How can I reduce the cost of my well pump replacement or well pump service call?
The cost of the repairs to your well pump equipment depends on several key factors. You may want to check out our blog on what’s involved in replacing a submersible well pump if you are interested in the process!
1) What heavy equipment is necessary for the repairs, such as a pump derrick or crane? If it is a shallow well less than 100’ deep, the pump can be often be removed from the well by hand, but deeper wells will require the use of a pump rig to remove the submersible well pump from the well. The use of this equipment can add to the cost of well pump repairs.
2) Access to your well pump site is of critical importance! If the well is located in a muddy field, you don’t know the location of the well or if fences or buildings block or cover access to the well, additional time and expense will be incurred locating the well and creating proper access. If you can ensure that the well pump equipment is easily accessible so the technician doesn’t need to spend time (and your money) removing furniture from your pump shed, or clearing small trees or branches to access the well site…you save money!
3) The materials required for the repair include such items as pump, motor, wire, control box, pressure switch, pressure tank(s) and piping. Odds are that not all the components in the well failed at the same time. Often the pipe can be re-used, or the wire. Frequently the pump or motor just need to be replaced and the other components can be re-utilized. At Oakville Pump, we will discuss the options that ensure optimal service life and that fit within your budget. Keep in mind that your old equipment that is reinstalled in your well is typically not under warranty, so any equipment that is re-used should be in good shape and ready for another 7-10 years of service.
4) The amount of time required to troubleshoot, obtain components and effect the necessary repairs is a key factor in repair costs. While it isn’t possible for you to “speed up” a repair technician. The best way to reduce the cost of a service call or equipment replacement is for you to have as much information available when you call for a service technician. The more information you can provide, the faster it is to troubleshoot and bring the proper materials for repairs, reducing travel time and number of trips required to effect a repair. Describe the problem in detail with information on when the problem started, what you have done to correct the problem and if there was any recent occurrence that coincided with the problem such as a power outage, work on your water pipes or electrical system in your home. Make certain the technician knows where the circuit breaker and equipment in question can be located, especially if you have a large property or more than one well, tank or home on the property.
5) Keep records! It is extremely helpful for homeowners to keep following information in their records and have it readily available: Pump model, Pump Horsepower, pump depth, size & type of pipe, size of wire, depth to water, depth of well, well casing type and diameter, drillers report, and well location(s). It is also important to know where your circuit breakers are that supply power to your well pump equipment. This info can be put on google maps (that you can easily share) or included in a file folder marked “water system” and it is especially vital if you are calling a company that you have not done business with before.
If you want to reduce the cost of ownership of your system, make sure you are putting quality materials in your well that have been appropriately selected for your application. A pump from your local hardware store that looks like a great deal, often looks less like a good deal when it fails in short order or uses twice as much electricity as the correctly sized submersible well pump. Using the wrong size wire or wrong type of well pump can result in increased energy consumption or shortened lifespan of the equipment. Properly selected and installed components will last longer and provide a much lower cost of ownership by reducing maintenance, energy use and hassle!
Check out our blog on how a submersible well pump is properly selected for your well if you’d like more information on this topic. Oakville Pump Service offers high quality, efficient pumps from Franklin Electric, Goulds and Grundfos with fair prices and prompt service!