Jet Pump Repair in Spokane County: Shallow-Well and Deep-Well Types

A jet pump sits above ground, which makes it easier to reach than a submersible, but it must be primed, can lose its prime if air leaks in, and needs frost protection. In Spokane County, qualified professionals should handle the repair.

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What a jet pump is

University of Nebraska Extension publication G2152 describes a submersible pump as about 3.5 inches across and 2 to 3 feet long, set below the water level in casing of at least 4 inches, needing no frost protection and pulled from the well for repair. It describes a shallow-well jet pump as meant for water less than 25 feet down, above ground and easy to reach but needing frost protection and priming, and losing its prime if air leaks in. A deep-well jet pump is for water 25 to 250 feet down and is pulled for service. It says jet pumps give lower pressure and yield than submersibles.

Because a shallow-well jet pump is above ground, its parts can be looked at without pulling anything from the well. That makes diagnosis simpler in some ways, and the loss of prime is a common point to ask about. If air leaks into the system, the pump loses prime and water stops.

Frost protection matters in Spokane County winters because the pump sits above ground. Ask any company how the pump is housed and protected.

When people look into this

Water stops or comes in spurts.
The pump runs but does not move water.
The pump has lost its prime.
The pump is above ground in a pump house or crawl space.
A pump house has been cold and a landowner is concerned.
A landowner is comparing a jet pump with a submersible.

What the work usually looks like

Describe the symptoms. What the system does, and since when.
Look at the system. The pump, lines, tank and switch are looked at.
Look for leaks. Air leaks can cause loss of prime.
Repair or replace. The professional says which, with prices.
Prime and test. The pump is primed and tested.
Protect from frost. The housing is checked.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Note the symptoms and when they began.
Know where the pump is and how it is housed.
Do not open electrical controls or tanks yourself.
Ask whether a shallow-well or deep-well jet pump is installed.
Ask what happens if the well needs work as well.
Ask which trades are involved.
Check each company on the L&I page.
Get the price in writing.

What affects the cost

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. For a jet pump, the type and the condition of the lines matter most.

Shallow or deep-well type. A deep-well jet is pulled for service.
Priming and leaks. Finding an air leak takes time.
Housing. Frost protection and access affect the work.
Related parts. Tank, switch, wiring and lines.
Repair or replace. The choice changes the price.
Trades. Electrical and plumbing work can be separate trades.
Testing. Water testing afterward is separate.

When the problem is air

Air in a jet pump system can come from a leak on the suction side, and the symptom is a pump that loses prime or runs without moving water. Finding the leak can take time because it may be small. That is a good question to ask: how will the company find it, and is that time in the price?

Air can also show up as sputtering at the tap. The page on low pressure and air in the lines covers that symptom, and the answer can be a leak in the lines, a problem in the well or something else.

Local rules and sources

What the sources say. University of Nebraska Extension publication G2152 describes a submersible pump as about 3.5 inches across and 2 to 3 feet long, set below the water level in casing of at least 4 inches, needing no frost protection and pulled from the well for repair. It describes a shallow-well jet pump as meant for water less than 25 feet down, above ground and easy to reach but needing frost protection and priming, and losing its prime if air leaks in. A deep-well jet pump is for water 25 to 250 feet down and is pulled for service. It says jet pumps give lower pressure and yield than submersibles.

Ecology's rules. Under Ecology's well rules, replacing a pump is not counted as altering a well. WAC 173-162-030 says well alterations include deepening, hydrofracturing or other operations meant to increase well yields or change the well's characteristics, and do not include general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement.

Trades. Pump work can involve other trades: contractors are registered with the Department of Labor & Industries, electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, and plumbing work generally requires certified plumbers, with some exceptions. Check a company's registration on the Washington Department of Labor & Industries “Verify a Contractor, Tradesperson or Business” page.

Testing. The Washington Department of Health recommends testing private well water every year for coliform bacteria and nitrate, and also when you notice a change in taste, color or smell, after flooding, and after you replace any part of your well system. Your county health department can tell you how and where to have it tested.

Safety. Work on pump wiring, pressure tanks and wells can involve electricity, stored pressure and, in some cases, contaminated water, so it belongs with a qualified professional.

Reasons to trust this page

Most statements on this page name their public source, such as the Department of Health or the Department of Ecology.
Cost factors are explained in plain terms, and this site does not quote prices.
The email address is shown at the top of every page, and the Privacy page says what a quote request collects.

Common questions

What is a jet pump?

University of Nebraska Extension describes a shallow-well jet pump as an above-ground pump for water less than 25 feet down, and a deep-well jet pump for water 25 to 250 feet down. Jet pumps give lower pressure and yield than submersibles, need priming and, being above ground, need frost protection.

What does it mean when a jet pump loses its prime?

University of Nebraska Extension says a jet pump must be primed and that an air leak causes it to lose prime. When that happens the pump runs but does not move water. A professional can look for the leak and prime the pump again. Ask what they found.

Does a jet pump need frost protection?

Yes, according to University of Nebraska Extension, because the pump is above ground, unlike a submersible, which sits below the water level. In Spokane County winters, ask how the pump is housed and protected, and whether any change is recommended as part of the repair.

Is a deep-well jet pump pulled for repair?

Per University of Nebraska Extension, a deep-well jet is pulled for service, while a shallow-well jet is above ground and easier to reach. Ask which type you have and whether pulling equipment is included in the price, because it affects the cost.

How much does jet pump repair cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. The type of jet pump, the condition of the lines, the housing, related parts and the trades involved all change the total. Get a written scope that lists what is included, so prices from different companies cover the same work.

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