Electric Bill Tripled! New pump size recommendation please.

[Jmack111]

Hello All,

My apologies for the lengthy post. I wanted to make sure I included all the info I have.
Back in April 2025, my electric bill came in triple what it normally is. It should have been around $200 or less and it was $732!
It took me a while to figure out it was the well pump using all the electricity. It appears the pump was running 24/7.
I went and checked the pressure switch and it was at 46PSI and wasn't moving and wouldn't shut off. Its set to 40/60.
I killed power, drained the tank, removed the pressure switch and it was full of sediment. I replaced the switch and cleaned out the copper pipe. Powered it back up and it wont go past 46PSI. I changed the pressure switch to 30/45 and the bladder to 28psi as a temp fix and thankfully its been cycling off. Electric bill dropped back close to what is normal for this time of year.
Problem is the water pressure is less than desired and it takes at least 5 minutes for the pump to get the pressure up to 45PSI to cut out.
House was built in 1976.
I bought it 4/2016.
It originally had a Peabody Barnes 1/3HP 230Volt 1PH 5 Amp Pump and a 20 Gallon Well-X-Trol Pressure tank.
Back in 2018, I woke up one morning without water.
A nice gentleman from a well pump company came over, investigated and told me I needed a new pump.
At the time I didnt have the $4,500 he wanted to replace the pump so I thanked him, paid the service fee and he went on his way.
A buddy and I changed the pump to a 1/2hp 230 Volt 10GPM 2 wire Goulds Pump and installed a new Well-X-Trol WX-251 62 gallon pressure tank.
At the time, I was unable to locate a 1/3HP 230 Volt 2 Wire pump thus I installed the 1/2HP pump.
Well is 120 feet deep.
6 inch well casing
Single family home
2 1/2 baths
Kitchen sink
Washing Machine
Dishwasher
28 Head 6 Zone Hunter PGP Rotating Head Irrigation System. This irrigation system was installed AFTER the new pump/pressure tank was installed in 2018.
It appears the pump is tired/injured and will need to be replaced? If I replace it, which size should I install?
Please let me know if any additional info is needed.
Thank you!

 

[Valveman]

It doesn't matter that the well is 120' deep, it matter how deep it is to water. If the water level is higher than 60' the pump you have is ok. But if it pulls down more than 60'-70' you need a 10GS07 instead. That pump cannot build to 60 and shut off if the water level is deeper than about 70'. That maybe a big part of your problem. When a pump cannot build enough pressure to shut off and runs all the time, the electric bill is high and the pump wears down and is able to build even less pressure.

However, a 1/2HP running 24/7 should not be able to use more than 100 bucks of electricity, 200 if you pay 20+ cents a KW. Don't know how you could get a $700 bill with any smaller than a 3HP pump?

If the pump is too large it will cycle on and off when irrigating, unless you have a Cycle Stop Valve.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Reach4]

Please let me know if any additional info is needed.

Also, do not use a check valve above the water this time. That check valve you have might have even shortened the pump life.

You can put one right above the pump down the well if you like, or you can rely on the check valve built into the pump.

There are many discussions of this, and the merits.

How was the 1/2 HP 10 gpm pump for the first 3/4 of its life? If you go to 3/4 HP, you will need to check that the wires and breaker are big enough.

A 1/2 HP 7GPM pump would give more pressure if your pressure needs are higher, and would probably supply enough water. You might have to adjust the emitters on your irrigation to a lower GPM. A 7 GPM pump would cost more -- it has more stages. Ten gpm pumps are usually the cheapest to buy.

 

[Reach4]

However, a 1/2HP running 24/7 should not be able to use more than 100 bucks of electricity, 200 if you pay 20+ cents a KW. Don't know how you could get a $700 bill with any smaller than a 3HP pump?

Possible that there were some estimated-usage bills before they took the actual meter reading.

 

[Valveman]

Showing my age posting a picture with cost of Kw as low as 2 pennies. Lol. But at 12 cents a Kw I show a 1/2HP could use a max of 86 bucks a month. 24 cents a Kw would be 170 bucks a month. I have a 1/2HP running 24/7 and it uses about 40 bucks a month.