Pump Saver Installation After Repeated Pump Failures — Dunkirk, MD
A Dunkirk homeowner had burned through two well pumps in four years. Both failed from dry running. We installed a Pump Saver motor protection device and the pump has run without issue for over a year.
The Problem
A homeowner in Dunkirk called us after their second well pump failed in four years. The first pump had been replaced by another company. The second pump — installed just 22 months earlier — had also burned out. The homeowner was frustrated and skeptical that any pump would last. The symptoms were consistent: the pump would run fine for months, then suddenly stop delivering water. When we pulled the pump, the motor windings were burned — classic dry-run failure.
Our Diagnosis
We inspected the well and found the water level was dropping below the pump intake during periods of high demand — particularly in summer when irrigation was running alongside household use. The pump was running dry for minutes at a time, overheating the motor. The well was producing adequate water overall, but the pump was drawing it down faster than the aquifer could replenish during peak demand. Neither previous company had diagnosed this or installed any protection against it.
The Repair Process
- 1Pulled the failed pump and inspected the motor — confirmed burned windings from dry running
- 2Measured static water level and drawdown rate during pumping
- 3Confirmed the well yield was adequate but the pump was outrunning recovery during peak demand
- 4Installed a new Goulds submersible pump properly sized for the well yield
- 5Installed a Pump Saver motor protection device on the control box
- 6Programmed the Pump Saver to monitor amp draw and shut off the pump if it runs dry
- 7Set a 10-minute restart delay to allow the well to recover before the pump restarts
- 8Tested the system through multiple demand cycles — pump cycling correctly
The Outcome
The pump has been running without issue for over a year. The Pump Saver has triggered three times during high-demand periods — each time shutting the pump off before any damage occurred and restarting it after the well recovered. The homeowner now has a system that protects itself. We also recommended a Cycle Stop Valve for additional protection, which the homeowner installed six months later.
Key Takeaway
A Pump Saver is a $200–$300 device that prevents the most common cause of premature well pump failure. We install one on every pump we replace. If your pump has failed more than once, dry running is almost certainly the cause.
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