Well Pump Repair in Washington, DC

A straight answer for District residents

If your home is inside the District, your water comes from DC Water, which distributes Potomac River water treated by the Washington Aqueduct. There is no well pump to fix. A sudden loss of water or a pressure drop points elsewhere: a DC Water main break, a problem on your service line, a failing pressure regulator, a closed or broken valve, or old galvanized pipes narrowed by buildup. For an outage or a break in the street, DC Water's 24-Hour Command Center is at 202-612-3400. Inside the house, a plumber can trace the cause.

Who this page is for

Outside the city, some properties still draw their own water, and when the pump quits, the whole house goes dry. Typical well systems include a submersible pump down in the well or a jet pump in a basement or pump house, a pressure tank, a pressure switch and a control box. Any of those parts can fail.

What you notice and where to look

Cold-weather problems

Mid-Atlantic winters bring freezing nights, and above-ground parts suffer first: a pressure switch tube, tank fittings or piping in an unheated pump house or crawlspace can freeze and split. Heat tape, insulation and a sound enclosure prevent most of these calls.

Repair or replace

Pressure switches, tank bladders and control box parts are often quick repairs. A failed submersible pump has to be pulled from the well, which takes more equipment and time. Age, depth and how often the system has needed service all factor into the choice.

What sets the price

Cost depends on which component failed, pump type and depth, whether the pump must be pulled, wiring condition, and whether the pressure tank is replaced at the same time.