Well Pump Installation and Repair in North Bay
Well pump service in North Bay is a licensed installation-and-repair service from Poly-B Plumbing for submersible pumps, jet pumps and pressure tanks on rural properties around North Bay, Callander, Sturgeon Falls, Powassan, Corbeil, Astorville, Bonfield, Nipissing, Redbridge and Mattawa. A submersible well pump is a sealed motor and pump that hangs below the water level in the well on a drop pipe and pushes water up to a pressure tank in the house. Poly-B is licensed for well work, installs Grundfos and Franklin Electric equipment, and prioritizes no-water calls during business hours. Call 705-345-6616.
Service hours
- Monday to Thursday7:00 am to 7:00 pm
- Friday7:00 am to 5:00 pm
- Saturday and SundayClosed
Emergency service is available during business hours only. Members of the $49-per-month plan get priority scheduling.
No water, low pressure, or cycling: what it usually is
Poly-B Plumbing tests the pressure switch, the tank, the wiring and the draw before pulling anything out of the well, because a good share of “the pump is dead” calls end at the switch or the tank.
| What you notice | Usual cause | Usual fix |
|---|---|---|
| No water at all | Tripped breaker, failed pressure switch, burnt control box capacitor, or the pump itself | Test in that order; replace the failed part; pull and replace the pump only when it has failed |
| Pump runs but pressure never builds | Leak in the drop pipe or pitless connection, worn impellers, low water level in the well | Pressure hold test on the well side; pull, inspect, repair or replace |
| Pump cycles on and off every few seconds | Waterlogged pressure tank (bladder failed) or switch set wrong | Recharge or replace the tank; reset the switch differential |
| Pressure drops during a shower, then recovers | Undersized pump or tank for the household, clogged intake screen | Re-size; clean or replace the screen |
| Air spitting from the taps | Well level dropping below the intake in dry months, or a leak on the suction side of a jet pump | Lower the pump or adjust the setting; repair the suction line |
| Sand or grit at the taps | Pump set too low, damaged screen, or a well that is producing fines | Raise the pump, add a sediment filter, assess the well |
| Breaker trips when the pump starts | Motor winding failing, wiring insulation damaged in the well | Insulation test; replace the motor and wire |
Submersible pump or jet pump?
| Submersible pump | Jet pump | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it sits | Down the well, below the water | In the house or pump house, pulling water up |
| Well depth | Any depth; the standard for drilled wells | Shallow wells; a deep-well jet manages moderate depths with less efficiency |
| Pressure and flow | Higher and steadier for the same horsepower | Lower; pulling water is harder than pushing it |
| Noise | Silent in the house | Audible wherever it is mounted |
| Freeze risk | Low; the connection is below frost at the pitless adapter | Higher; the pump and suction line are above ground |
| Poly-B’s usual advice | The replacement for most drilled wells around North Bay | Kept where it suits a shallow dug well or a seasonal cottage |
Replacing a jet pump with a submersible is a common upgrade on rural lots around Corbeil, Astorville and Bonfield, and Poly-B sizes the new pump from the well driller’s report and the household’s demand rather than matching whatever was there.
Sizing the pump to the well and the house
Too small and it will not keep up with a shower and a washing machine. Too big and it short-cycles the tank and wears itself out. Poly-B calculates the flow needed in gallons per minute, the total head from the pump setting to the highest fixture plus the pressure setting, and the well’s static level and recovery rate, then picks the horsepower, from half to one and a half, and the 2-wire or 3-wire configuration to match. The pressure tank is sized to the pump so the pump runs for a proper minute rather than a burst. Poly-B installs Grundfos and Franklin Electric pumps with a check valve, torque arrestor, pitless adapter and proper wire, not box-store pumps that are sized by price.
What well pump work costs around North Bay
Poly-B Plumbing quotes well pump work flat-rate, in writing, after the diagnosis. The price depends on:
- What actually failed. A pressure switch or a tank is a short visit. A pump at the bottom of a 200-foot well is a pull.
- Depth. Drop pipe, wire and the labour to pull and reset scale with depth.
- Pump size and configuration. Horsepower, 2-wire or 3-wire with a control box.
