Old Steamers

Pumps, pressure, and machines that outlived their makers

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Signs of Well Pump Failure: Symptoms, Causes, and Safe Checks

The main signs of possible well pump failure are:

By Walt Brenner · 11 August 2026 · 22 min read

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Well Water Pump Not Working? Safe Troubleshooting Guide

A house without water does not automatically mean the well pump has failed. The fault may be in the power supply, pressure switch, pressure tank, control box,…

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How Do You Prime a Pump? A Safe Step-by-Step Guide

Priming a pump means filling the pump casing—and, when the design requires it, the suction line—with the liquid being pumped while allowing trapped air to…

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Well Pump Capacitor Replacement: Testing, Matching & Safety

Electrical safety warning: A capacitor can retain a dangerous charge after supply power has been disconnected. Switching off a breaker is not, by itself, proof…

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Well Pump Stopped Working? Safe Troubleshooting Steps

When a well pump stops working—or appears to—the pump itself is only one possible cause. A tripped breaker, failed pressure switch, clogged filter, closed…

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Pump Pressure Switch: Selection, Settings & Troubleshooting Guide

A pump pressure switch is easy to recognize but easy to misdiagnose. It responds to water pressure and tells a pump when to start or stop, placing it at the…

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Claverton Pumping Station: History, Engineering & Visitor Guide

Claverton Pumping Station is best understood not simply as an old waterwheel, but as a complete water-management system.

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Sump Pump Definition, Purpose, Installation & Maintenance Guide

A sump pump is not a stand-alone promise of a dry basement. It is one part of a building-wide water-management system, and it works only when water can reach…

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Check Valve One Way Valve Guide: Types, Selection & Use

A check valve, one-way valve, and usually non-return valve are synonymous general terms. Each describes a two-port valve—with an inlet and an outlet—that…

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VP44 Injection Pump: Why They Fail & How to Keep the Next One Alive

Why the Bosch VP44 injection pump on 1998–2002 Cummins diesels fails, the real warning signs, and the fuel-pressure fix that saves replacements.