No water from your Lithia well? Lithia Well Pump Pros walks you through what to check first and when to call for service. Call (727) 617-3339.
A sudden loss of water is one of the more disruptive things that can happen in a home on private well water, and for many Lithia homeowners, on larger rural-residential properties where well water often serves more than just household plumbing, it can affect quite a bit at once. Here’s what to check before calling for help, and how to know when it’s time to make that call.
First: Check Your Electrical Panel
Well pumps run on a dedicated breaker, and a tripped breaker is one of the most common causes of a sudden total loss of water. Find your electrical panel and look for a breaker labeled for the well pump. If it’s tripped, switch it fully off, then back on.
If it trips again right away, stop. A breaker that won’t hold after resetting usually points to an electrical issue with the pump motor, wiring, or pressure switch, not something to keep forcing.
Check the Pressure Tank Gauge
Most systems have a pressure gauge near the pressure tank. If it reads zero or very low and doesn’t change, that’s consistent with a pump that isn’t running, or a pressure switch that isn’t signaling the pump to run even though it could.
Think About Recent Weather
Lithia and the surrounding rural parts of Hillsborough County see frequent summer thunderstorms, and Florida overall experiences more lightning than nearly anywhere else in the country. A nearby strike, even without directly hitting your property, can sometimes cause a power surge that damages a well pump’s motor or electrical components. If your water stopped working during or shortly after a storm, that’s worth mentioning when you call, since it points toward a different likely cause than gradual wear.
For Properties with Multiple Water Uses
Many properties in the Lithia area use well water for more than household plumbing, livestock, irrigation for gardens or pastures, or other agricultural uses. If your well serves multiple purposes, it’s worth noting whether the loss of water affects everything simultaneously or just certain areas, since this can sometimes help narrow down whether the issue is at the well/pump level (affecting everything) or somewhere downstream in the distribution to a specific area.
What Not to Do
Don’t keep cycling a breaker that won’t hold. This risks further electrical damage and creates a safety concern.
Don’t attempt to pull a submersible pump yourself. These pumps are heavy, wired into your electrical system, and suspended on pipe within the well casing. Without the right equipment, attempting this risks dropping equipment into the well, which can turn a pump replacement into a more involved (and expensive) well recovery situation.
Don’t ignore sediment that appeared right before the failure. If your water looked sandy or different in the period leading up to the total loss of pressure, that’s useful diagnostic information.
When to Call
If your breaker is holding but you still have no water, or if it won’t stay reset, it’s time to call for service. The sooner a technician can assess the situation, the sooner water can typically be restored, whether the fix is a pump replacement, a pressure switch repair, or something else entirely.
What Happens During an Emergency Visit
A technician will typically start by checking the electrical side of things (breaker, wiring, pressure switch) before determining whether the pump itself needs to be pulled and inspected or replaced. For submersible pumps, which are standard for most wells deep enough to be typical in this area, this involves specialized equipment to safely bring the pump up from the well casing.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast can a well pump be replaced if mine has completely failed?
In many cases, same-day replacement is possible, depending on the specific pump needed and parts availability. Calling earlier in the day generally improves the chances of same-day service.
My well serves both my house and my barn/livestock area. Does that change anything?
The diagnostic approach is similar, but it’s useful information for a technician to know, since it can help confirm whether an issue is at the pump/well level (affecting all uses) versus something specific to one part of the distribution system.
Could a recent power outage have damaged my pump even if the power is back on now?
Yes, this is possible. Power surges associated with outages, particularly those caused by lightning or grid issues during storms, can sometimes damage pump motors or electrical components even after power is restored, since the damage occurred during the surge event itself.
What should I do while waiting for a technician?
Avoid running any water-using fixtures or systems, which helps with diagnosis and conserves any water you might have stored elsewhere (like in a water heater tank) until service arrives.
If your water has stopped and the checks above haven’t resolved it, call (727) 617-3339 for emergency well pump service. Visit our contact page or see our well pump services for everything we offer in the Lithia area.
For general information on private well systems, see the EPA’s private well owner resources.