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

10 October 2012

RE: [DIY] Well pump inop

There should be a well casing somewhere, everywhere that I know of the casing must be well above ground level and grouted in to prevent water from draining directly into the well. It almost sounds like the well may be under the house, or almost under it. if so the pressure tank may also be there.

From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jerry Hnidy
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 7:21 PM
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Subject: RE: [DIY] Well pump inop

This house is built over a crawl space and that space is for smaller men than me to crawl around in. I have to cut the grass now and have not found a well or a well house. I can find the water softener - at least I think it is a softener. It requires salt from time to time - and my guess is that is the first thing that the water sees when it enters the house. So if I go up there all alone again, I will start looking at that softener.

Google Jers Tablet
Woodhaven, MI

On Oct 9, 2012 8:00 PM, "Bill Chmelik" <Chmelik@earthlink.net> wrote:

First you need to find out if you have a shallow well jet pump, or a deep
well submersible. A shallow well pump can usually be found in the basement
or a small well house outside, more than likely the pressure tank will be
near this pump. If you have a submersible you should see an 8 inch casing in
the yard somewhere and the pressure tank is then usually in the basement. No
matter which setup you have there is a pressure switch on the "T" at the
pressure tank, this switch tells the pump to come on, usually somewhere
around 35 pounds turns it on and turn off just above 50 pounds, there is
also usually a pressure gage near it(if not, I would add one). This is the
first place I would check, some old jet pumps require priming, but most do
not. If the air bladder in the pressure tank goes bad you will still have
water but it will pulse with the pump cycles, and knock and bang and
eventually burn out the pump. We lived on a well for over 20 years, I have
replaced two pressure switches, 3 pumps (submersible at 310 feet deep), and
have pulled the pump about every three years to repair the wires that ran
down the well to the pump. My guess would be, pressure switch first then
pump wires.
Ck

-----Original Message-----
From: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com [mailto:DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com]
On Behalf Of Jerry Gmail
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2012 11:16 PM
To: DoIt_Yourself@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [DIY] Well pump inop

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

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