Replies

1. 
   Guest_ | Jan 13, 2000 08:18pm | #5

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   Just moved into a house with a 490 ft. well. I have the papers from the most recent pump installation. I have several questions on the operation and maintence. The previous owner did'nt maintain the equipment in the house so I assume the well and equipment suffered the same neglect. I need a web site that provides some information.

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   Guest_ | Jan 08, 2000 08:06pm | #1

   *Stinky,There is a good plumbing board at http://www.plumbnet.com and they have posts on wells from time-to-time. You may be able to get more specific help there. I don't know what kind of preventive maintenance avoidable problems you had with your above ground system but the rule of thumb for submersible pumps is "if it ain't broke don't fix it". Submersible pumps are sealed units and there is nothing you can check or adjust. They work or they don't. Pulling one out of a deep well is a real job. Older pumps are also tempermental. You can pull one out of a well and drop it down another and it won't work. They just don't like to be disturbed. If you know your pump manufactuer's name you can search the net. Most have a web site and customer assistance contacts. Finally, call the pump installer/well company that did your job. Bet they would be happy to establish a line of dialog with a new owner.Steve

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   Guest_ | Jan 09, 2000 05:04am | #2

   *Thanks Steve! You got a point there about disturbing something that is'nt broke. The tank and cycles of pump operation are my main concern at this time, to prolong the life of the pump by fine tuning the pressure regulater and possibly adding another air tank to increase the reserve or drawdown capacity. Thanks for the post though!

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   Guest_ | Jan 09, 2000 07:09pm | #3

   *About the only thing you'll want to do is add air to the pressure tank as it dissolved into the water over time. as its to hadr to compress water you compress the air in the tank to give you the pressure you need. what i do is wait until the tank is filled after a cycle and see how much water is in it. this is easy for me as I don't have a insulated tank yet if it is over half full I get out the bycle pump and fill it a bit.

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   Peter_Michael | Jan 13, 2000 09:08am | #4

   *Maybe this link might help:http://pumpman.webjump.com/

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   Guest_ | Jan 13, 2000 08:18pm | #6

   *Stinky and Steve and Stubby,There is so much to know about wells and pumps. As has been pointed out here before, each well is different, based on the aquifer that it penetrates. My experiences are based on my current one, in NW Arkansas, and on my work (many moons ago) with irrigation wells in the Ogallalah (sp) aquifer in Kansas.Stinky, you mentioned that the previous owner wasn't great at maintenance. I'm sure you've already checked the filtering system if there is one, clogged filters, even moderately clogged, can cause the pump to work harder than needed. I guess one other area I'd look at is the wiring and power to the well. Well grounded? Is the wire size adequate for the pump located 500 ft away? Is the circuit breaker sized correctly?Steve, you are spot on, pulling a pump from a deep well is not a small job. (what would 500 feet of water weigh?) It may be best to leave it there. Stinky, if you're concerned about the condition of your pump, you may want to measure how much current is drawing, and compare to the pump's specs. Checking regularly can alert you to degradation of pump performance.Stubby, you mention checking the pressure in your captive air tank. Always a good idea to prevent too much cycling. If you need to add air often, either the bladder holding the air away from the water is blown/leaking, or it never had an air bladder to start with. I'd replace the tank with one with a function air bladder and follow the manufacturer's guidelines for pressurizing it. Stinky, Stubby is right, checking the pressure in the tank is a good place to start. If you are very concerned about the cycles on the submersible pump, and really want to increase drawdown/reserve capacity, you might consider converting to a double-pumping system. In this type of system, the submersible pump will pump into an undergound storage tank, and keep pumping, until either the float switch in the tank shuts it off, or the pump control unit (pumptec is one name, pumptrol another) senses by the power being drawn by the pump that the well has been drawn down to the pump level, and it is no longer producing water. At this point the pump is shut off, the pumptec waits a "programmed" amount of time (5 to 90 min is typical) and then tries again. Water is produced in the house from the underground storage tank by a second pump (usually smaller, and no need for submersible) with your captive air tank attached downline.Many advantages. If your well goes dry, you can truck water to the storage tank. Longer running times for the more expensive submersible pump. The above ground pump is easily serviced (replaced). 1500 gal storage tank all but eliminates the surprise "Shit, we're out of water." Caveat, many people have few problems with their wells. You might want to talk to your neighbors to better understand your particular situation. Or, if you know who installed the pump, or drilled the well, maybe contact them.