New well pump???

littlebitfarm · #1 04/22/08, 01:07 PM

I'm thinking it's time to replace my well pump. It has served me well for 18 years but now seems to struggle to fill the pressure tank. It is actually a cistern pump. It is 1/3 HP jet pump, located in my crawl space about 10 foot from the cistern. Not pulling water from any depth, maybe 4 foot. The pressure switch is a 40 to 60 PSI (was 20 to 40 PSI when pump was installed).

My question is should I go for a 1/2 HP pump. Will that save me electricity? Or use more electric?

Thanks,

Kathie

WisJim · #2 04/22/08, 01:43 PM

First make sure it is a pump problem and not a pressure tank problem. If it isn't a deep well, no reason to go for a more powerful pump. A 1/2 hp pump might run a shorter time to fill the tank, but the total energy use won't be less, as it takes more electricity to run than the 1/3 hp pump. Personally I would stay with the lower power pump.

watcher · #3 04/22/08, 01:43 PM

Does the motor seem to struggle or does it just seem to not be pumping as well?

I'm frugal (the wife calls me CHEAP) so before I'd fork out money to buy a new one I'd check out a few things.

If it just isn't pumping correctly I'd crack it open and see if something is wrong with the impeller. Maybe 18 years of gunk has blocked it up and a quick clean our would fix the problem. Or maybe its cracked/broken and a replacement impeller would bring it back to life for much less than a new pump.

If the motor seems to be the problem I check prices on replacement motors if the pump unit looks OK.

Do you have access to 220V power? IIRC, someone once told me a 220V motor will use less power than a 110V motor of the same size. I'm not sure if it is true but I do know it takes half the amps at 220V.

littlebitfarm · #4 04/22/08, 02:00 PM

I replaced the pressure tank a couple years ago, I don't think that is problem. Used to be, I'd flush a toliet and by the time I walked into the other room, the pump had shut off. Now it runs forever, this morning I put my shoes on and started to see what was going on before it shut off.

There is a pressure gauge mounted by the pump. Seems to run from 40 to 60 very nicely.

Didn't know if the 1/2 horse motor would do a better job at the higher pressures than the 1/3 horse one.

Kathie

dunewalker · #5 04/22/08, 02:19 PM

There's your solution: high-topped lace-up shoes.

The Paw · #6 04/22/08, 02:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

I replaced the pressure tank a couple years ago, I don't think that is problem. Used to be, I'd flush a toliet and by the time I walked into the other room, the pump had shut off. Now it runs forever, this morning I put my shoes on and started to see what was going on before it shut off.

There is a pressure gauge mounted by the pump. Seems to run from 40 to 60 very nicely.

Didn't know if the 1/2 horse motor would do a better job at the higher pressures than the 1/3 horse one.

Kathie

It sounds like it could have gunk in the intake.

I have an old septic pump circa 1940 that is in my basement as part of a bizzare set-up. It was struggling, staying on longer and longer. I phoned the local pump guy and he said "those things can run forever, try cleaning it out". I opened it up and sure enough, little bits of straw from the covering of the septic tank had been falling into the tank (a little each year) and wadding up at the intake. Took it out, and it has run like a charm for 5 years. Taking apart your pump and cleaning it will be a lot less messy...

agmantoo · #7 04/22/08, 04:23 PM

The bladder tank should be set 2 pounds below the cut-in pressure with the system not having any water pressure built up from the pump. With the old pressure switch the tank would have been set at 18 PSI, with the new pressure switch the setting would now be 38 PSI.
Will the jet pump cycle off with the 40/60 pressure switch installed and set at the original 40/60?
I would check the intake to the pipe in the cistern but I would not take the pump apart. You could wake up more than you want to deal with!

littlebitfarm · #8 04/22/08, 05:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

The bladder tank should be set 2 pounds below the cut-in pressure with the system not having any water pressure built up from the pump. With the old pressure switch the tank would have been set at 18 PSI, with the new pressure switch the setting would now be 38 PSI.
Will the jet pump cycle off with the 40/60 pressure switch installed and set at the original 40/60?
I would check the intake to the pipe in the cistern but I would not take the pump apart. You could wake up more than you want to deal with!

How do I check the bladder tank pressure? I know when we put it in, we just put it in, never checked or changed the pressure.

Can't really get to the cistern intake pipe. It's about 5 foot deep with only about a foot of head clearance right now. Do know that the intake is about 6 inches off the floor and last time I was down there about 2 years ago there was only about 1/4" of "stuff" on the floor.

It has a foot valve on it. So that means there is no way I could blow it out?

Kathie

The Paw · #9 04/22/08, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by littlebitfarm

Can't really get to the cistern intake pipe. It's about 5 foot deep with only about a foot of head clearance right now. Do know that the intake is about 6 inches off the floor and last time I was down there about 2 years ago there was only about 1/4" of "stuff" on the floor.

It has a foot valve on it. So that means there is no way I could blow it out?

Kathie

If it is clogging, the clog will either be right at the foot valve or in the pump right where the water pipe enters the pump. If you disconnect the intake line and take the pump apart, I bet you find it.

littlebitfarm · #10 04/22/08, 07:29 PM

I just filled the water tanks down at the barn. The flow was higher pressure initially (as expected) and then it was a nice steady flow. I ran between 80 and 100 gallons. If clogging was the issue wouldn't the stream of water been less consistent?

I think the pump just struggles to hit the 60 pound mark?

Kathie

agmantoo · #11 04/22/08, 08:18 PM

I still need to know if the pump will cycle off at the 60 PSI? You use a tire gauge on the Schrader valve on top of the tank. That measurement is made with the pump off and the water pressure bled to nothing.

littlebitfarm · #12 04/23/08, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

I still need to know if the pump will cycle off at the 60 PSI? You use a tire gauge on the Schrader valve on top of the tank. That measurement is made with the pump off and the water pressure bled to nothing.

Pump does shut off at 60 PSI. I haven't had a chance to check the pressure tank yet. Pump seems to be do better. Will have to check my filters (post pressure tank) and see if there are any chunks of junk in them.

Kathie

agmantoo · #13 04/23/08, 05:52 PM

If a jet pump will make 60 PSI there is nothing wrong with the pump! Leave the pump itself alone and look elsewhere for a problem with delivery, I would think the problem is definitely with the inlet of the jet pump being restricted. The likelihood of the discharge being restricted is minimal.

littlebitfarm · #14 04/23/08, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by agmantoo

If a jet pump will make 60 PSI there is nothing wrong with the pump! Leave the pump itself alone and look elsewhere for a problem with delivery, I would think the problem is definitely with the inlet of the jet pump being restricted. The likelihood of the discharge being restricted is minimal.

Thanks! Will look around.

Kathie