You start your well pump and suddenly you smell something burning. It could be your well pump capacitor blowing. Now don’t need to panic, because we are here for you.
Why does my well pump capacitor keeps blowing?
There could be a lot of reasons behind this happening. You might have a bad installation, a wrong capacitor, or more electricity flowing. Moreover, you might also have a dirty filter. So, you might have to clean that as well. Otherwise, it’s a problem with your motor!
This was just a jist of very elaborate explanations. You can read all that below, just scroll down!
So, let us not waste any time, and get right into it!
Why does the Pump Capacitor Keep Blowing Up?
There can be a lot of reasons for your well pump capacitor to keep blowing up. But the main reason might be that your capacitor is bad from the beginning.
Along with that, there might be a handful of reasons as to why this is happening! These are explained down below.
Reason 1 of 4: Debris Stuck in Filter
Sometimes dirt and sand can get into the filter and cause light-loading. This could also lead to a potential problem with your pump’s pressure.
Moreover, this can also happen due to higher pressure caused by air suction. Because of the extra load, there can be pipe damage as well as leaks.
Solution
To clean off the air filter, you’ll need a flathead screwdriver to take it out. Then using a clean cloth carefully get rid of all the sand and debris. After that, put the filter back on and your capacitor should start to work fine.
In case of a leak, you’ll need to replace the pipes with new ones. Moreover, you need to routinely clean your capacitor’s air filter.
Reason 2 of 4: Overflowing of Electricity To The Capacitor
Another reason might be the excessive flow of electricity to your pump capacitor. A higher flow of electricity will make your pump motor run faster. This will cause the capacitor to heat up and even blow it!
Solution
To prevent this from happening you need to have a well pump breaker. This will cut off the electricity when it sees an overflow. Thus it will save your capacitor from exploding.
Well, you can get a lot of breakers in the market. But you have to choose the right breaker that fits your capacitor.
To help you out, here are some of the most recommended well pump capacitor breakers:
| Product 1 | |
| Product 2 |
Install one of these, and you’ll no longer face this problem!
Reason 3 of 4: Faulty Capacitor
At times the capacitor can be faulty. It might not be meeting the microfarad rating or voltage rating. This mismatch can cause your capacitor to blow up. Moreover, the problem can just be with the installation.
Solution
Now as for the voltage and microfarad rating mismatch, you need to swap it. For the right specifications, check the user manual and buy the recommended one. You can also refer to the capacitor that came from the OEM.
For example, if your OEM capacitor had 370v, then you have to buy 370v or more. You can also buy a capacitor with a higher voltage, it doesn’t do any harm. But if you buy under the required amount, that causes problems.
However, in case there was an installation problem, you have to reinstall it. Badly installed ones can not only blow up, but they can also damage your motor too.
For the installation process, you’ll be needing a flathead, screwdriver, rubber gloves, and the new capacitor.
Now put on some rubber gloves because we know that working with electricity can be risky. So you’ll have to be extra cautious while working on this process.
Use the flathead to unscrew the capacitor cover. After that, you need to unscrew the wires, both ground and live, from the motor. Take off the old capacitor.
After that, using the same technique in reverse, install the new capacitor. Check the wires and then screw the cable to the motor. Finally, put the cover back on, and there you’re all done!
Note: If your capacitor doesn’t come with a cover, you can keep it that way!
Reason 4 of 4: Problems With The Motor
If you’ve checked all other options but the capacitor keeps blowing, the motor might be at fault. The motor might be damaged due to working too much to keep the capacitor going. In that case, it has to be replaced.
Solution
For this, it’s better to call a professional and ask them to change it. This process might include heavy machinery which might be difficult to handle alone.
That’s basically how you can identify if the pump capacitor is bad and fix it.
FAQs
Question: How long does a well pump capacitor last?
Answer: A well pump capacitor can last for about 30 years or so. But it’ll require routine maintenance. You also need to replace some of its parts every 3 years.
Question: How to test a pressure switch on a well pump?
Answer: For you to test that, you need to check and clean the switch relay contacts. Then examine the four contacts for burning or pitting points. But if you see any kind of damage then you’ll be needing to replace the pressure switch. Otherwise, grind it down with fine-grit sandpaper until you see the metal.
Question: Why does my pump keep kicking on and off?
Answer: It is mainly because your pump is losing air charge. This means, there’s not much air reserve. Which is most likely to be the cause of your pump for short cycling. To fix this, you need to check if the air volume control valve is not dirty or leaking.
Conclusion
That was all from us. We hope you now know what to do if your well pump capacitor keeps blowing. Let us know if you have any queries.
If you face any troubles with the process, call a professional.
We’ll leave you to it, live long!