy use, often worse in dry weather. The fix may be lowering the pump, not replacing it. |
Tell us what the well is doing and we will put you in touch with a TDEC-licensed pump installer.
Call (865) 509-8938
A simple leak test you can do
Close every tap and make sure nothing like an ice maker or toilet fill valve is running. Watch the gauge on the pressure tank for fifteen or twenty minutes. If it holds, the check valves and lines are likely tight. If it slowly drops, water is leaking back down the well or out of a pipe somewhere. Tell the installer what the gauge did; it saves them time.
What the installer will do
- Find the wellhead. TDEC's construction guidance says the casing should stand at least six inches above the ground and not sit in a pit or a basement. Older wells sometimes got buried or cut down anyway, which slows everything down. If your casing is hidden, tell them.
- Check power and controls first. Voltage at the switch, the switch contacts, the control box if your pump has one, and the breaker.
- Read the pressure tank. Air charge with the tank drained, and whether the bladder still holds.
- Take electrical readings before pulling anything. Many installers can check the motor circuit from the surface.
- Pull the pump only if the evidence says so. If it does come up, the drop pipe, wire splices and check valve get looked at too.
When the pump really has failed, the repair becomes a well pump replacement.
Tell us what the well is doing and we will put you in touch with a TDEC-licensed pump installer.
Call (865) 509-8938
Don't skip the cleanup
TDEC's construction standards say the well should be disinfected every time the well, pump or piping is serviced, because handling pipe and equipment can carry bacteria down the hole. Ask whether chlorinating the well is included, and plan to test the water once the chlorine is gone.
Good questions
Should I adjust the pressure switch myself?
Better not. The switch carries live line voltage, and Nebraska Extension's well guide tells homeowners to leave adjustments to a licensed professional for that reason.
How do I know if the problem is the pump or the tank?
Short, rapid cycling almost always points at the tank. No water, no cycling and no hum points at power, the switch or the pump. A licensed installer can test the motor from the surface before deciding.
Who licenses well pump repair in Tennessee?
TDEC's Division of Water Resources. Ask to see the installer's license card; licensees also get vehicle decals from the state.
Talk to a licensed pump installer about your well
Give us your town and what the water is doing. We pass it to an independent installer who holds a Tennessee pump installer license; they quote the job and do the work. House completely dry? Say so up front and the installer will know it can't wait.