The water pump on my well has started to run continuously. I turned the well power off, and removed the cover from the Square D pumptrol switch. When I lift on the rocker arm spring assembly to close the valve and open the contacts, then turn on the power, the well pump does not run. After water has been used, the pump turns on and continues to run.
Is this a clear indication of a bad switch or could it be another problem such as a leaking bladder tank or a leak in well line?
It's rarely the switch, and as we see, it comes on but can't shut off. That's because you don't have enough pressure to get it up to open the points in the switch.
You don't say what type pump you have; jet or submersible. If a jet, the switch, its nipple, any tubing to it or the fittings the tubing attaches to or the holes the fittings screw into could be partially blocked with rust etc..
Or the jet could be blocked. If you have a single line shalow well jet, the jet is in the wet end of the pump and a 2 line deep well jet, it's in the j-body in the well at the end of the drop pipes and the foot valve is below the j-body and its inlet screen could be blocked.
If a submersible pump, the inlet screen could be blocked or with either a jet or sub, you could have a water leak in the drop pipe in well or the pipe going to the house.
Or the impellers could be worn and you have a bad pump. Or the water level could have fallen in the well and the pump can't deliver the pressure it used to from that depth.