Hi, We live on an acreage with a well. For the last few days the water has been sputtering when first turned on. We have a whole house water filter in the line. I thought perhaps the filter had become dirty so purchased a new replacement filter and replaced it. The sputtering continued. Today went to turn the water on and no water was available. In checking, there is no pressure in the holding tank. Checked the breakers and none were thrown. It has been extremely cold the last few days but the pipe entering the building is several feet underground, well below the frost line. How can I check to see if it is the water pressure tank or the well pump?

Turn off breakers to well. Now.

Assuming a submersible pump.

With no pressure in the tank the pump switch will be closed and the pump is running. However, no water is being pumped into the tank. That and the air in the line (the sputtering) indicate a ruptured well pipe or a break in the line between the well and the tank. No point in burning the motor up.

You can begin trying to locate the break by first going to the well head and with the pump running, listen for the sound of water running back down the well.

How deep is the well, how far from house and how deep is the pipe buried?
Do you have a pitlless adapter at the well head?

Is your well pump down in the well or up top?

Good question. Submersible pump (in the well) or a jet pump above ground?