Submersible vs. Jet Pump Repair

Submersible Pumps

Submersible pumps sit down inside the well casing, at or below the water level, and push water up rather than pulling it — the standard choice for most wells deeper than about 25 feet. Because the whole unit is submerged, common failure points include:

• Control box failure (on 3-wire setups) — capacitors and relays wear out and are a much cheaper fix than the pump itself
• Wiring and splice failures in the drop cable, sometimes from age or from a poor splice at installation
• Worn impellers or motor bearings after years of continuous submersion and cycling
• Check valve failure causing the pump to lose prime or short-cycle

Diagnosing a submersible pump issue usually starts above ground — checking the control box, pressure switch, and wiring — before we ever consider pulling the pump itself, since a pull-and-inspect job is the more labor-intensive option.

Jet Pumps

Jet pumps mount above ground, either at the wellhead or in a pump house, and use suction (shallow-well, up to roughly 25 feet) or a combination of suction and a foot valve/second pipe (deep-well jet, functional to around 110 feet with reduced efficiency as depth increases). Because they're accessible above ground, common issues include:

• Loss of prime — jet pumps need to stay primed to function; a failed foot valve or air leak in the suction line causes this
• Impeller and motor wear, generally easier to access and repair than a submersible since the whole unit is above ground
• Freeze damage in winter if the pump house or wellhead isn't adequately insulated — a real consideration during Northwest Arkansas cold snaps
• Ejector/nozzle wear, which reduces pressure output over time even when the motor itself is fine

Which One Do You Have?

If your pump is visible above ground near the well or in a pump house/basement, it's a jet pump. If there's no visible pump — just a wellhead cap at ground level — the pump is submerged in the casing. If you're not sure, tell us the well's approximate age and depth when you call and we can usually tell you which type you likely have before we arrive.