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Plumbing

Water pump not working: what may be causing it and what to check

In many Cyprus homes a pump lifts water from a storage tank or boosts the pressure to the taps. When it stops working, the cause may be as simple as no water reaching it or no power, or it may be a fault in the pump, its pressure controls or a leak in the pipework. What you can safely do is observe and note what it does. Opening, testing or adjusting the pump is a job for a professional.

How this usually shows up

  • The pump does not start when a tap is opened
  • The pump hums but no water comes
  • The pump runs non-stop
  • The pump switches on and off every few seconds
  • A noisy pump, or pressure that has dropped

What may be happening

These are possibilities, not a diagnosis. Someone needs to see the problem to know which applies.

No water reaching the pump
If the storage tank or the supply is empty, the pump has nothing to move, and it can be damaged if it keeps running.
No power to the pump
A tripped breaker, a switched-off supply or a wider power problem can stop it starting.
A fault in the pump or motor
Possibilities include a worn motor, a seized part or a failed component. These need specialist checking.
A problem with the pressure controls
The pressure switch, the pressure vessel or the valves that decide when the pump starts and stops can misbehave, causing rapid on-off cycling or non-stop running.
A leak or air in the pipework
A leak can make a pump run constantly, and air in the line can stop it delivering water.

What you can safely check

  1. Check that the rest of the property has power, for example that the lights work.
  2. If you have a storage tank, look at whether there is water in it.
  3. Ask whether neighbours also have no water. It may point to the supply rather than your pump.
  4. Listen to what the pump does when a tap is opened: nothing, a hum, a click or constant running. Note it.
  5. From a safe distance, look at the pump, tank and pipes for drips, wet marks or corrosion. If the pump has a pressure gauge, note what it reads.
  6. Note when the problem started and whether anything happened just before, such as a power cut or a water cut.
  7. Take a photo or short video, including the pump label if you can read it.
Please do not
  • Do not open the pump, its motor or its electrical box.
  • Do not adjust pressure switches or pressure vessels, and do not test the electrics yourself.
  • Do not run the pump dry or keep restarting it. It can damage it.
  • Do not bypass the pump or force valves and fittings.
  • Do not keep resetting a breaker that trips.

When to get professional help

  • The pump hums but does not start, or the breaker trips when it tries to start.
  • It runs non-stop, or switches on and off rapidly, even with all taps closed.
  • There is a burning smell, smoke, sparking or water on or near the pump or its electrics. Keep clear and call 112 if there is any danger.
  • Water is leaking from the pump, the tank or the pipework.
  • The pressure has dropped sharply or the noise has changed.

How BB Cyprus can help

Send BB Cyprus a request telling us what the pump does, whether there is a storage tank, and the pump brand if you can see it. Pumps and pressure systems are areas we deal with. We review it, phone you back and tell you the appropriate next step. You get a written quote before any work starts.

This is part of our plumbing work.

BB Cyprus, also known as Bits&Bobs Cyprus, handles home repairs and property maintenance in Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca. You do not need to know which trade you need.

This page is general information, not a diagnosis. Every property is different, and electrical, refrigerant and pressurised-system work should be done by a qualified professional.