Do it Yourself: Re: [DIY] Well pump inop

10 October 2012

Re: [DIY] Well pump inop

Ditto what Dave said, if the pump is a submersible, down in the well, as opposed to an above ground pump, it won't need priming. Ed

--- In DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com, Dave Uebele <daveu@...> wrote:
>
> A couple other cases that have not been mentioned.
> I'm on a well, and the pump lives inside the well. It
> does not need priming. While I have a backup generator
> for the well, I've had work done on the plumbing (drained)
> and did not need to re-prime. You will need to purge the air
> from the lines to get water again. and there can be weird air
> bubbles in your water lines. Try opening several valves to allow
> the air out.
>
> You turned off the breaker to the pump and opened a valve.
> Water could still be in the lines, and depending on your weather,
> could have frozen and created a block. (I don't know if you've hit
> freezing temps yet. Treat as you would any frozen water line, but
> at least the system was not pressurized so less likely to
> burst a line.
>
> Typically a well system has some sort of holding vessel
> so that the pump does not need to cycle on each time
> there is water demand. In some cases, this is gravity (a water tower).
> more common in household wells is a pressure tank. It has a flexible
> bladder inside, water on one side, compressed air on the other.
> These bladdeers sometimes leak, reducing your air pressure to help
> push the water through (it could have been marginal, and draining the
> system allowed the bladder to fail).
>
> I would try to trace the water system, see if you can find the pressure
> tank (water pipes in the bottom, tire pressure valve in the top,
> sometimes in garage, or in small shed on the property, near the well
> head).
> Typically you'll want around 30 PSI air presure, but check your
> system for value needed. There is often a flush valve near the
> tank, see if you are getting water there.
>
> Check the pressure switch. It turns the pump on when the water pressure
> drops. Perhaps the contacts are stuck. Work from the pressure tank out
> to the rest of the house. If you have water at the pressure tank,
> work out, further from the tank, see if/where you have water.
>
> If you don't have water at the pressure tank, check the tank and
> pressure switch. Also many pumps have a switching circuit separate
> from well.
> Investigate these first because the solutions are less expensive. If
> still stuck, find someone that services wells, they will probably run
> through the same checks. Worst case, they need to pull the pump
> from the well, bringing in some sort of crane. Lets hope that is not
> needed.
>
> Hope that helps.
>
> dave
> On 10/08/2012 09:16 PM, Jerry Gmail wrote:
> > I have inherited a house 200 miles away. In preparation for the winter
> > freeze, I went to the house about three weeks ago.
> >
> > Every house I have lived in was connected to city water. So to make sure
> > that nothing ugly happens I have always been able to shut off the water to
> > the house with a valve. Then I could kill the water heater and feel
> > somewhat safe about potential water damage. With the well, I thought this
> > would be even easier. Before I left three weeks ago I just killed the power
> > to the pump and the power to the water heater. I opened a tap at the sink
> > and no water came out so I came home.
> >
> > Today I went up to the house to cut the grass and I flipped the breakers
> > back on. But I did not get any water. A little spit of air and that was
> > it.
> >
> > I do not know what kind of pump this is. I cannot even find the pump.
> >
> > I cannot hear one sound. Does a pump like this require a prime? And if so,
> > how does one prime it?
> >
> > Or has something burned out completely?
> >
> > I will be returning to this house in about two weeks and I would like to be
> > able to get a drink and flush the toilets.
> >
> > Thanks
> >
> > Google Jer
> > Woodhaven, Mi
> >
>
>
>
> --
> Dave Uebele (daveu@...)
>