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  #21  
Old 07/21/06, 09:07 PM
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Zone 7
Posts: 10,560
This is what we refer to as a bored well. It is a shallow surface water source. A large auger bit is used to put these wells in then the culvert are stacked. These wells are seen in developments where the developer is pinching pennies. Replenishment is often very slow and the water often consist of the small amount stored in the culvert. Having pumped the well down could take some duration to recharge. The pump is a submersible and the tank is a bladder tank. I see Ashley has the switch on the wall turned off as she should. I would like to know that there is power to the pump and if she can hear the pump run? That pump would reprime itself once the well recovers and power is available. Submersible pumps depend on the water to lubricate the seals and for cooling of the motor. It is unlikely that the installer put any type of low water/no water protection on the system as he was the low cost supplier. She is in a colder climate than California IMO, I base this on the manner the water leaves the well. Enough said, now to fix the well. Ashley, with the top off the well culvert look down the well and determine if you can see the pump on the end of the pipe. The pump must be under the water. If you can not see the pump and you think it is under the water have someone to turn the switch on while you are at the well and you listen closely to determine if the pump is running. If you hear nothing you need to determine if there is power to the system. You could have tripped a breaker. Is there anyone there that has some awareness of electricity? If you determine there is power available at the wire nuts at the well and the pump is not running then the only remaining fault is the pump itself. PS...I cannot see the pressure switch as clearly as I would like to but it seems to be wired differently than the Square D type. I have seen a few of the switches with a reset so look closely OR just determine that there is power feeding the wire going out to the well. Sorry I was late getting back to you but I was delayed as I got my track loader stuck on top of a stump and I have been hours trying to get it off.
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Last edited by agmantoo; 07/21/06 at 09:12 PM.
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  #22  
Old 07/22/06, 12:45 AM
 
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: MN
Posts: 7,610
Agmantoo has you on the right path.

Unfortunately, be prepared - this is a low-cost setup, and if the pump was running for that long without water in it, either it tripped something to protect itself (the 'no power' he is trying to work out with you) or it burned itself up. You are kinda 50/50 on this..... Hopefully your odds are that good.......

What is the red thing down in the well? It's not a float of some type, is it? I'll guess it's the top of the motor/pump, but....

--->Paul
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  #23  
Old 07/22/06, 09:54 AM
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Zone 7
Posts: 10,560
Hopefully the motor has a Klixon switch internally to it. One benefit to this setup is that it is easy to access.
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  #24  
Old 07/22/06, 08:48 PM
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 308
A friend came by and checked the pressure switch with some device and said there was power. We cannot find any type of reset button on the pressure switch. We will have to check tomorrow if the pump will run, it is thundering and raining right now. When we checked yesterday with the power on, we heard a buzzing down in the well, but it didn't sound like a motor. The red floating object looks like a ball and is not stationary, it might just be a ball that fell down there?
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  #25  
Old 07/22/06, 08:51 PM
seedspreader's Avatar
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Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: NW Pa./NY Border.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by fantasy69maker
whats the 3 days all about? do things recharge that slow where you are?
The Lord rose in three days, so perhaps...???
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  #26  
Old 07/23/06, 12:25 PM
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: Virginia
Posts: 308
We checked the motor this morning. I flipped the swiych and husband sttod at the well. He said that when I flipped the switch he saw ripples in the water, but no sound. When I turned the switch off he also saw ripples.
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  #27  
Old 07/23/06, 12:52 PM
 
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Zone 7
Posts: 10,560
Ashley, doesn't sound very encouraging. The ripples were probably the motor receiving power but unable to start. I am of the opinion you are going to have to remove the pump for further evaluation. This is not a major task and you have the necessary switch to isolate the power. Turn the power off at the switch in the house and at the breaker if you know the correct breaker. At the well disconnect the 3 red wire nuts. Observe which lead is connected to the ground wire. It should be the same as the wire connected to the yellow with the green stripe. When replacing the wiring you will want to put it back the same as it was. Can your husband reach into the well far enough to get to the piping by hand? At the 90 degree location in the plumbing, that is a type of fitting that will slip together. If you will look closely you will see that there is a dovetail type slot. This slot is currently supporting the down pipe and the pump. A vertical lift below the fitting will cause the dovetail to separate and the pump weight and the plumbing will now have to be supported by whomever is removing the pump. As a safety measure it would be best to support the down pipe/pump via a rope. There is a tool for attaching to the dovetail joint fitting but I am positive you do not have one nor do you have the means on hand to make one. With a six inch deep wel, a tool is necessary but not with the shallow well such as you have. Two people should have no problem getting your pump out without tools. Once the pump is out verify the wiring at the pump is still sound. Next, momentarily apply power and see if the motor will run. If not the pump will need replacing. All submersible pumps made in the US have the same brand of motor. About any submersible well pump will work in you application. If price is a question just buy a similar horsepower as the pump you removed and one with the best warranty. Replacement is reverse of removable.
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Last edited by agmantoo; 07/23/06 at 12:56 PM.
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  #28  
Old 07/24/06, 12:16 AM
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Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: SouthEastern Illinois
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Pulling up the pipe is a very INTERESTING job!

We have a 6" 60Ft well and about 50ft of pipe going down it, we used that black flexible pipe, since we used a deep well pump two pipes go down into the well.

we got our gloves on, took the roof off the wellhouse, and Dad grabbed the pump and started walking, my job was to lift the pipe out so it wouldn't kink when bending over to the ground, at first, hey this is easy! I thought, but once that footvalve got above the waterline, it was HEAVY!! all that pipe had water in it.... and 10ft to the end I got a nice nasty surpise there was calcium/iron buildup on the outside of the plastic tubing, YUCK! and it STUNK!
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