My Pump Is Short Cycling — Is That an Emergency? A Plain-English Guide for Valley Homeowners

There is nothing quite as annoying—and frankly, as worrying—as hearing that constant click-clack-click sound coming from your well house. If your pump is clicking on and off every 30 seconds, you are experiencing what we call “short cycling.” Homeowners all across Visalia, Exeter, and Three Rivers ask us this all the time: “My pump kicks on every 30 seconds. Is that bad?” The short answer is yes, it’s very bad, and if you don’t fix it, you will destroy your pump motor.

What’s Actually Happening?

When your system is working correctly, the pressure tank holds a volume of pressurized water. When you open a faucet, the pump doesn’t kick on immediately. Instead, the water is drawn from the tank first. As the pressure drops to a set point, the pump turns on to refill the tank, then shuts off.

Short cycling happens when the tank can no longer hold that cushion of pressurized water. Instead, the pressure drops instantly the moment you open a tap, and the pump kicks on. Close the tap, and the pressure spikes instantly, forcing the pump to shut off. Your pump is doing ten times the work it should be, and the frequent electrical surges are destroying the motor starter. Most of the time, the pump itself is perfectly fine—the problem is a waterlogged pressure tank that has lost its air cushion.

Three Things to Check Before Calling

Before you call us, there are three things you can check to get a better idea of what’s going on:

1. Tap the Tank: Go to your pressure tank. Tap on it from top to bottom. A good, functional tank should sound hollow at the top and solid at the bottom. If it sounds “solid” all the way to the top, it’s completely waterlogged and full of water, meaning it has no air cushion.
2. Observe the Gauge: Watch your pressure gauge while you are not using any water. Does the needle jump up and down rapidly? That’s a sure sign of a faulty pressure switch or a tank issue.
3. Check the Breaker: If the pump is cycling rapidly and the breaker in your electrical panel is tripping, the motor is likely pulling too much amperage because it’s being “tortured” by the frequent cycles.

When Is It the Pump?

If your tank is not waterlogged and you still have these issues, it could be the pump. Signs that it’s the pump failing include lower-than-normal pressure, a pump that sounds like it’s “grinding,” or a pump that never seems to reach the “shut-off” pressure, even when all the taps are closed.

We serve Visalia, Exeter, Three Rivers, and all of Tulare County. Call us and describe what you’re hearing — we can usually tell you over the phone if it’s urgent.