Pressure Switch Repair on a Spokane County Well

The pressure switch tells the pump when to start and stop, so a worn or misadjusted switch can cause cycling, weak pressure or no water. It involves electricity, so a qualified professional should handle it.

Email us about your well: contact@spokanecountywellpump.com

What a pressure switch does

On a private well, the pressure switch senses water pressure and turns the pump on or off. When pressure falls to a set level, the switch starts the pump. When pressure rises to a higher level, it stops it. Between those two settings the tank supplies water.

Clemson Cooperative Extension fact sheet HGIC 1901, written for South Carolina and general in nature, gives an example of a pressure switch set to start the pump at 30 psi and stop it at 50 psi, and describes checking the pressure gauge. Washington settings may differ, so ask a qualified professional what your system uses.

NGWA lists inspection of the pressure tank and switch contacts in its annual checkup. Contacts are the electrical parts that open and close, and they can wear. A professional can check them, and that is a job that involves electricity.

When people look into this

The pump starts and stops often.
Pressure rises and falls at the tap.
The pump will not start or will not stop.
Pressure feels different from before.
A tank was replaced and the switch comes up.
A checkup listed the switch contacts.

What the work usually looks like

Describe the symptoms. Cycling, pressure swings and noises.
Check the gauge. A professional reads the pressure gauge and the switch settings.
Check the tank. A tank problem can look like a switch problem.
Check the contacts. Electrical parts are checked by a qualified person.
Adjust or replace. The professional says which, with prices.
Watch the result. Pressure and cycling are watched afterward.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Note how the system behaves: cycling, pressure swings, noises.
Note when the switch and tank were last replaced.
Do not open the switch or any electrical controls yourself.
Ask what the current settings are and why.
Ask what else will be checked, such as the tank.
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 pressure switch, the cost depends on whether the switch alone is the problem.

Switch alone or more. Cycling can come from the tank as well.
Parts. The switch, tubing and fittings.
Trades. Electrical work can be a separate trade.
Diagnosis. Checking the tank and settings takes time.
Access. How easily the switch can be reached.
Written scope. Whether the price covers diagnosis only.
Testing. Pressure and cycling are watched afterward.

A switch is often not the whole story

A pressure switch is a small part with a big effect, and it is easy to blame. Cycling and pressure swings can also come from the tank, the pump, a leak or the well. Replacing a switch without looking at the rest can leave the problem in place.

Ask what a company will check besides the switch, and ask for findings in writing. If the same symptom returns after a switch is replaced, the written findings tell the next professional what was already ruled out.

Local rules and sources

What the sources say. Clemson Cooperative Extension fact sheet HGIC 1901, written for South Carolina and general in nature, gives an example of a pressure switch set to start the pump at 30 psi and stop it at 50 psi, and describes checking the pressure gauge. Washington settings may differ, so ask a qualified professional what your system uses.

Checkup list. The National Ground Water Association (NGWA), on its wellowner.org annual inspection page, recommends an annual checkup of a well by a qualified well professional. It lists a flow test, a check of the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, and an inspection of the pressure tank and the pressure switch contacts, along with a coliform and nitrate water test and a written report. It also says to inspect a well whenever it is opened, or when taste, odor, turbidity, pressure or cycling changes.

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.

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 does a well pressure switch do?

It senses water pressure and turns the pump on and off. When pressure falls to a set level the switch starts the pump, and when it rises to a higher level the switch stops it. Clemson Extension gives 30 psi on and 50 psi off as an example, and says settings vary.

Why does my pump keep starting and stopping?

Several things can cause cycling, including a worn pressure switch, a tank that has lost its air charge or a leak. The Washington Department of Health lists a pump motor that cycles on and off rapidly among pressure-tank problems. A professional should find the cause. The page on pump cycling covers it in more detail.

Can I replace a pressure switch myself?

This site does not give do-it-yourself instructions. A pressure switch involves electricity and sits on a system holding stored pressure, so the work belongs with a qualified professional. Contractors are registered with L&I, and electrical work generally requires an electrical contractor license, with some exceptions.

What do NGWA checkups say about the switch?

NGWA's annual inspection list includes an inspection of the pressure tank and the pressure switch contacts, along with a flow test, the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, and a water test. Ask any company whether a service visit includes the switch contacts.

How much does pressure switch repair cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. Whether the switch alone is the problem, the parts, the trades involved, the diagnosis time and access 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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