Hello all, A while back I posted about my McDonald water pump losing prime. I stated that I had primed it and it seemed to fix the problem. Well, it still loses prime about once a week and we finally bought a foot valve and installed it. It's been about 2 weeks and I got a call yesterday from my tenants saying they didn't have water. Went down and primed it. Got the water flowing again. We are stumped as to what is going on. The water line with the foot valve in it is only about 4 feet where it comes out of the ground to the pump. I see no leaks, hear nothing, etc. I bought this pump used about 2 years ago from a plumber who installed it. I swear the pump sounded a little noiser than usual yesterday. Does anyone think maybe I need a new pump? Any suggestions, opinions, are greatly appreciated as usual!! Thanks in advance! Jack

 

Seems like you just changed the checkvalve. The foot valve is down the well at the botton of the line. Its that or you have a suction leak somewhere in the pipe from the pump to the footvalve.

Read this on footvalves:

Foot Valves used on piping for Water Wells, Explanation & Repair Advice

Mike NJ

 

Thanks Mike! I read the article and I believe you are right! I saw the valve he changed and it looked like a check valve to me! Maybe I mistook what he said? I had my "handyman" guy actually change it. I think he called it a foot valve. Maybe he doesn't know much! lol IDk! Anyway, if I am understanding everything correctly ALL shallow above ground water pumps have a foot valve in the well? I imagine this would be a real pain to change? I'm not even sure where my well is located on the property. I lived there for 30 years and we never knew where the well was located. Maybe I should call a "real" plumber! ? lol Thanks again! Jack

 

Well the problem is they are going to try to sell you a new well. You have $10,000 lying around go for it.

When was the house built??? Mine is 1950 and there were no pitless adapters then. If your house is newer it should be simple. You just need some muscle to pull the line up. That is if its indeed the issue.

I would call a well guy to give a est... Make sure you tell him you only want the ft valve changed, but let him tell you whats wrong.

Be careful. Alot of scammers out there. They got my neighbor for $12,000 and went 133 ft. After they pulled the old line out I went over there and the ft valve was shot. I showed the owner, and he said they told him the well was dry...LOL


Good luck and let us know the outcome.

Mike NJ

 

Thanks Mike, we never had our well go dry in the 35 years my parents lived there. The house was built in like 1923 or something like that, so it's really old. Guess I'll have to do some calling around and see what I can find out. Jack

 

What type of pipe leaves the pump? You may have a driven point also. Sometimes the points clogg. The old trick was to shoot a .22 cal down the well. I dont recommend it though, sometimes the bullet would come back up at you...LOL

The town may have some reconds, but local well drillers that replaced wells in your area will know whats down there. Find a trusting company.



Mike NJ

 

Hello again! And thanks all! Pump keeps losing prime. Finally called a local plumber/pump repairman!!! When I talked to him on the phone he asked me if my well was dug or drilled. I'm guessing dug as old as the house is and being that nothing was ever done as long as we lived there, but who knows. He said something like old dug wells sometimes or usually don't have a footvalve on them. Anyway, thought I'd update everyone and hopefully get it figured out today! Plumber is coming! Thanks again! Jack

 

Yes let us know what happens.

Thanks

Mike NJ

 

Plumber came down and checked it out. Found that the pump had a little itty bitty leak around a bolt and thought maybe that was the cause. He tightened up the somewhat loose bolts on the pump. He then confined all the water and pressure to the tank and pump. He then turned on the water and since it was slow to build pressure, he now figures that the well will need to be dug up and that he's pretty sure it's the foot valve in the well. If that doesn't make sense I'm sure i misunderstood what he may have said. He seemed to know more than anyone else I've spoke to, in person anyway. He had spoke with his dad, who has worked on these pumps in our little town for 30+ years and his dad said he thought they were mostly drilled wells. His dad even had a general idea where the well might be located. So, I guess sometime soon it looks like I got some digging to do! Of course I will keep everyone updated! Thanks as always! Jack

 

You can use a ferrous metal detector the find the well cap.


Keep us updated

Mike NJ

 

Thanks Mike! I already own a metal detector, just not sure how good of one it is. I'll give it a try or find a better one. Plumber said it looks to be about 3 feet down.

 

I think I finally got it fixed! Pump repairman came down and checked everything out. Finally he said in his professional opinion the foot valve in the well needed replaced. I told him we never really knew where the well was located. He had a trick that was so simple I probably never would have thought of it! He cut the water line in the cellar and shoved his tapemeasure in the pipe until it hit the elbow on the pipe that went to the top of the well casing. We then went outside and measured. He went home and I started digging! It was exactly where he thought it was, only instead of 3 feet it was about 4 feet down. So, next day he came down, replaced the foot valve which was stuck open, put in new pipe, put in a better check valve as he said it seemed as though my new one was kind of sticking and he didn't like those kind as they took too much pressure to open and sometimes stuck (or something like that). He also found a small leak around where the pump bolts on and fixed that. The metal screen (filter?) on the foot valve wasn't even there. Must have rusted off over the years. Pump repairman spent a lot of time just checking things out. After it was all said and done it only cost me $175 total! He only charged me $75 for labor! I dug the hole and filled it back in, but I was more than happy! $75 for labor and $100 for parts! This guy is a younger guy and a second generation pump repairman. His dad fixed our pumps for over the 35 years that my parents lived there. So, these people know how to run a business and I remember my dad always saying how fair and honest they were! We grew up pretty poor and they always helped my family out! Thanks Maynard's Pump Service!! Of course thanks to Mike and everyone else here at my favorite site! DIY!!

 

Oh yeah, he even made 2 trips to the house and had almost 4 hours of labor! He said he felt bad charging people for just messin' around. He said he only liked to charge his hourly rate if he was bustin' his ass! lol Great guy!

 

Good job. Glad your back up and running. I wonder if your company comes to NJ...LOL.

Mike NJ