Wells & pressure tanks
Well Pump & Pressure Tank Service
Outside the serviced areas the house is on its own well. The pressure tank and switch are plumbing; the pump inside the well is licensed well work.
Ontario draws a line through a private water system, and it matters who works on which side. Installing a pump in a well is well work under Ontario Regulation 903 (Wells), and it needs a Class 4 well technician licence. The pressure tank, the pressure switch and the house plumbing past the tank are plumbing.
How a well system works
The pump pushes water into a pressure tank. An air charge in the tank holds it under pressure. When the pressure falls to the cut-in setting, the switch starts the pump. When it reaches the cut-out setting, the switch stops it. Most faults are one of those three parts.
| What you notice | Likely cause | Which side |
|---|---|---|
| Pump clicks on and off fast | Pressure tank lost its air charge | Plumbing |
| Pressure surges at the tap | Tank charge or switch settings | Plumbing |
| No water, pump not running | Switch, breaker, or the pump | Plumbing first, then well |
| Pump runs with no water used | Leak, or a failing check valve | Either |
| Air or sand at the tap | Pump, well or water level | Well technician |
Where wells are common here
Stayner and Creemore are on township wells, and the rural lots around them in Clearview are mostly on private wells. Rural Meaford and the rural parts of The Blue Mountains are the same. The well and town water guide covers the differences.
Pressure tank replacement
A tank that will not hold its air charge, or one with water in the air side, short-cycles the pump and wears it out. Replacing the tank protects the pump.
Testing a private well
Public Health Ontario tests private well water for bacteria at no charge, with sample bottles from the local health unit. Test it after any work on the well and after the spring melt.
FAQ
Wells & pressure tanks — common questions
Who can replace my well pump?
A licensed well technician. Under Ontario Regulation 903, installing a pump in a well needs a Class 4 well technician licence. A plumber can work on the pressure tank, the switch and the house side.
Why does my pump turn on and off every few seconds?
That is short cycling, and the usual cause is a pressure tank that has lost its air charge. It wears the pump out, so it is worth fixing soon.
Should I shut my well pump off when I close the cottage?
Yes. Switch off the pump at its breaker, then drain the pressure tank and the house lines so nothing holds water through the freeze.
Talk to a Collingwood plumber
Collingwood Plumbers needs three things: the town, whether the house is on town water or a private well, and what the water is doing. Those three decide most of the job, from who you should actually call, to whether the fix is a valve, a pump or a pipe.