7 Signs Your Well Pump Is Failing

1. No water at all. The clearest sign — but check your breaker first.
2. Low or dropping water pressure. A pump losing capacity can’t keep the house supplied.
3. Spitting or sputtering air at the faucets. Often a dropping water level or a failing pump/check valve.
4. The pump runs constantly and won’t shut off — it’s working harder than it should.
5. Rapid cycling — the pump clicks on and off every few seconds. Usually a waterlogged pressure tank, which destroys pumps fast.
6. Dirty, sandy, or cloudy water when it does run.
7. A spike in your electric bill from a motor straining to keep up.

What to do

Check the well-pump breaker first — a trip is the most common cause. If it’s fine and you’re still seeing these signs, get the pump, pressure switch, and tank checked before a small problem becomes a no-water emergency. Most issues are a single failed part, not a dead well.