Well Pump Not Working After a Power Outage? Start Here

A well pump not working after a power outage is usually stuck, not broken. The lights went out, the tank drained, and the pressure switch shut the pump off to protect it. Most of the time a lever on that switch brings it back. Humming, tripping, or running dry is a different story. Austin Drilling has sorted storm calls for 66 years, so here's how.

Why does a well pump quit after the power comes back?

The pump quit because the pressure dropped, not because the power did. Your family kept using water in the dark. The tank bled down to nothing. Most well switches have a low-pressure cutoff that opens about 10 PSI below the cut-in setting, which is roughly 30 PSI on a common 40-60 switch (Boshart Knowledge Base). Once it opens, it stays open. The power returns and the pump just sits there.

There are three other causes. A worn check valve can let the water column slide back down the well during the outage, so the pump is losing prime. A lightning surge can kill the control box or a capacitor. And sometimes it's just the breaker.

What is the pump doing right now?

Go listen to it.

Gauge near zero and silent? That's the cutoff. Breaker tripped? Reset it once, no more. Read our page on a well pump that keeps tripping the breaker and call us. A hum with no water usually means a dead capacitor or control box. That's a service call.

Running but no water? One customer wrote us after a storm cut the lights. They primed the pump, the gauge sat at 45 psi, and nothing came out. A gauge can hold a stale number. A pump can run against a stuck valve or a dropped water column. Shut it off at the breaker. A pump running dry cooks itself.

How do you reset the pressure switch after a power outage?

Find the gray box on the pipe by your pressure tank. Lift the small metal lever on its side and hold it at start. Watch the gauge. Hold the lever until the pressure climbs to within 10 psi of cut-in, then let go (Boshart Knowledge Base).

If the pump drops out again the moment you release it, the well is low. Square D says not to work the lever again until the well recharges, which can take hours (InspectAPedia). Forcing it just burns the pump.

Don't open the cover or touch the wires. Only the lever is meant for your hand. No lever on your switch? Some reset on their own and some don't. Don't guess. Call.

Only an above-ground jet pump needs priming. See how to prime a water well pump.

Was the well flooded?

If water stood around the wellhead, the water itself is now the problem. The South Carolina Department of Environmental Services says an unflooded well is likely unchanged. A flooded well means bottled or boiled water until it's disinfected and tested. Their method is one gallon of unscented bleach down the casing, a 6 to 24 hour wait, and a test 7 to 10 days later. The Private Well Hotline is 1-888-761-5989.

A flooded wellhead often means a flooded splice. Have the wiring checked before you trust the pump.

When should you call Austin Drilling?

Call when the lever won't hold, the breaker won't stay on, the pump hums, or it runs dry. Call before your third reset. We handle well repair and pump service across the Midlands and Upstate. West Columbia is (803) 926-5402 and Newberry is (803) 926-7080, Monday through Friday, 7am to 6pm, Saturdays by appointment. Tell us what the pump is doing and we'll get your water back on.

FAQ

Why is my well pump not working after a power outage?

The tank drained while the power was out, and the low-pressure cutoff on the switch shut the pump down. Lifting the lever usually restarts it.

How do I reset a well pump pressure switch after a power outage?

Hold the lever at start until the gauge is within 10 psi of cut-in, then release. If it drops out again, the well is low. Wait.

Is it safe to drink well water after a storm?

If the well wasn't flooded, SC DES says the water is likely unchanged. If it was, use bottled water until it's disinfected and tested.

Can a power outage damage a well pump?

The outage doesn't. The lightning behind it can, usually at the control box or capacitor.

My pump runs but no water comes out. What now?

Turn it off at the breaker, since a dry pump overheats fast. Then call Austin Drilling.