You can expect a residential well pump with moderate usage to last about 10 to 16 years, with an average of 12 years. The well itself has a 20 to 50 year life expectancy, with an average of 35 years. Here are several factors that will affect the lifespan of a well pump:

• How long pump runs throughout each day - This is also called the “duty cycle” and, obviously, pumps that are used more have a shorter life. But the number of times the well turns on and off each day is also a factor. Frequent on/off cycles, called “short cycling,” reduces pump motor life further. Short cycling is caused by a failed pressure tank. To read more about it, go to our blog post Why does my well pump turn on and off every time I use water?

• Sediment in the water - Sediment is an abrasive that wears down the moving parts of a pump.

• Size of motor - A pump motor with a higher horsepower rating will last longer.

• Quality of motor - A pump motor with higher quality bearings and windings costs more, but has a longer life.

• Weather protection - An above-ground well pump that is near grade and directly exposed to the weather will have a shorter life than one enclosed in a well shed and mounted off the ground.

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Field Guide for Home Inspectors, a quick reference for finding the age of 154 brands of HVAC systems, water heaters, and electrical panels, plus 210 code standards for site-built and manufactured homes, and the life expectancy rating of 195 home components. Available at amazon.com for $19.95.
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Here’s links to a collection of our other blog posts about WELLS:

• Should I buy a house with a well?

• What is the blue dumbbell-shaped tank at the well equipment?

• What is the tank marked "potassium permanganate" in the water treatment system for? 

• Does an abandoned well need to be capped or removed?

• Does a homeowner need a permit to drill a water well on their property in Florida? 

• Is a high iron level in well water a health hazard?

• How often should a well be disinfected? 

• Should I test my well water for arsenic?

• What is the danger of radon in well water? 

• What size generator do I need to run my submersible well pump?

• Why would a well need to have a chlorinator/dechlorinator system? 

• What is the required water testing for an FHA, VA, or USDA mortgage application? 

     Visit our WELLS page for other related blog posts on this subject, or go to the INDEX for a complete listing of all our articles.