Most of Greensboro runs on City water, so well pumps are mainly a concern for homes on the edges of the city and out in Guilford County. If your well has stopped delivering water, check the breaker and pressure switch first, then call the number on this page to be connected with a local plumber in Greensboro. If you're on City water and lost pressure, the problem is more likely your service line.
Are you actually on a well?
Inside Greensboro, almost every home is on City of Greensboro water, which comes from Lake Brandt and Lake Townsend. If you get a water bill from the City, you don't have a well pump, and a pressure problem is more likely a leak, a failing pressure regulator or trouble on your service line. The water line repair page covers that.
Wells are common just outside the city, though. The City notes that close to 25 percent of Guilford County residents rely on private wells, and areas near the city's edges still have them.
Common well pump problems
| Symptom | Likely cause |
|---|---|
| No water at all | Tripped breaker, failed pressure switch, burned-out pump motor or control box |
| Pump turns on and off every few seconds | Waterlogged pressure tank or a failed bladder |
| Pump runs without stopping | A leak in the system, a stuck pressure switch, or a low water level in the well |
| Sputtering taps or air in the lines | Low water level, a cracked drop pipe or a failing check valve |
| Sand or sediment in the water | Pump set too low or a worn well screen |
What to check before you call
Make sure the breaker for the pump hasn't tripped. Look at the pressure gauge near the tank: if it reads zero and the pump isn't running, power or the pressure switch is the usual suspect. Don't keep resetting a breaker that trips again right away, and don't tap on the pressure switch with power on.
Water quality on private wells
Private wells aren't covered by the City's water testing. Guilford County Environmental Health offers fee-based water testing and technical help for well owners. Wells near Horsepen and Brush creeks, by the airport industrial area, have been sampled for PFAS by the county and state, so owners in that area may want to follow those results.
Repair or replace the pump?
Pressure switches, tanks and control boxes are usually replaceable on their own. A failed submersible pump motor means pulling the pump from the well, and at that point many owners replace the pump rather than repair it, especially if it's older.
What affects the cost
The price depends on whether the problem is above ground or in the well, the type of pump (submersible or jet), well depth, and whether the pressure tank needs replacing too.
Well Pump Repair questions from Greensboro homeowners
Do Greensboro homes have wells?
Why does my well pump keep turning on and off?
Who tests private well water in Guilford County?
I'm on City water and have low pressure. Is it my pump?
Related plumbing services in Greensboro
Helpful guides
Well Pump Repair in nearby cities and towns
Guilford County
Alamance County
Randolph County
Rockingham County
Davidson County
Orange County
Chatham County
Sources
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