Can It Wait Until Morning?
Not every well problem is an emergency. A lot of calls from Centreville well owners start with pressure that is weaker than it used to be, and that can usually wait for a daytime visit. No water at all is different. So is a pump that will not stop running, a breaker that keeps tripping, or water spreading where it should not be.
Here is a rough guide:
- Call the emergency line now: no water, a pump that runs nonstop, a breaker that trips again after a reset, or water pooling near the well.
- Call during the day: pressure that dips now and then, faucets that spit a little air, or a pump that clicks on more often than it used to.
The emergency number is 703-776-0996, available 24/7. Everything else can go to 703-791-3981. When in doubt, call. We would rather talk briefly and tell you it can wait than have you guess wrong.
The Warning Signs That Often Come First
Most wells do not fail without a hint. Looking back, owners often remember a few weeks of odd behavior. Pressure dropping in the shower. A pump that seemed to run longer. A click at the tank every few seconds while the sink ran. Air spitting from the kitchen faucet.
Those signs usually point to the pressure tank, the pressure switch or a wearing pump. A tank that has lost its air charge makes the pump start far too often, and all those starts wear it down. With the breaker OFF and a cold tap run until it stops, the tank’s air should read about 2 psi under the low number of your switch setting, around 38 on a 40-60. Our pressure tank replacement in Centreville page covers what happens when the tank is the problem, and low water pressure on a well explains the other usual suspects.
A pump that never shuts off
This one surprises people. A pump that runs and runs can be a sign of a leak, and sometimes the leak is as simple as a running toilet. Other times it is a line in the yard, or a pump that can no longer build enough pressure to reach the shutoff point. Either way, a pump that never rests will not last.
If the Taps Are Already Dry
- Find the well breaker. If it tripped, turn it fully OFF and leave it.
- Think about the power. After an outage, some pressure switches drop out and need a reset. Our guide on lost water after a power outage explains why.
- Listen for a running toilet. A leak can keep a pump running until it gives out.
- Call 703-776-0996.
Leave the pressure switch cover closed and do not touch any wiring. Keep the faucets closed, too. Our emergency no-water service page covers how we handle these calls from start to finish.
While you wait, set aside bottled water for drinking and cooking. If there is a pressure gauge near the tank, note what it reads. That number helps us on the phone.
Well Homes in 20120 and 20121
Most of Centreville runs on public water. The homes that call us are usually on the outer edges, out toward Clifton, where lots are bigger and private wells are common. Centreville is in Fairfax County, just next door to our Prince William County service area. Route 28, Route 29 and I-66 all put us through Centreville regularly.
One honest note. If your home is on public water and the water stops, the call belongs to your utility, not a well company. A quick look for a pressure tank and a well cap will tell you which one you have.
On problems that are not urgent we may diagnose by phone first. A true no-water call is different. We get on the road.
What the Fix Usually Looks Like
On site, we start with a free diagnosis, within reason. We check the power and pressure switch, the tank, the pump and the line to the house. If the pump is worn out, and pumps last on average 10 to 15 years, we replace it with a Gould, Myers or Grundfos pump. If uneven pressure was part of the story, a constant pressure system is worth talking about, since it can keep pressure steady at every tap. Pump installs carry a 5-year warranty. See well pump repair and our Centreville well pump repair page for more. If the tank failed instead, a Well-X-Trol tank matched to your switch setting is often the fix.
After any work on the well, a bacteria test is widely recommended. Our water testing covers bacteria, pH, lead and nitrates, and well water testing in Centreville has the local details.
Oasis Well Service is family owned. Ken Lindgren founded it in 1987, his son John runs it now, and grandson Brandon is on the crew. We are licensed and insured, and our work meets county code.
Neighbors can find emergency well service in Clifton and emergency well service in Broad Run on their own pages.