How Do You Troubleshoot A Water Well Pressure Pump Switch With Ants?
Well pumps maintain water pressure for buildings supplied by wells. The pressure switch has contacts that snap together for the electrical connection that turns on the water pump. Anything blocking the contacts will prevent the circuits from closing and turning on the pumps. Then the water pressure drops until water won’t flow at all. It’s very common for ants to crawl on the contacts and be killed by impact or voltage when they snap together. Soon ant carnage blocks the contacts from touching. Look closely at the water pump and surrounding area for ant hills and ant activity. Well pumps attract ants because of the available water and the sounds they make. Pull the metal lever on the side of the cap that covers the pressure switch contacts to attempt to start the pump. The plastic cap is on the upper part of the water pump, usually gray or dark green in color and has a single capped nut on top to keep it in place. If the pump starts, allow it to run and restore the water pressure until
