Household Hints & Help

multigraincracker

(34,626 posts) Wed Jan 22, 2025, 10:13 PM Jan 22

Haven't had any water for a couple of days.

The switch on the pump went out again. Last couple of times, I just took the cover off and tapped on it and would come back on. Not this time.
Went to Home Depot and ask what I could do. Guy suggested a can of spray. Crawled under the house and sprayed it good, and nothing. That was about 7 hours ago. Just turn on a faucet and bingo, It's on again. Guess I can get started on those dirty dishes now.

6 replies

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Haven't had any water for a couple of days. (Original Post) multigraincracker Jan 22 OP

Sorry about that. Been there , done that, after Hurricanes and also a freeze. surfered Jan 22 #1

My first thought was frozen pipes. Glad that wasn't it. We've been having 20 below weather here. multigraincracker Jan 22 #2

Yikes! Glad they weren't frozen. surfered Jan 22 #3

Before I had a pump house built, ants would get in the pressure switch. And croak. usonian Jan 22 #4

Dang, it's out again. Guess I'll just get a new switch. multigraincracker Thursday #5

Sorry to hear that. usonian Thursday #6

surfered

(4,517 posts)

1. Sorry about that. Been there , done that, after Hurricanes and also a freeze.

Reply to multigraincracker (Original post)

Wed Jan 22, 2025, 10:16 PM

Jan 22

It’s not fun, but it will end and things will get better. Hang in there.

multigraincracker

(34,626 posts)

2. My first thought was frozen pipes. Glad that wasn't it. We've been having 20 below weather here.

Reply to surfered (Reply #1)

Wed Jan 22, 2025, 10:19 PM

Jan 22

surfered

(4,517 posts)

3. Yikes! Glad they weren't frozen.

Reply to multigraincracker (Reply #2)

Wed Jan 22, 2025, 11:06 PM

Jan 22

usonian

(15,378 posts)

4. Before I had a pump house built, ants would get in the pressure switch. And croak.

Reply to multigraincracker (Original post)

Wed Jan 22, 2025, 11:42 PM

Jan 22

I would go check it daily with some 300 or 600 grit sandpaper. That got boring in a hurry.

No probs since the pump house was built. I sure wish the real estate agent wasn't so dismissive of it. Said it snows every ten years. (It snows 2 or 3 times a year here) and I had heat tapes installed at the same time.

I still carry sandpaper.

I have a two stage system with submersible pump and 2000 gallon storage tank. Must be a county fire code because everyone has one. Two pumps, each with a protection box. Quite the engineering feat.

Glad your switch was fixed. I know the feeling too "well". I keep contact cleaner spray on hand. Good for amps, radios and jacks. Avoid wd-40 for electrical work. It has paraffin in it, IIRC.

multigraincracker

(34,626 posts)

5. Dang, it's out again. Guess I'll just get a new switch.

Reply to usonian (Reply #4)

Thu Jan 23, 2025, 12:00 AM

Thursday

Mines under the crawl space. real pain going thru the window and on my hands and knees.
Just replaced the septic a month or so ago $11K.

usonian

(15,378 posts)

6. Sorry to hear that.

Reply to multigraincracker (Reply #5)

Thu Jan 23, 2025, 02:24 AM

Thursday

I did have smaller parts such as the switch anf gauge replaced a while back. New protection box for the booster pump and new electrical panel (It's outside and breakers were oooold, even if boxed up )

Can you clean contacts, not just spray with solvent? My equipment is above ground away from the house though. 300 or 500 grit sandpaper is what I used to use. Power off!!!

Pump houses here look like outhouses. Much more pleasant.

Good luck.

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