No Water From Your Well? Safe Checks & Who to Call
When the taps go dry, start with a few safe checks below. If they don’t bring the water back, call 417-759-4388 and we’ll connect you with an independent, DNR-permitted well and pump contractor serving the Springfield area.
- Takes 5 minutes
- No tools needed
- Know when to stop and call
Safe first checks
Work through these in order. None of them require opening electrical equipment or the well.
1. Is it the whole house?
Try a faucet at the other end of the house and an outside spigot. If only one fixture is dry, the problem is likely that fixture, its shutoff valve, or a clogged aerator, not the well.
2. Read the pressure gauge
Most systems have a gauge near the pressure tank. A reading at or near 0 psi means water isn’t reaching the system. A normal reading with no water at the taps points to a blockage inside the house, such as a clogged filter.
3. Check the well pump breaker
Look for a breaker labeled well, pump, or water, usually a double-pole breaker. If it has tripped, reset it once. If it trips again, leave it off and call a professional. Repeated tripping usually means a short in the pump, wire, or controls.
4. Check filters and softeners
A clogged whole-house sediment filter can choke off water. If your filter or softener has a bypass valve and you know how to use it, putting it in bypass is a quick test.
5. Think about what happened right before
A thunderstorm or power outage can damage a pump, control box, or pressure switch. If the water sputtered and turned to air before it quit, the well may have been pumped down faster than it refills. Turning the pump breaker off for a while can let the water level recover, but if it keeps happening, the well and pump need to be looked at.
Please don’t: tap or pry on the pressure switch with the power on (it carries 240 volts), open the well cap or control box, or leave a pump running when no water is coming out. Running dry can destroy a pump.
What usually causes a dry tap
These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. A contractor needs to test the system to know for sure.
| What you notice | Common causes |
|---|---|
| Gauge reads 0, breaker is fine, pump is silent | Failed pressure switch, control box part, broken wire, or a failed pump motor |
| Breaker trips right away or after a few seconds | Short in the pump motor, cable, or splice; failed capacitor; lightning damage |
| Pump runs but pressure never builds | Water level below the pump, broken drop pipe or coupling, worn pump, stuck check valve |
| Water sputters, then quits, then comes back later | Well producing less water than the pump draws (low yield) or a falling water level |
| Gauge shows good pressure but faucets are weak or dry | Clogged sediment filter, softener problem, or frozen or blocked pipes |
| No water after a power outage or storm | Tripped breaker, damaged pressure switch or control box, lightning damage to the pump |
After the water comes back
Repairs that open the well, like pulling a pump, can introduce bacteria. The CDC recommends testing well water after any repair or replacement of part of the well system. If water comes back cloudy, discolored, or smells different, don’t drink it until it has been tested. See where to get well water tested around Springfield.
No-water FAQ
Why did my well stop working after a thunderstorm?
Lightning and power surges can damage the pressure switch, the control box, or the pump motor itself. Check the breaker first. If it is tripped and trips again after one reset, or if nothing happens, a contractor will need to test the controls and the pump.
Can my well run dry?
A well can be pumped down faster than it refills, especially during heavy use or dry weather. You may notice sputtering and air before the water stops. Letting the well rest can help in the short term, but repeated episodes are a reason to have the well and pump evaluated.
Is it safe to drink the water after the well is fixed?
Not always. The CDC recommends testing after repairs or replacement of well parts. If the water looks, smells, or tastes different, use bottled water until it has been tested.
Will Ozark Well Pros send someone right away?
We work to connect you with an available local contractor as quickly as we can, but we can’t guarantee a response time. Contractors set their own schedules, and availability varies, especially during storms and holidays.
Still no water?
Call or send a request. Tell us your town and what the water is doing, and we will connect you with an independent local well and pump contractor.
Ozark Well Pros is an independent referral service, not a well drilling or pump installation contractor. We connect homeowners with independent, Missouri DNR–permitted well and pump contractors, who set their own pricing, schedules, and warranties.