Most well pump problems in Central Florida trace to one of four root causes: a failed above-ground component (pressure switch, pressure tank, check valve, or capacitor), a worn motor winding, impeller damage from hard water mineral scale, or wiring and drop-pipe failure from corrosion. The repair vs. replace decision depends on which component failed, how deep the pump is, and how old the system is. Above-ground component failures are almost always worth repairing regardless of pump age, because they do not predict motor failure. Motor failures in pumps older than ten years in Central Florida hard water usually favor full replacement, because a second failure of a different component is statistically likely within one to two years. Quality Filters And Pumps carries out pump repair and replacement across Central Florida under Florida Water Well Contractor License #7494, led by Chase Norris with 15 plus years of regional well experience across Marion, Orange, Lake, Polk, Pasco, Hernando, Citrus, and surrounding counties.
What a Pump Repair Service Call Covers
A service call from Quality Filters And Pumps starts with a systematic above-ground diagnostic before any well entry. We check the pressure gauge reading, listen to how the pump starts and runs (or why it does not), inspect the pressure switch contacts and wiring, drain and tap-test the pressure tank, and check all accessible check valves. This takes fifteen to thirty minutes and resolves the majority of no-water and low-pressure calls without pulling the pump.
If the diagnosis points below ground, we pull the drop pipe to inspect the pump, check valve, drop wire, and pitless adapter. Deep Floridan Aquifer wells over 200 feet require a hoist rig and additional labor time. We always quote the pull separately after confirming the above-ground side is healthy.
For background on how to identify which failure pattern your system is showing before we arrive, see the well pump troubleshooting guide.
Common Pump Repairs and Typical Scope
Pressure Switch Replacement
The pressure switch is one of the most common repair items we replace. It controls when the pump turns on (cut-in) and off (cut-out). Burned contacts from lightning or power surges, stuck diaphragms from mineral scale, and corroded terminals are the usual failure modes. Switch replacement is a quick above-ground repair. If you see burn marks on the contacts or the pump is not cycling at the right pressures, start here. See the won't turn on checklist for the full diagnostic sequence.
Pressure Tank Replacement
Bladder tanks fail in two ways: the air pre-charge leaks out through the Schrader valve (repairable with a recharge), or the rubber bladder tears (requires full tank replacement). A waterlogged tank causes short-cycling that can burn out a pump motor in weeks. Tank sizing matters: an undersized tank provides inadequate drawdown and the pump short-cycles even when the bladder is healthy. The pressure tank sizing guide covers the drawdown math. The short-cycling article walks the full diagnostic.
Check Valve Replacement
The check valve holds water in the drop pipe between pump runs. When it fails, water drains back into the well and the pump has to reprime every cycle, wearing the motor and increasing cycle time. A failed check valve often presents as a pump that runs for an unusually long time to build pressure after being idle overnight, or as an intermittent pressure loss after the pump has cycled off. Above-ground inline check valves near the wellhead are simple replacements. Check valves on the pump body itself require a pump pull.
Capacitor and Start Relay Replacement
Single-phase submersible pumps use a run capacitor and sometimes a start capacitor. Capacitors fail with age and are accelerated by heat and repeated short-cycling events. A weak capacitor shows up as a pump that starts slowly, hums without starting, or trips the breaker on startup. Capacitor replacement is an above-ground repair at the control box and is often the fix when a pump sounds like it is trying to start but cannot. For related diagnostics, see signs your pump is failing.
Drop Pipe and Drop Wire Replacement
In aggressive Floridan Aquifer water (low pH zones in the surficial aquifer, or high-sulfide zones), drop pipe joints and drop wire insulation corrode over time. A pinhole in the drop pipe causes the pump to push water out the hole rather than up to the pressure tank, presenting as a pump that runs constantly and builds low pressure. Drop pipe replacement requires a full pump pull and is typically done at the same time as pump replacement if both components are worn.
Submersible Pump Motor Replacement
Submersible pump motors are not field-serviceable. When the motor fails (usually from winding burnout, bearing failure, or capacitor damage that cascaded into the windings), the only fix is pump replacement. We carry Franklin Electric and Goulds submersibles in common sizes (0.5, 0.75, 1, 1.5, and 2 HP) on the truck. The pump lifespan article covers typical service life by pump type and water chemistry. See also when repair vs. replacement makes sense.
