Submersible Well Pump

[whistlepig]

The plumber (the drillers may not have installed the pump) should have left you a manual for the pump. Maybe you still have it somewhere...of course, it's been 30 years!

Our place (and pump) was built in 1999. The couple we bought it from were going through a extremely nasty divorce. They started blaming us for taking their place from them when the deal was sealed. The previous owner left us nothing as far documentation on the house and anything in it.

 

[thatguy]

Our place (and pump) was built in 1999. The couple we bought it from were going through a extremely nasty divorce. They started blaming us for taking their place from them when the deal was sealed. The previous owner left us nothing as far documentation on the house and anything in it.

Another option would be to contact the city/county and see who drilled the well (it should be on file with the Health Dept????).. Then contact the well driller and maybe they can point you in the right direction of the pump person

Brian

 

[RoyJackson]

Our place (and pump) was built in 1999. The couple we bought it from were going through a extremely nasty divorce. They started blaming us for taking their place from them when the deal was sealed. The previous owner left us nothing as far documentation on the house and anything in it.

Boy, I bet that was a fun closing!!

 

[mmurphy]

Can't hurt to check the water depth...only takes 5-10 minutes and that neighbor might be pulling enough water off the aquifer to cause you problems. Aquifiers can be depleted.

BTW, as a bit of an addedum to my previous post. 2011 was the wettest year on record in the state of Pennsylvania. We had drought years (2002-2007) with occasional outages. I couldn't understand how we could lose a well after all the rain we had last year (and continuing into 2012).

Your well is probably a confined aquifer. An un-confined aquifer would replenish quite quickly. Confined aquifer would be replenished from along ways from where you live typically.
A aquifer that does not have good fractures or, that are plugging up from sediments, iron deposits, and clogged well screens can result in a problem with water yield.

 

[RoyJackson]

Your well is probably a confined aquifer. An un-confined aquifer would replenish quite quickly. Confined aquifer would be replenished from along ways from where you live typically.
A aquifer that does not have good fractures or, that are plugging up from sediments, iron deposits, and clogged well screens can result in a problem with water yield.

Could be...I wouldn't even know how to find out.
The old well (that went "dry") is still doing quite well....good flow and plenty of pressure.
My thoughts (with no way to prove it) is a neighbor is detailing cars (violating zoning here...it's residential/agricutural) in his new (3-4 months) pole building...and pulling off more water then he should be. Don't know yet, but we're keeping an eye out.
As far as the new well...we'll still tie into it. If our old well doesn't hold up, we'll tie in ASAP, otherwise, we'll wait until Spring.

 

[Willl]

Where are you seeing this pressure/flow drop ?, air bubbles also ?

Do you have a dump valve or faucet plumb directly off the tank plumbing area that you could compare ?

"The pressure tank is holding at 45 pounds."
Do you have good flow at outlets when tank is at this pressure ?

"Just no pressure or water volume when the pump is running."
I'm confused as how the tank makes it to 45 and curious as to how your measuring your volume.

Split the system in half at the tank and test each side separately.

Unless your really determined to replace that pump.

 

[scott_vt]

My thoughts (with no way to prove it) is a neighbor is detailing cars (violating zoning here...it's residential/agricutural) in his new (3-4 months) pole building...and pulling off more water then he should be. Don't know yet, but we're keeping an eye out.
.

Good Afternoon Roy,
I dont doubt your word for a minute, but how could someone be using more water to detail some cars, than possibly an agricultural operation ? Just curious what you mean by that...

Have a good afternoon !

 

[RoyJackson]

Good Afternoon Roy,
I dont doubt your word for a minute, but how could someone be using more water to detail some cars, than possibly an agricultural operation ? Just curious what you mean by that...

Have a good afternoon !

We do have a farmer behind us.,..and we expect (and experience) shortages in the September/October timeframe. Might need to shut the pump down overnight. However, those shortages lasted a day or so, a few times during that Sept/Oct time.
The pressure and volumes drop we've been experiencing started about Christmas up to last week.
While the plumbers were pulling the pump, there was a guy watching us on the neighboring right-of-way...too far to see who it was.
I'll grant you, I am not a trusting person (runs in the family)...but considering what the water problems, and all of a sudden, it's fine...well, I have my suspicions.

 

[jpm1]

In my last house i had a Gould submersible and it lasted 18 years. It quit working one day so instead of making a dozen trips to the local hardware store 8 miles away I bought a Myers submersible, same size, new wire and brass fittings. Only time i had to change it was at night. Night work makes things harder. A couple of hours later the water was flowing. Several weeks later i looked closer at the pump and found the problem, one wire rotted off the motor and the feed wire to the pump rubbed the steel casing and wore thru creating a short. This summer i am going to cap my well above ground and install a submersible. My old Gould is going back in service. Talked to my well driller, he's a Gould pump sales man, and he said that pump will go for many many years. I'm going to do it!. Good luck . . .John

 

[whistlepig]

Where are you seeing this pressure/flow drop ?, air bubbles also ?

Do you have a dump valve or faucet plumb directly off the tank plumbing area that you could compare ?

"The pressure tank is holding at 45 pounds."
Do you have good flow at outlets when tank is at this pressure ?

"Just no pressure or water volume when the pump is running."
I'm confused as how the tank makes it to 45 and curious as to how your measuring your volume.

Split the system in half at the tank and test each side separately.

Unless your really determined to replace that pump.

It holds 45 pounds when the pump shuts off. When the water starts running the pressure and volume isn't there like it was four years ago. It's a good well. I have no suspicions about the well.