Skip to content
Pickering Plumbing Company markPickeringPlumbing Co.Call now(365) 334-6645

Trade entry ยท Rural water

Well Pump Service in Pickering

North of Highway 7, many Pickering homes draw water from their own well. When the taps sputter or the pump never stops running, the problem is usually in the pump, the pressure tank or the switch.

  • On the truck: pressure gauge, bypass valve, hardness strips and a pressure switch
  • First look: where the supply enters, ahead of the heater
  • No permit usually needed for a like-for-like repair
  • Booked within the week, often sooner
  • A price range on the phone, a firm quote before work
Call now(365) 334-6645

A plumber answers.
No forms, no waiting list.

Close-up of hands scooping clear blue water from a reflective pool outdoors
Close-up of hands scooping clear blue water from a reflective pool outdoors.

Open 7 daysEmergencies any hour

  • Licensed plumbers, details on request
  • Quote before any work starts
  • Pickering and Durham Region
  • Residential and commercial

What you can do first

  1. Check the breaker for the pump.
  2. Look at the pressure gauge near the tank and note the reading.
  3. Listen for clicking at the pressure switch.
  4. Do not keep resetting a pump that trips repeatedly.

For filtration or softening on well water, see water filtration and water softener installation. Outdoor taps on rural properties are covered under outdoor faucet repair.

Signs you need well pump service

  • No water at any tap, or water that sputters with air
  • The pump clicks on and off each few seconds (short cycling)
  • Pressure that drops quickly while showering
  • The pump runs constantly and never shuts off
  • A sudden jump in the hydro bill with no other explanation
  • Sediment or cloudiness that appears suddenly

We start at the pressure tank and switch, because most problems show up there.

How we handle the job

We start at the pressure tank and switch, because most problems show up there. We check the tank's air charge, inspect the pressure switch contacts, and watch the gauge through a full cycle. A waterlogged tank causes short cycling and is often a simple fix.

If the tank and switch are fine, we look at the pump itself. Shallow wells and some older dug wells use a jet pump in the basement or pump house; deeper drilled wells use a submersible pump hung in the casing. Pulling a submersible requires lifting equipment and is sometimes done with a licensed well contractor, as Ontario regulates work on the well itself. We test amperage, check for leaks in the drop pipe, and confirm the foot valve or check valve holds.

Pickering homes and this problem

The hamlets and farms of rural Pickering, including Claremont, Brougham, Greenwood and the countryside along the Oak Ridges Moraine, rely largely on private wells, while much of the urban area is on municipal supply. Many of these are older dug wells or drilled wells serving farmhouses and newer estate homes alike. Power outages in rural areas also leave well owners without water, which makes a standby plan worth considering.

Job note: Ontario offers free bacteriological testing of private well water through Public Health Ontario labs, with sample bottles available locally. Check the current details, and read our well water testing note.

What affects the cost

Pump type and depth, whether the pump needs pulling or just the controls need attention, the tank size, and how far the property is from the road. We explain each step before doing it.

Questions callers ask

What makes a well pump short-cycle?

Short cycling usually means the pressure tank has lost its air charge or the bladder has failed. It wears out the pump, so it is worth fixing quickly.

Do you work on the well itself?

We service pumps, tanks and controls. Work on the well structure is regulated in Ontario, and we bring in a licensed well contractor when needed.

Related pages

Call (365) 334-6645