- The rest of the system. A waterlogged tank or a corroded tank tee replaced at the same time avoids a second call.
- Freeze protection. Heat trace and insulation on an exposed line or in a pump house.
A well pump typically lasts 8 to 15 years depending on usage, sizing and water conditions. Members of the $49-per-month plan get priority booking and 10 percent off.
Licensing for well work in Ontario
Ontario Regulation 903 under the Ontario Water Resources Act licenses well work. Installing or replacing a pump in a well is Class 4 well technician work, done under a well contractor licence, and Poly-B is licensed for wells alongside plumbing, septic and backflow prevention. The electrical connection to the pump is made to Electrical Safety Authority requirements. Plumber (306A) is a compulsory trade regulated by Skilled Trades Ontario, which covers the pressure tank, the piping and everything from the pitless adapter into the house. Poly-B’s owner is a Red Seal journeyman plumber in the trade since 2003, carrying up to $5 million in liability insurance.
Sources: Ontario, Wells Regulation 903, licences; Skilled Trades Ontario, Plumber (306A).
Wells around North Bay: what changes the job
Most rural wells here are drilled into Canadian Shield bedrock, and the water is soft, slightly acidic and often carries iron, and in some pockets sulfur. That water pinholes copper, stains fixtures and shortens the life of anything steel in the system, including the pump’s own fittings, which is why Poly-B pairs a well pump job with a water test and, where warranted, a neutralizer, iron filter or UV unit. Frost is the other local factor: the City of North Bay guideline of 1.8 m of cover for buried services is a good measure of how deep frost reaches in a normal winter, and a well line in a shallow trench or an unheated pump house freezes. Poly-B sets the pitless adapter below frost, insulates and heat-traces exposed runs, and plans drain-down layouts for seasonal cottages on Lake Nipissing and Trout Lake.
How Poly-B replaces a well pump
Diagnose first
Wiring, switch, control box, tank and draw tested before anything is removed.
Pull the old pump
Casing inspected, static water level checked, drop pipe and wire assessed.
Size and select
Flow, head, depth and tank matched; horsepower and configuration recommended in writing.
Install
New pump, wire, check valve, torque arrestor and pitless connection, sealed and tested; electrical to ESA requirements.
Test flow, pressure and recovery
Pump response, switch function and flow at the furthest tap, confirmed before leaving.
What customers around North Bay say
“The fastest plumbing service EVER, and 2 h after first contact, job done!”Iain Grant, Google review, May 2025
“I started a service with my water system with Poly-B Plumbing. To look after my filters and UV light. Poly-B Plumbing will make sure everything is done on time.”Wayne Macchiusi, Google review, May 2025
Where Poly-B services wells
Well pump questions from homeowners around North Bay
How long should a well pump last?
Typically 8 to 15 years, depending on usage, whether it was sized correctly, and the water conditions. A pump that short-cycles because the tank is waterlogged wears out years early.
Can Poly-B tell if it is the pump or the pressure tank?
Yes. Poly-B Plumbing tests pressure, the switch, the tank charge and the wiring before assuming the pump has failed, and confirms which part it is before quoting a replacement.
Does Poly-B do emergency well pump service?
Yes, during business hours, Monday to Thursday 7 am to 7 pm and Friday 7 am to 5 pm. No-water calls are prioritized.
Can Poly-B install a pump in a new well?
Yes. Poly-B Plumbing sizes the system from the well driller’s report and the household’s water demand, and installs the pump, pitless adapter, pressure tank and controls.
Should I replace my jet pump with a submersible?
On a drilled well, usually yes: steadier pressure, silent operation and less freeze risk. On a shallow dug well or a seasonal cottage a jet pump may still be the right fit. Poly-B Plumbing looks at the well before recommending either.
No water? Book a well pump inspection in North Bay
Monday to Thursday 7 am to 7 pm, Friday 7 am to 5 pm. Check the breaker first; if it is on and there is still no water, call.
Call 705-345-6616 Request a free online quote
Poly-B Plumbing, 1107 Yellek Trail, North Bay, ON P1B 8G5.