Fix it
Why does my well pump run constantly?
A well pump should cycle: run, satisfy the pressure tank, rest. One that never rests is either chasing water it cannot deliver or being lied to by the parts that tell it when to stop — and constant running burns out pumps fast.
What it usually is
-
A waterlogged pressure tank
The tank’s air charge is what lets the system rest between draws. When the bladder fails or the charge leaks down, the pump short-cycles or runs continuously. Tap the tank: all-thud with no hollow ring at the top is waterlogged.
-
A leak between pump and house
A crack in the buried supply line, a stuck check valve or a running toilet inside all bleed pressure the pump keeps replacing. A wet patch in the yard along the line run is the outdoor tell.
-
A failed or misadjusted pressure switch
The switch that should open at cutoff pressure can weld closed or drift; the pump then ignores a full tank. Gauge reading above the normal cutoff with the pump still running fits this.
-
A well struggling to supply — drawdown or a worn pump
If pressure sits LOW while the pump runs on, the pump cannot reach cutoff: dropping water table, clogged screen, or an impeller past its prime.
What you can check yourself
Watch the pressure gauge: pegged low means supply-side; at/above cutoff means switch. Check the tank’s air charge at its Schrader valve with the system drained (should be 2 psi below cut-in). Silence every fixture and watch whether pressure still bleeds down — that reveals a leak. Walk the line run outdoors for wet ground.
When it’s a job for a pro
Pressure switches and tank replacement are standard well-service work; buried-line leaks and downhole pump diagnosis need their equipment. Tell them your gauge observations — it can turn a two-visit mystery into a one-visit repair.
A pressure switch typically runs $150 to $300; a replacement pressure tank $400 to $900 installed; downhole pump work varies with depth, commonly $900 to $2,500.
Ready for a plumber? Get matched now
Enter your ZIP and we match you with an independent local partner for exactly this kind of job.