Abstract: A method and apparatus for unblocking particulate plugs that develop in a well that produces fluid laden with suspended particles when a pump in the well is idled are described. In order to remove the plugs, a valve is inserted in the production tubing above the pump, the valve permitting the well fluid to flow up past the valve but inhibiting the well fluid from flowing down past the valve so that a majority of particles that settle from the well fluid when the pump is idle are trapped above the valve and do not plug the pump. A volume of well fluid trapped between the bottom of the valve and the top of the pump permits pressure waves induced by starting and stopping the pump to be generated. The pressure waves force fluids past the valve until the particles in the plug are resuspended to permit production to resume. The advantage is a simple, low cost solution to a long standing problem which required pulling of the production tubing from the well in order to remove the particulate plug.