Help Me With a Well

[Believer]

I bought a property that has a 40 foot well, water at a depth of about 20 ft. I'd like to set up a pump for watering a few things. I have a couple question that someone may be able to answer. At 25 feet, would a single line jet pump be sufficient? What would I need to do so that in cold weather things don't freeze? Thanks.

 

[honorbound]

At sea level 23 ft is the max lift a pump can do. The foot valve should be a foot from the botom of the well which will put you at 39 ft down, so use a jet pump to give the extra lift.

 

[maybar]

I bought a property that has a 40 foot well, water at a depth of about 20 ft. I'd like to set up a pump for watering a few things. I have a couple question that someone may be able to answer. At 25 feet, would a single line jet pump be sufficient? What would I need to do so that in cold weather things don't freeze? Thanks.

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If you don't need a pressure tank, look into submerged pumps, pit-less adapters and frost free / freeze proof hydrants. With this combination there will be nothing above ground level to freeze.

 

[tbenn7362]

I use a really simple setup at my hunting camp. submersible pump, well cap, valve at well cap with hose bib. the trick is to drill a small 1/16" hole in the plastic pipe below the frost line. this alows the water to drain back down below the freeze line. this will not work if you need a bladder tank etc. if you just want full flow to water things it works great!!!!

 

[Carl_NH]

A basic shallow well pump 1/2 HP with a two pipe setup - 1" and 1.25" down the well with a jet and check valve at the bottom set at 35-38' should work just fine.

The concept is the 1" down pipe feeds the venturi at the bottom and the venturi creates a vacuum at the jet which the 1.25" pipe pulls the water out of the well. These type setups work to about 80' (with a two stage pump) so at 40' a single stage with a two pipe system should work just fine.

If the well recovery rate (flow) is such that the water stays at 20-25' a single stage and single pipe pump will work, but the best bet is to spend a few $ more and do the two pipe system.

Sorry - looked again - you want a frost proof system so if this is exposed to the elements you can either put a small insulated pump house and tank or buy an inexpensive submersible and pitless adapter below ground but you will be looking at $500 to do this setup versus $250 for a shallow well above ground two pipe setup with a small bladder tank.

 

[tommu56]

I use a really simple setup at my hunting camp. submersible pump, well cap, valve at well cap with hose bib. the trick is to drill a small 1/16" hole in the plastic pipe below the frost line. this allows the water to drain back down below the freeze line. this will not work if you need a bladder tank etc. if you just want full flow to water things it works great!!!!

This is the only way to go you can put a galvanized tank in (not captive air) and check sniffer and volume control on tank.

This is an old school set up but works fine.

Every pump cycle check in heated area will close sniffer in on pump side of check will let air back in to pipe and it drains out the weep hole in the well.
next cycle it will push the slug of air in to the tank (this will maintain cushion) and if too much air gets in to tank volume control will let it out to correct level


tom

 

[bp fick]

Lots of cottages in this area, with shallow wells and inexpensive jet pumps.

Typically, they dig a pit, 4 feet cubed. 4x4 by 4 or 5 feet down. Rough block it up. This makes a ground cave for the pump. They put a home made, insulation flat roof, or a dog house style cover over it.
Done.

A simple 100wt light bulb can be turned on during extreme, sub-zero weather for extra protection, but seldom needed.

Added benefit is that they "gain" another 4 or 5 on depth.

 

[Skyco]

I use a really simple setup at my hunting camp. submersible pump, well cap, valve at well cap with hose bib. the trick is to drill a small 1/16" hole in the plastic pipe below the frost line. this alows the water to drain back down below the freeze line. this will not work if you need a bladder tank etc. if you just want full flow to water things it works great!!!!

My well at home has a submersible pump with a schrader valve right in the elbow where it come out of the casing...lets air in so the water column falls back but doesn't spit water out when pumping. My tank is bladderless and has an air control valve which has been a PITA needing replacement every couple of years...some day I will put in a larger bladder tank and cap the schrader valve.