Repair vs. Replace: The Decision Framework
The right call depends on three factors: what failed, pump age, and the cost differential between repair and replacement.
- Always repair, regardless of age: pressure switch, pressure tank (bladder or pre-charge failure), above-ground check valve, capacitor, start relay. These components fail independently of motor condition. Replacing them does not shorten the remaining motor life or indicate a motor failure is coming.
- Repair if pump is under 8 years old: check valve at the pump body, drop wire corrosion, drop pipe repair. The pump motor still has reasonable remaining life and the component repair is cost effective.
- Replace if pump is over 10 years old and motor has failed: a pump motor failure in a 12 to 15 year-old pump in Central Florida hard water should be treated as an end-of-life event. A second failure of a different component is likely within one to two years.
- Replace and evaluate everything above ground: when we pull a pump that is over 10 years old for motor replacement, we also evaluate the pressure tank age, switch condition, and drop wire insulation, and quote replacements where warranted. Doing it at the same time saves a second service call.
For the economics in detail, see the repair vs. replace guide and the cost of new well drilling if the repair decision involves evaluating whether a new well is more cost-effective than rehabilitating an old system.
Central Florida-Specific Repair Considerations
Hard Water and Impeller Wear
The Floridan Aquifer delivers water with total hardness commonly ranging from 15 to 40 grains per gallon across Marion, Orange, Alachua, Lake, Polk, and surrounding counties. That mineral load accumulates on pump impeller stages over years of operation, reducing efficiency, increasing motor load, and accelerating winding heat buildup. Central Florida pumps often perform 20 to 30 percent below their rated flow rate after several years in high-hardness water. If your pump is delivering noticeably less pressure than it did when new, impeller scaling is a likely contributor. See the well water filtration guide for treatment options that reduce mineral deposition on pump components.
Lightning Damage
Florida leads the nation in lightning strikes per square mile. Lightning events routinely damage pressure switches (burned contacts), control box components (capacitors, relays), and in direct-strike situations, pump motors. Our standard practice after a lightning call is to inspect the full electrical path from the breaker panel through the pressure switch to the pump motor, because surge damage often hits multiple components simultaneously. The lightning damage article covers protection options including whole-house surge suppressors wired to the pump circuit.
Depth and Water Management District Rules
Any work inside the well casing (below the wellhead) is regulated under Florida Administrative Code Chapter 62-532. The applicable Water Management District (St. Johns River WMD, Southwest Florida WMD, or South Florida WMD, depending on your county) may require notification or a permit for major well rehabilitation. Routine pump pulls and replacements in the same borehole typically do not require a separate permit if the well construction itself is not being modified, but the licensing requirement for the contractor performing the work applies regardless. Quality Filters And Pumps holds FL Water Well Contractor License #7494.
Irrigation Pump Repair
Irrigation pumps, whether submersible in a separate irrigation well or surface centrifugal pumps drawing from a lake or pond, have different failure profiles than domestic supply pumps. Duty cycles are often much higher (8 to 12 hours per day during dry season), and many irrigation setups lack pressure tanks entirely, running the pump continuously during irrigation cycles. Common repair items on irrigation setups include impeller wear from sand and debris ingestion, motor burnout from high-duty-cycle heat, and clogged foot valves on surface-pump setups. We service all major irrigation pump brands across Central Florida. For a full overview of irrigation well installation, see our pump repair service page.
Filtration System Pump and Valve Repairs
Whole-house well water treatment systems (iron filters, water softeners, air injection systems) include their own pumps, valves, and controllers that require periodic repair and media replacement. Backwash valve failures, air pump failures on air-injection iron systems, and brine pump failures on softeners are common service items. These are above-ground repairs that do not require a well contractor license but do require familiarity with the treatment system design. See the well water filtration guide and the filtration repair service page for the full scope.
Service Areas for Pump Repair
Quality Filters And Pumps serves pump repair calls across Central Florida, including Orlando, Ocala, Gainesville, Kissimmee, Lakeland, Leesburg, Sanford, Winter Garden, Clermont, DeLand, and surrounding communities across Marion, Alachua, Orange, Osceola, Lake, Polk, Seminole, and Volusia counties.