let's see if we can fix a water well problem (Page 3 of 3)
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FL, USA
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Thanks Well Guy! The well head is a solid 1 1/4" galvanized pipe, check valve is located about 2 feet from the ground, I'm just worried if I lose heat that water in the pipe below the check valve might freeze. I saw where some check valves have a bleeder screw to relieve the prime therefore having the water drop to water source level. Pipe and joints are rusted to hell so no easy way to replace check valve with one with a bleeder screw. I just hope I never lost heat up there(1700 miles away). |
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Originally Posted By Gone_rabid: @thewellguy This subject peaks my interest as I have some vacant land in NE Michigan, 10 mins from Lake Huron. I’d like to have a well on. I’d be fine fifth a hand pump. What is the process of finding out where to put a well? On small lots just put the well where it is most convenient. The underground aquifer is quite broad. |
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@thewellguy or anyone else who knows. I have wifi water alarms but what I don't have is a way to shut off the well pump from my phone if there is a problem. It's just a typical Square-D Pumptrol 30/50 pressure switch with low pressure cut off. Is there something I can replace that with that can be remote controlled through an app? Attached File |
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@F-M-B These guys are friends of mine. They make a very good product. I've just started using them.The DROP Pump Controller DROP Hub |
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@nortonl I apologize. I didn't see it until today. You should be able to get away with it. You're going to want to put the submersible pump inside a piece of four-inch plastic pipe approximately the length of the pump or slightly longer. Use a Fernco rubber clamp to seal it at the top of the pump. You're going to have to play with the rest of it. You may just leave it open-ended on the bottom. You could drill holes in the side, make saw cuts, or use some kind of screen. Whatever you end up with, the main difference is that the water runs past the motor to cool the pump, and the inlet is lower in the shallow water. |
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Originally Posted By TheWellGuy: @F-M-B These guys are friends of mine. They make a very good product. I've just started using them.The DROP Pump Controller DROP Hub Thanks. I'll look into that. |
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So I've noticed my well pump taking longer than normal to recover over the last few days. It's a shallow well with an above-ground jet pump. Pressure switch seems fine - cut-in and cut-off function as expected, set to 35-55. It is able to make pressure, but it seems to really be struggling with the last few PSI right now. The pressure is held over night just fine, so it's not an issue of it fighting a leak. Given how incredibly high the water table is around here, I can't imagine it is an issue of low levels in the well itself. Is it just my pump wearing out, potentially a clogged line somewhere, or something else? |
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Originally Posted By Walkure: So I've noticed my well pump taking longer than normal to recover over the last few days. It's a shallow well with an above-ground jet pump. Pressure switch seems fine - cut-in and cut-off function as expected, set to 35-55. It is able to make pressure, but it seems to really be struggling with the last few PSI right now. The pressure is held over night just fine, so it's not an issue of it fighting a leak. Given how incredibly high the water table is around here, I can't imagine it is an issue of low levels in the well itself. Is it just my pump wearing out, potentially a clogged line somewhere, or something else? What is it that you noticed that clued you in on it taking longer? Pump used to run for 30sec and shut off, now it’s taking a minute or longer? I have seen the pressure switches wear out and not be as “snappy” to shut the pump off right away. Could also be the pump wearing out. Silt at the bottom of the well, causing poor uptake into the pump and restricting flow could also be the problem. Have you checked the expansion tank? Properly charged with air? Water logged? This causes short cycling of the pump, turning it on and off rapidly when water is used. So I don’t suspect it as being the issue. |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Originally Posted By ZW17: What is it that you noticed that clued you in on it taking longer? Pump used to run for 30sec and shut off, now it’s taking a minute or longer? Originally Posted By ZW17: What is it that you noticed that clued you in on it taking longer? Pump used to run for 30sec and shut off, now it’s taking a minute or longer? Being a jet pump, it's quite hard to not hear it running in the house when it kicks on, and the runtime is noticeably longer. Used to run a minute or two, now takes an additional minute or two - but just estimating, haven't sat down and timed it. Originally Posted By ZW17: Have you checked the expansion tank? Properly charged with air? Water logged? This causes short cycling of the pump, turning it on and off rapidly when water is used. So I don’t suspect it as being the issue. No apparent issues there. Everything holds pressure, no signs of being waterlogged, and no short-cycling. The cut-in is proper at 35 psi (which is also only achieved by using an appropriate amount of water), it is just that it started taking longer to recover to the cut-off of 55 psi. |
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Originally Posted By Walkure: Being a jet pump, it's quite hard to not hear it running in the house when it kicks on, and the runtime is noticeably longer. Used to run a minute or two, now takes an additional minute or two - but just estimating, haven't sat down and timed it. No apparent issues there. Everything holds pressure, no signs of being waterlogged, and no short-cycling. The cut-in is proper at 35 psi (which is also only achieved by using an appropriate amount of water), it is just that it started taking longer to recover to the cut-off of 55 psi. I would suspect a weak pump, partial blockage, plugged strainer, or a well that has silted in (plugged strainer) Are mud or debris more than normal? Anything else other than it takes longer? Any steel or galvanized piping in your well plumbing? |
What is a democrat? Someone who wants everything you have, except for your job.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
Politicians should wear uniforms like NASCAR drivers so we could see their corporate sponsors.
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Is there a permanent solution to iron bacteria? They tried to sell me some $7k fancy filtration system, but that doesn’t solve the problem of I’ve got a shallow well (75’) and I need to shock it about every 2 months or the sulfur and orange sludge infiltrates, clogs the filter, and the smell starts. I’ve been pouring a quart or so of bleach down the well head, letting it sit for a half hour or so, then flushing all the pipes in the house. |
ProTip: Never pick a fight with a tree planter. He swings a hoedad for 9 hours a day, carries 30-40 pounds of seedlings on his back, and has 12-14 friends just like him hiding out on the other side of the junk butt pile. They will fuck your shit up.