well problem

[forgeblast]

Sorry if this dual posts, I posted one last night it didnt show up.....
We have a deep well, 265'. The pump keeps tripping the breaker. I replaced the breaker...kept tripping, bought a new breaker kept trippping. So i have an older pressure valve, swap out the valve and pressure tank (i had them, because i knew the tank would be going) and the breaker keeps tripping.
I know we have a 3/4 pump, but this is about as far as i can work on it my own. I called a well guy we know to come and take a look. Not sure what else to do.

 

[jimmyj]

If the breaker keeps tripping you have a problem somewhere in your line or pump. (I know I'm stating the obvious, sorry.) It's going to be quite a chore to pull up all that wire and the pump but something down there is damaged.

 

[forgeblast]

Thank you thats what i was figuring....Not sure how it got damaged but arrrggg its going to be a pain.

 

[Von]

What has happened to mine is the wire got rubbed through on the inside of the well casing by the slight movement when the pump turns on. There is quite a bit of torque in the pump and it will spin a little when it goes on. The wires on mine were not attached to the pipe so they had a chance to rub. I pulled the pump, spliced the line and wire tied it to the plastic line to stop any rub through. It is quite easy to pull the well if you have two tractors, with one having a FEL. Place the FEL over the well casing and put a pulley on it hanging down. Run the rope that should be on the pump already and pull it up with the other tractor. You will need someone to walk the pipe out as the pump is being pulled as well as someone to watch at the well casing to make sure the pipe does not drag across the top of the well casing and get damaged. So a three person operation when I have done it the two times I needed to. Once for a broken foot valve and the wire short. By the way my well is 145' deep and all that water in the line is quite heavy!

 

[jinman]

This summer, my pump, down at 360', started popping the overload on the controller box. I was sure I was in for a big payout to get the pump pulled and replaced. When the serviceman came he just changed out the controller and all is well. It was a little over $200 total instead of 10 times that much. I sure got lucky and you might too.

 

[forgeblast]

Wow that was nice luck. I am saving now for a tractor, i have a little lawn tractor that does more then it should, but no pto, no fel. It would sure be nice if it was an easy fix.

 

[Western]

I have pulled a couple using an "A" frame or "tepee" to attach a pulley to. I remember one that had galvanized pipe in it, that was easy, just removed each piece as it cleared the well head. The other one had PVC down to the last 2 joints. Also easy as I just cut the bells off and used collars when re-installed.

I used a steel plate with 2 holes in it. 1 hole was for the hook on the pulley, the other was large enough to go over the collars, the large hole would grip the pipe after a little pressure was released from the "pull" line. worked pretty good, saved me allot of $$ and took about half a day not counting refreshment time which took the other half of the day

 

[forgeblast]

Thats a great idea...i like the a-frame teepee idea.
just called the well people, waiting for a call back.

 

[gauthier]

Just had one of my well pumps pulled and replaced by guys who do that sorta thing for a living,mine was only down about 130 ft,,over 800 bucks,,

 

[Carl_NH]

Forgeblast,

If you have a 2 wire 3/4 HP then you will need to pull the pump. If you have a 3 wire with a control box above ground, then the pump guys (or you) could replace the capacitor and motor start circuit in that box, thus MAYBE saving pulling the pump.

If you do indeed still have a problem, two guys can pull a 200' deep submersible pump easily ( I used to do it myself) just get a 1" threaded pipe to go in the pitless adapter and lift, and lift and lift.. for about 15 minutes. As others have commented there is galv pipe, 20' PVC pipe, but I would bet you have 160LB blue or black poly pipe if your install is less than 30 years old in PA.

Once you get the pump out (if you cant fix in the control box) inspect all the wires, tape and use the white pipe guards every 20' or so, then make sure the pipe is CLEAN going back in your well..grass is wiped off etc. We have a well 375' with a 1.5HP 2 wire, the motor went and they put a new pump on only to replace it 2x due to grass clippings clogging the intake screens..

 

[forgeblast]

They came out to see what needed to be done today. They took the top of the well, i was able to hear the water in there so we did not run it dry. Next after testing the wires, we have a short in the black. So they are going to have to pull the pump up. The only problem was the car port. its at an angle that would have the truck not able to get to the pump. thank fully its only pinned down, i pulled those last night. they will use their truck and some 2'' pipe and roll the carport out of the way. that way they can get the truck in there. I did ask about putting in a hand pump they said it runs about 2k. ouch. So they will be starting about 1pm today to fix/replace the pump or wire. Yes its black poly, 3 wire (yellow submersable wire). pump is 3/4 gould about 11 years old.
As i keep thinking about it i really do want to put in a hand pump incase we are ever out of power but wow i am going to have to save up for it.

 

[brin]

forgeblast - You might want to consider getting a generator to operate your well during power outages..that would sure be cheaper than $2K for a hand pump.

 

[CurlyDave]

forgeblast - You might want to consider getting a generator to operate your well during power outages..that would sure be cheaper than $2K for a hand pump.

And a lot less tiring when you need water.

A bucketfull every once in a while beats no water, but you aren't going to get in any showers with a hand pump.

 

[forgeblast]

That is true. A 500 dollar generator is looking a lot better. Then again i was thinking worse case senario, with no power, for a long time the fuel would run out. Just one of those cases of planning for the worse and hope for the best.

 

[gauthier]

You ought to go ahead and replace pump.

Just cause there is water in it now,doesn't mean you didn't get below pump,,thats how a well works,water runs into it.

Yep,people sometimes forget about needing access to well,,thats why you should put new pump in while you got carport off,,need a air tank that is big enough and holds air,,need a low pressure cut off switch too,gets down to a little below cut on pressure and it cuts off,theory is saving your pump.Need a good pump but not the most expensive pump,gould makes pretty good pumps at reasonable price,,don't get a lowes pump.

 

[Egon]

Does the casing have room for two tubing strings?

 

[forgeblast]

its a 6'' casing. lots of room.

 

[gauthier]

I grew up with both indoor and out door hand pumps[we was fancy hillbillys],but bet our wells were no more than 30-50 ft deep at most,,I wouldn't even know if a hand pump would work well at 200-300 ft?,,guess it would,,might take a bunch of priming.

 

[forgeblast]

I asked the same question, but at one of our local state parks they have them.
Hand Water Pumps: Simple Hand Water Pumps for Deep & Shallow Wells
also shows some simple deep well pumps.

We have water, they didnt have to move the carport which was great. I didnt get a bill yet, they said they would mail it. But all is better since i have the new pressure valve and bigger pressure tank. Taking a shower at home was priceless.
Instead of a hand pump have people had success with solar?
ill have to do some searches for cost vs, but anyone on a solar pump?
thanks.

 

[jinman]

Instead of a hand pump have people had success with solar?
ill have to do some searches for cost vs, but anyone on a solar pump?
thanks.

Glad you got your well going. In my opinion, being without water is worse than being without electricity; however, if you are without electricity, you are soon without water as well.

I just had two of these generators delivered from Sam's Club. Electric start and 10kw for $878 (shipping included) is a bargain. They have good reviews. I just got mine unpacked and one assembled yesterday. I haven't fueled them up and tried them yet, but they look to be well made and a bargain. I don't know about you, but I figure to use these generators for a lot of things other than just power outages.:thumbsup:

EDIT: Oh yes! Sam's has a 3500 watt electric start generator for $419.