Well Problem

houstonscott · Mar 3, 2011

My son is getting ready to close on a property with a 980' well.There is water at 500' and the pump sits at 760'. Turns out the pump had some problem and is welded it's self to the casing at 760'. The well is insured and looks like a new well be installed under the insurance. Any recommendations? Is this the best way to go? Who makes the best well pumps? Any advice for the new well?

HS

schmism · Mar 3, 2011

thats a hellva deep well for a homeowner...

only advise i have is keep the insurance!

chucko · Mar 3, 2011

Pump is under water and got hot enough to weld to the casing? Wow it looks like the water would have boilded. Sure it is not rust lime buildup or something on the inside of a casing?

MossRoad · Mar 3, 2011

Why would they drill a nearly 1000' well when the water is at 500' and then only put the pump down to 750'?

houstonscott · Mar 3, 2011

I think they wanted to be able to lower the pump if the water table changed in dry times. Why can't they breakup old pump and let the pieces drop to bottom and out of casing.

HS

Grayson Klassen · Mar 3, 2011

Deep Subject

jmanatee2 · Mar 3, 2011

MossRoad said:
Why would they drill a nearly 1000' well when the water is at 500' and then only put the pump down to 750'?

You need a column of water over the pump. You do not want the pump sitting at the bottom of the well to pick up sediment

This is a deep well but mine is 280' and my neighbors is at 100' go figure

Did the pump ever run dry?

Argosy · Mar 3, 2011

That's going to cost big $$ to fix. The homeowner can claim he disclosed the problem, the insurance company can claim the previous owner, but not your son, is insured if it's not repaired before he signs. If it takes two or three months to work it out he will be hauling water for two or three months. I'd make sure it was in the contract it is the seller's responsibility to get water into the house if it isn't fixed when he signs on the line.

One thing I would check on is the pump and wire size needed for that much lift. That's way past most residential wells. I would really wonder if there is a pump made that would fit in a 4" casing and have the power to lift water 500 ft. + any additional to the fixtures in the house. It's possible but I would want to know for myself and make sure they used the right pump and the wire size for that pump's current draw.

bironacad · Mar 3, 2011

MossRoad said:
Why would they drill a nearly 1000' well when the water is at 500' and then only put the pump down to 750'?

Ditto

I don't see in your post where you are located but here in southern Ontario the wells are inspected and rated when drilled for GPM, this is on government files somewhere. The pump is then rated for the head pressure and flow rates, this will allow you to figure sizes of pump and wire. It might be useful to find this out. A local plumber/supplier will have useful info on this, you definitely don't want to pay for a new well that deep. I had a small split in my poly that was causing a drop in pressure and lost of head so getting older I called the local guy to see if he would take a look. He said it would be 4-6 weeks before he could get to it but he figure out what was probably wrong on the phone I have limited experience with wells and he made sense. I had water so it was not and emergency but could not wait so me and a cousin pulled it up and replaced the poly, shocked the well and was good to go. That amount of pipe with a pump attached is heavy, trust me. There are several methods besides trying to manually hauling it up. Mine was about 180 feet deep and it was not a piece of cake for the two of us. Some guys rig up a type of hoist, google deep well pump replacement. The local guys will know about local conditions and in my opinion it is worth the phone call.

jonyyuma · Mar 3, 2011

That is a deep subject, I wonder if lightning had anything to do with the failure??Well head pressure from that deep must take a nice motor?

MossRoad · Mar 3, 2011

Argosy said:
That's going to cost big $$ to fix. The homeowner can claim he disclosed the problem, the insurance company can claim the previous owner, but not your son, is insured if it's not repaired before he signs. If it takes two or three months to work it out he will be hauling water for two or three months. I'd make sure it was in the contract it is the seller's responsibility to get water into the house if it isn't fixed when he signs on the line.

