Your pumpstoppedworking.
Here is what that means — and what we do about it.
Pump failures, pressure-tank problems, low-flow conditions. Cribley diagnoses submersible pumps, jet pumps, and pressure systems across Washtenaw and Livingston Counties — and tells you honestly whether repair or replacement makes more sense for your system.
Five failure modes.Each has a specific cause — and a specific repair.
The symptom you see — no water, low pressure, short cycling, air in the lines — is the starting point, not the diagnosis. The wrong conclusion means the wrong repair. The wrong repair means the same problem in three months. Recognize the symptom; let us isolate the cause.
- 01Emergency
No water at all
Electrical · pump motor
The pump has stopped running entirely. No water reaches the tap. Most homes catch this when they turn on a faucet and nothing comes out — sometimes after a thunderstorm, sometimes mid-shower, sometimes with no warning at all.
- Likely cause
- Motor failure · pressure-switch fault · broken wire
- Diagnostic step
- Electrical continuity test · pressure-switch inspection
- Typical resolution
- Repair if connection-level · replace if pump motor is burned out
- 02Urgent
Very low pressure
Hydraulic · flow rate
Water flows but slowly or inconsistently. Showers drag on. Filling a bath takes longer than it used to. The pump may be running constantly without delivering normal pressure.
- Likely cause
- Failing pump · clogged check valve · low water table · sediment-blocked screen
- Diagnostic step
- Pressure gauge reading · flow rate test · static water level check
- Typical resolution
- Cleaning or replacement depending on what the test reveals — each cause has a different fix
- 03Urgent
Pump runs constantly
Pressure · tank state
The pump turns on and off frequently with normal household use — every few seconds rather than every few minutes. Short cycling is the symptom. The pump itself is fine; the pressure tank has lost its air charge or its bladder has failed.
- Likely cause
- Waterlogged pressure tank · failed bladder · pressure-switch out of spec
- Diagnostic step
- Tap test on pressure tank · air-charge measurement
- Typical resolution
- Tank recharge if minor · replacement before the pump motor burns out
- 04Urgent
Air in the water lines
Flow · drop pipe integrity
Sputtering at the tap. Air bubbles in the water. Sometimes a sudden gulp of air followed by water again. The pump may be running but pulling air instead of water — the water level dropped below the intake, or the drop pipe has a crack.
- Likely cause
- Water table dropped below pump · cracked drop pipe · failing well seal
- Diagnostic step
- Pump depth verification · well log review · pull-and-inspect if drop pipe suspected
- Typical resolution
- Lower the pump · replace drop pipe section · reseal wellhead
- 05Scheduled
Discolored or sediment-heavy water
Sediment · screen failure
Brown, sandy, or cloudy water — particularly after a period of no use, after nearby construction, or following a heavy storm. May also indicate pump wear leaving metal particles in the water.
- Likely cause
- Failing well screen · sediment intrusion · advanced pump wear
- Diagnostic step
- Water quality test · video inspection of well · pump pull if internal wear suspected
- Typical resolution
- Screen replacement · pump replacement · water quality follow-up
When your water stops working.Call us — even outside business hours.
We offer after-hours emergency response for pump failures and water loss — and we come with the equipment to handle most jobs in one visit. Call now to confirm availability.
Diagnose first.Recommend after. You decide.
- 01
Service call & on-site diagnostic
We come to your property with a diagnostic process, not a sales pitch. Pressure readings, electrical tests, flow measurements — the work to isolate the actual cause rather than guessing at the symptom.
- Same-day
- Where scheduling allows
- 02
Diagnostic report
We explain what we found, in plain English. What the symptom indicated. What the test confirmed. What the failure mode is. You see the readings and understand the reasoning before any repair is recommended.
- Format
- Written · itemized
- 03
Repair or replace — honestly
If the system can be repaired economically, we repair it. If repair would only delay a larger failure, we say so and explain why replacement is the better call over the next 12 months. You decide.
- Decision
- Yours · informed
- 04
Verification & follow-up
Pressure tested. Pump cycle verified. Water clarity confirmed. We do not leave the property until the system is performing within spec — and we follow up a week later to confirm everything is holding.
- Warranty
- On parts and labor
Not sure what's wrong?That is what the diagnostic visit is for.
We diagnose first. We recommend after. You decide.