Submersible Well Pump Repair in Spokane County

A submersible pump sits below the water level inside the well casing, so repairing it usually means pulling it from the well. In Spokane County, the work belongs with qualified professionals, and the questions to settle are the diagnosis, the trades and what is in the price.

Email us about your well: contact@spokanecountywellpump.com

What a submersible 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 it is out of sight and under water, a submersible pump cannot be looked at the way an above-ground pump can. Many of the first checks are made at the surface: how much the pump draws, whether power and grounding are right, and what the tank and switch are doing. NGWA lists a check of the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage among the items in an annual checkup.

If the pump itself needs work, it is pulled from the well, which takes equipment and care. That is part of why repair cost depends on depth and access.

When people look into this

Water stops, even though the house has power.
The pump runs but pressure is low.
The pump starts and stops often.
Air or sputtering shows up in the lines.
The pump is old and a landowner is planning ahead.
A checkup found a high or unusual electrical load.

What the work usually looks like

Describe the symptoms. What the system does, and since when.
Check at the surface. Power, controls, tank and switch are checked first.
Decide on pulling. If the pump is the problem, it is pulled from the well.
Repair or replace. The professional says which, with prices.
Reset and test. The pump is set back and tested.
Test the water. Water is tested after any part is replaced.

How to prepare

Before work starts, it helps to settle these points:

Gather paperwork on the pump, such as age and brand.
Note the symptoms and when they began.
Do not open electrical controls or tanks yourself.
Ask what will be checked before the pump is pulled.
Ask whether pulling equipment is in the price.
Ask which trades are involved.
Check each company's registration 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 submersible pump, depth and access drive much of the cost.

Depth. Deeper pumps take more time and equipment to pull and reset.
Diagnosis. Surface checks come before pulling.
Repair or replace. The choice changes the price.
Related parts. Tank, switch, wiring and fittings.
Trades. Electrical and plumbing work can be separate trades.
Access. How easily equipment reaches the well.
Testing. Water testing afterward is separate.

Surface checks come first

Because the pump is underwater, much of the diagnosis happens at the surface. A professional can check what the pump draws, whether power and grounding are right, and how the tank and switch behave. Those checks can show a problem that has nothing to do with the pump itself.

Ask what will be checked before a pump is pulled and whether that checking is part of the price. Pulling a good pump for a problem that was in the switch costs time and money.

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.

Checks. 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.

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.

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 submersible well pump?

University of Nebraska Extension describes it as about 3.5 inches across and 2 to 3 feet long, set below the water level in casing of at least 4 inches, with no need for frost protection. Because it is below water, it is pulled from the well for repair, which is why a qualified professional should handle it.

Why does a submersible pump have to be pulled to repair?

It sits below the water level inside the well casing, so the pump has to be lifted out before it can be looked at or replaced. University of Nebraska Extension says this about submersible pumps. It takes equipment and time, which is why depth and access affect cost.

How do I know if my submersible pump is the problem?

You cannot tell from the kitchen. Low pressure, no water or cycling can start in the tank, switch, wiring, lines or well. A professional checks at the surface first, including the pump's amp load, grounding and line voltage, which NGWA lists in its checkup. Ask for findings in writing.

Is replacing a submersible pump a well alteration?

Not under Ecology's rules. WAC 173-162-030 lists general maintenance, cleaning, sanitation and pump replacement as outside the definition of altering a well. Other trades can still be involved, so ask which, and check each company on the Department of Labor & Industries page.

What does submersible pump repair cost?

Prices vary widely with the well, the pump and the work. Depth, access, diagnosis, whether the pump is repaired or replaced, related parts and the trades involved all change the total. Get a written scope that lists what is included, such as pulling equipment and testing.

Related services and areas

Request a quote

Tell us about your well and how to reach you.