One thing I would check on is the pump and wire size needed for that much lift. That's way past most residential wells. I would really wonder if there is a pump made that would fit in a 4" casing and have the power to lift water 500 ft. + any additional to the fixtures in the house. It's possible but I would want to know for myself and make sure they used the right pump and the wire size for that pump's current draw.

Did the OP mention a 4" casing? I didn't see that anywhere.

Anyhow, that sure seems DEEEEEEEP for a residential.

Egon · Mar 3, 2011

http://www.goulds.com/pdf/7309.pdf

Information for Goulds four inch pumps. Scroll down for pump curves.:thumbsup:

The pump may be seized in the hole but the chances of it having got hot enough to weld to casing string are pretty slim.

Needs a service rig. Might have to cut tubing above the pump and then grab the pump with a tool or just mill it out. I think.

Deere Dude · Mar 3, 2011

houstonscott said:
My son is getting ready to close on a property with a 980' well.There is water at 500' and the pump sits at 760'. Turns out the pump had some problem and is welded it's self to the casing at 760'. The well is insured and looks like a new well be installed under the insurance. Any recommendations? Is this the best way to go? Who makes the best well pumps? Any advice for the new well?

HS

That is a deepy. I am pretty handy with plumbing and things like that, but I wouldn't attempt a job like that by myself. Just make it known to the seller that until he replaces the pump and pipe the deal is on hold. That will put a little pressure on him to call a plumber and get them out there. Plumbers should be used to situations like that in your area. They will also put in a pump that will last quite awhile, or they won't be in business long.

houstonscott · Mar 3, 2011

It's a 4" pipe and a 5hp motor. Has worked for almost five years. It's in the contract so no risk there. I guess tomarrow the insurance company decides if they get a new replacement well. I guess that's what others have gotten in similar cases. They have a new 5hp pump above the old pump now that is working, and tied the system into the local rural water coop for back-up.

HS

Chooglin · Mar 3, 2011

Those pumps can be pulled out of the casing.here in Ohio,they will charge $500.00 to $700.00 to pull it.My Father had to have his pulled last year(it had gotten stuck).

houstonscott · Mar 3, 2011

That's the problem, the pump can't be removed. They think it welded it's self to the case. The new pump is just above now, but can't go below the old pump at 760ft. So it's like the well has been reduced to 760ft.

HS

Jstpssng · Mar 3, 2011

houstonscott said:
That's the problem, the pump can't be removed. They think it welded it's self to the case. The new pump is just above now, but can't go below the old pump at 760ft. So it's like the well has been reduced to 760ft.

HS

It must have been run dry and gotten some hot to do that, unless it's rusted itself in.

MarkV · Mar 3, 2011

I sure don't know all about wells but I do know I have on well at 560' with the 1.5 hp pump pulling from 450'. I also know a neighbor that someone tried to steal a pump from and it became wedge in the casing. Three different well companies tried and could not remove the pump. It is expensive when you lose a 500 + foot well.

I have never heard of well insurance before. I would guess given the depth of that well water is an issue in the area. Sounds like a good insurance to hold on to.

MarkV

SPIKER · Mar 3, 2011

I dont think there is enough energy to "WELD" the pump to the casing and I doubt there is casing that deep. More than likely there has been a shift in the under ground well bore, (slight earth quake or a rock came loose and wedged the pump.) the under ground water would insulate the pump from welding to the casing as just about all but 300 or 400 amps of current. (possibly a lightning strike but that would go through the casing into the ware & aquifer and bypass the pump other than perhaps burn through the wire insulation if it entered through the wiring. most pump wires are 10 AWG rated at 30 amps. A 5HP pump running 240vac will draw slightly less than that under load. that depth & distance at 240vac single phase 5 HP the wires should be heavier 8 or even 6 AWG.

There are companies that can try & yank it out but more than not once wedged they are stuck. Not sure if they can re-drill the well out leaving the existing casing and knock the pump down to the bottom ? anyhow I wish you luck.
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