Installing a well pump may help bring clean, drinkable water to your home. But now you’re wondering, how many watts does a well pump use?
Well, pumps typically use about 700 to 800 watts of electricity. But larger pumps, particularly those with 1 HP or higher motors, use 2,000 watts or more.
Note that various factors influence well pump usage. More details below.
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How Much Power Does a Well Pump Use
As mentioned earlier, the average wattage range of a well pump is about 700 to 800 watts. However, those values might only be correct for specific pumps, particularly those with pump motor sizes of about 0.33 HP.
The size can also affect a well pump’s power requirements. Below is a quick rundown of the average electricity usage of different well pump sizes:
| Well Pump Motor Size | Starting Wattage | Running Wattage |
| ½ HP | 1,800 to 3,150 watts | 900 to 1,050 watts |
| ¾ HP | 3,000 to 5,400 watts | 1,500 to 1,800 watts |
| 1 HP | 4,000 to 7,200 watts | 2,000 to 2,400 watts |
| 1.5 HP | 5,000 to 8,400 watts | 2,500 to 2,800 watts |
| 2 HP | 7,500 to 12,000 watts | 3,750 to 4,000 watts |
Note that the well pump type can also affect its energy consumption. For instance, a submersible well pump may have a wattage range of 700 to 1,400 watts. But jet pumps may require 1,100 to 1,500 watts.
You can also find the required watts to run a well pump by looking at a label or sticker on the system’s container. On the other hand, inspect its owner’s manual or ask the manufacturer for the information.
Calculating Well Pump Power Usage
Generally, you must pay attention to the well pump’s wattage, its operational hours, and the electricity rate in your area to find out the system’s power usage. Then, use the following steps to calculate the appliance’s energy consumption:
- Multiply the pump’s wattage by its usage hours
- Divide the wattage by 1,000 to convert it into kilowatts
- Multiply the result from Step 2 by the kWh rate in your area
- Multiply the result from Step 3 by the operational days of the well pump
You can also find a pump’s wattage by multiplying the amperage with the voltage. For example, a 240v well pump drawing 5 amps will have a watt rating of 1,200 watts.
Note that doing manual calculations is only one of the options to find out a well pump’s electricity usage. An alternate way is to use an online well pump wattage calculator.
Also, consider the starting watts of the system since this power reading is required for the unit’s motor to start. The starting wattage is also usually higher than the device’s running watts.
Tips to Reduce Well Pump Power Consumption
After finding out the factors that influence a well pump’s electricity usage, perhaps the system is still causing high electric bills. If so, here are some tips and tricks to help you reduce the power consumption of that appliance.
1. Check for Leaks
Water leaks often force a well pump to work harder than usual to produce normal efficiency. Cracks, gaps, and holes in the pump’s hardware can lead to higher-than-normal energy bills.
Turn off the well pump’s power and inspect its connections. Also, check the pressure on its pressure gauge to investigate and confirm anomalies, if any.
Troubleshoot it if you’re confident with your understanding of the system. Otherwise, call a professional to repair the well pump for you.
2. Turn on During Off-peak Hours
You may not need to keep the well pump turned on constantly. It’s a good idea to activate the system during off-peak hours. That way, it can pull water from its source during the most cost-effective hours.
3. Replace and Reduce the Size
Perhaps your well pump is too big for your property. If so, replace it with a smaller unit. Doing so should help reduce energy consumption and, by extension, the utility bill.
Conclusion
Remember, finding out how many watts does a well pump use is important to manage your property’s energy usage. Don’t forget to inspect the pump’s size and type to identify and verify its wattage rating.
Alternatively, you can search for a sticker for that piece of information or ask the manufacturer for it. If you’re still experiencing high electricity usage with the pump, check for leaks or replace the well pump with a smaller unit.
I am Edwin Jones, in charge of designing content for Galvinpower. I aspire to use my experiences in marketing to create reliable and necessary information to help our readers. It has been fun to work with Andrew and apply his incredible knowledge to our content.