How Long Do Well Pumps Last?

The numbers, by source

The cost publishers don't agree exactly, but they cluster in the same place:

Plan on 10 to 15 years for budgeting. Treat anything beyond that as a bonus, and start setting money aside once your pump reaches its second decade.

What decides how long yours lasts

Starts, not hours

Electric motors wear most when they start. Each start pulls a surge of current that heats the windings and stresses the capacitor, relay and pressure switch contacts. Franklin Electric rates its single-phase motors up to 0.75 HP for 300 starts a day, and 1 to 5.5 HP motors for 100. It also says each run should last at least one minute so the motor can shed the heat from starting.

That's why a waterlogged pressure tank kills pumps. The pump starts every time someone opens a tap, dozens or hundreds of times a day. Check the tank's air charge if the pump clicks on and off quickly; our waterlogged pressure tank page shows how.

Running dry

A pump that draws the well down faster than it refills runs without water, overheats and wears its bearings and impellers. Franklin lists low well water level among the causes of a motor that runs continuously. On a low-yield well, the fix is a correctly sized pump or dry-run protection, not a bigger pump.

Sand and minerals

Sand chews up impellers. Iron and scale clog intakes and jets. Franklin lists a blocked intake screen as another cause of continuous running. Hard water can also shorten pressure tank life.

Voltage and lightning

Low voltage makes motors run hot on every start. Lightning surges can also take out a submersible motor or control box without warning, and many installers add a lightning arrestor at the pressure switch or control box.

Pump type

Submersibles sit in cool water and push rather than pull, which is part of why HomeGuide says they often outlast jet pumps. Jet pumps live in basements and pump houses, where they deal with lost prime, air leaks and freezing.

How long can a well pump run continuously?

A well pump isn't meant to run all the time. In a normal system it runs until the pressure tank reaches cut-out, then rests. If yours never shuts off, something's wrong: Franklin's list of causes includes a stuck pressure switch, a leak in the system, low well water, a worn pump and a broken shaft. Long runs while you're irrigating are fine as long as the well keeps up. See well pump keeps running.

How long do pressure tanks and wells last?

HomeGuide puts well pressure tanks at 10 to 15 years on average, depending on water quality, usage and maintenance. The well itself lasts much longer. HomeGuide says a well can last 40 years or more with proper care, while the pump will need replacing in 10 to 15 years.

So most homes go through a few pumps and a few tanks on the same well. Replacing the tank and pressure switch along with an old pump often makes sense, since you're paying for the service call anyway.

Signs it's time to replace

HomeAdvisor lists dirty or cloudy water, loud noises from the pump, fluctuating pressure, air spitting from faucets and higher bills as signs a pump is failing. Before you replace, rule out the cheaper parts. A bad pressure switch, capacitor or waterlogged tank can mimic a dead pump.

HomeGuide's rule is to consider replacement once the pump is 10 to 15 years old and has needed several recent repairs, and to repair when the fix costs less than half of a replacement. Replacement itself usually takes a pro half a day to a full day, according to HomeAdvisor.

What to do next

• Write the pump's install date on the pressure tank or control box with a marker. Most people have no idea how old their pump is until it fails.
• Check the tank's air charge once a year.
• If the pump is past 10 years and acting up, get a quote for both repair and replacement. Our well pump replacement cost page has current ranges.