Why Does My Shallow Well Pump Keep Burning Out?

Pressure Tank

• A shallow well pump that supplies water to a house should be used in conjunction with a pressure tank. This stores and pressurizes the water sent to the house. The pump then refills the tank rather than sending the water directly to the house. This prevents the pump from rapidly turning on and off whenever water is used. A pump run without a pressure tank will burn out if it turns on and off rapidly over long periods.

Loss of Prime

• Although priming is not as big of a concern with shallow well jet pumps as it is with other types of pumps, a pump can burn out if it loses its prime. If this keeps happening, the pump could be pumping the well dry regularly. If it pumps all the water out faster than the well refills, the intake pipe will suck up air and the pump will lose its prime. Install a pump that pumps less water volume to stop this problem from recurring.

Electrical

• You need to have enough voltage supplied to your pump to keep it in good working order. If a pump doesn't receive enough voltage, it increases its draw on the current to try and reach full power. This overheats the motor and wears it out quickly. Eventually, the motor starts to short out and burns out completely.

Ventilation

• Cooling and ventilation are critical for your shallow well pump. If you place your well pump in an extremely hot or enclosed location, it might not be able to circulate enough air to keep itself at a reasonable operating temperature. If the pump continually overheats, it will eventually get damaged and die. The pump should have open air space on all sides to ensure adequate ventilation. If you have it in an enclosure, ensure that the pump building or box has a source of fresh air to prevent overheating.