Suddenly - no water

[robbie]

The water just quit with no warning (in the middle of the shower of course). The pressure guage went to zero. COuld this be something other than the pump? The pump was installed in 1992 - it is a submersible, 1/2 HP, 230 V pump. NO warning problems it just quit! And advice on what to check first would be appreciated - Thank you!

[Gary Slusser]

You should check the electric for power to the pressure switch, then the well. Then check the power cable for no shorts or opens and then the ohms of the pump motor windings. www.franklinelectric.com has them.

If you have a 3 wire type pump, you'll have a control box by the pressure tank in most cases. It could have a bad capacitor or relay. Franklin will tell you how to check it.

You could have a power cable that has shorted or a leg open. Or the pump motor quit. Or the thermal overload opened for some reason and shut off the pump. You could have a low pressure safety switch and have to lift the handle to get the power to the pump (or control box) and then when the pressure is above 20 psi, let go of the handle to reset the switch.