Posted by Mark - IN. on February 07, 2013 at 19:47:57 from (50.151.181.250):
In Reply to: DIY water well posted by mb58 on February 07, 2013 at 18:23:13:
Be careful. Many shallow well pumps will not draw beyond 20 or 25 feet. Make sure to check the pump for that before purchasing one. The manufacturer will be very clear about that.
I just put one in one of my barns this past summer. 1 HP, 25' draw because is near a river, and at 25' is about 10' below the river, using the river as the water table. 25' of good pipe, not the made in China pipe you get at Lowes, Menards, or Home Depot. You have to get the good stuff, because if you break off a well head, you are screwed. Same with drive couplers between pipes and well head. You will NOT get quality pipe for driving at Menards, Lowes, or Home Depot. Maybe 20 years ago, but not now so do not waste your time or money on them for pipe or drive couplers. 3' well head, maybe you can get from them for under $100, but nothing else unless you want headaches. I went 6' well head from plumbing supply, so my point is down 31', but the well point screen starts about 27'...for my shallow pump that doesn't like more than 25', but handles it. I went 2" diameter.
Make sure, extra sure that each section of pipe and coupler is TIGHT. I got one somewhere that loosened up and loses prime after a few days if isn't run. In the past, I've always driven them by hand using a 100 pound block of steel welded to a car axle that went into the pipe for a guide, and hand lifted the block over head, and kept slamming it down on a DRIVE coupler that knew was going to be scrap when the job was done so pipe sections didn't get ruined while driving them. Thats a lot of work when only going 20' and a short well head, 25' overall. The difference this time in the barn, rented a nuematic driver and tow behind compressor. Driving the well was quick work, but the nuematic driver itself was well over 200 pounds, and with a huge air hose. Try lifting that over your head to get it up onto the pipes without losing fingers or flesh. Ended up using a tractor loader to lift it and set it on the pipe. It sure drove quick, but I think the hard, rapid beating actually losened one of the drive couplers, hence loss of prime. Now I've gotta pull it and correct that. If you choose to use a nuematic driver like I did, use a good 3' piece of pipe that you don't mind becoming scrap, because it will. That nuematic driver will absolutely beat, smash, mushroom, and destroy your drive pipe. Lifting and dropping a 100 pound weight to drive it will not, but it will wear you and another guy out.
After you drive your well, you will need to prime the pump to keep it from burning up, and chances are real good that you will also have to run water down the outside of the pipe to get a seal between the pipe and dirt, or you will be drawing air. Don't forget your check valve, or a cap below it that you can open to fill the pipe below it and cap off, and one above it to water (prime/lube) the pump.
All in all, its not that hard, but sure is labor intensive. Its a workout. MAKE SURE your pipes and couplers are tight. This will be the first one I've ever driven that will have to pull because something loosened up, but its new and I can. I just don't want to, but have to. My screwup.
Be careful of what pump you get. There are 3/4 and 1 HP pumps that will not draw over 20', and 1/2 HP that will. Consider going Flint and Walling because they can be rebuilt. Try to find someone that will rebuild another brand, even Wayne. Wayne makes good pumps, but try to find someone that will rebuild one. You will NOT buy a pump at Menards, Lowes, or Home Depot that can be rebuilt by anyone. They are throw aways.
You know? I was shy a drive coupler when I drove mine in the barn, and it was on a Saturday and the plumbing supply closed at Noon before I came up shy. I did run to Menards to get a drive coupler from them, because I needed one desperately. Never ever have I had a well loosen up and lose prime before this one. Now I wonder. Oh well, it was the last drive coupler for the last section. Maybe I will get lucky.
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