If your sprinklers run from a well, the pump is almost certainly the above-ground jet pump on a pad by the house. These are simple machines, which is good news: most faults are fixable, and quickly.
Call (321) 220-9883What usually goes wrong
- Lost prime. The pump runs but moves no water. Air is getting in through a suction leak, a loose fitting or a failed foot valve.
- Humming, not spinning. Usually a failed start capacitor or a seized motor. Shut it off at the breaker.
- Weak zones. A worn impeller, a clogged strainer, or more zones than the pump was sized for.
- Leaking shaft seal. Water dripping from under the motor. Left alone, it rusts the motor bearings.
- Relay or timer trouble. On sprinkler systems the controller starts the pump through a pump start relay. A stuck relay can leave the pump running dry.
Before you call
Check the strainer basket if there is one, and look for wet spots along the suction pipe. If the pump hums without turning, don't keep trying it.
Common questions
Why does my sprinkler pump lose prime?
Air is getting in on the suction side: a cracked fitting, a loose union or a leaking foot valve. Finding and sealing the leak fixes it.
Can I prime it myself?
Often, yes, by filling the pump through the priming plug. If it loses prime again within days, there's a leak to fix.
My pump runs when the sprinklers are off. Why?
A stuck pump start relay, a leak in the line, or a pressure switch that won't cut off. Turn it off at the breaker and have it checked.