3 Troubleshooting Tips for Water Tank Pumps

When your water tank pump breaks down, it can be difficult to know what to do. Use the following tips to help you determine a course of action, based on what kind of fault your pump has developed.

1. When the Pump Won't Start

The simplest cause of a water tank pump refusing to start is a problem with the electrical supply. The issue could be as straightforward as a power surge tripping a circuit breaker, in which case you can resolve this problem by resetting it.

Another reason why a water tank pump might fail to start is if the pump's pressure controller erroneously thinks that the tank contains no water. Check that the tank is not empty and reset the pressure controller to see if this resolves the problem.

Finally, a blockage in the pump's feed line could cause the pump to fail to start. Turn off the power, take the pump apart, and check for objects caught inside. If you are not confident that you can successfully dismantle the pump to check for a blockage, call a plumber.

2. When the Pump Continuously Runs

Water tank pumps should run only as much as necessary to deliver water. If your water tank pump runs all the time, even when all taps are closed, there could be a leak. Check all the easily accessible parts of your plumbing to see if you can find it. If you have no luck finding or fixing the leak, call a plumber to help you out.

3. When the Pump Does Not Supply Water

Before a water tank pump can supply water, it must be primed. This means that both the pump body and the suction line must be full of water.

Problems with the water supply can also arise when there is a leak in the suction line or a clog inside the body of the pump. If you feel confident that you can manage it yourself, you could try dismantling the pump to check for leaks or blockages. Sometimes, simply cleaning the inside of the pump can help to resolve this issue.

If none of these troubleshooting tips successfully resolve the problem with your water tank pump, the next step is to call a plumber. They can draw on their experience with water tank pumps to quickly get to the bottom of the problem and let you know how much it will cost to repair.