Well not pumping and wife not happy!
#1
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Well not pumping and wife not happy!
I have an 85 foot well with water at 18 feet and a submersible pump at 40' with a 4" inch pvc casing. My motor is a 1 hp and I had an 18 gpm Goulds pump. One morning we had no water. Checked everything up top and fine. Could hear the motor running so pulled the pump and motor to take a look. Had some iron bacteria buildup on intake screens so cleaned all that. Motor shaft was turning when tested so sent pump and motor back down for a test. No water. Pulled pump and motor back out and separated pump from motor. Powered the motor and she seemed to run fine. Shaft turned and she purred nicely. Couldn't seem to take pump apart to check but decided the pump must be bad. Ordered another one. Installed today. Fired her up. No water!
Ok. I admit. I didn't read the manual. But I'm thinking it should have worked. Could it be that the motor is indeed bad? There is a backflow preventer near the top just under the seal. Possible that the backflow is stuck closed somehow and my original pump wasn't the problem? Didn't check the pipe. Could it be clogged with iron buildup? Flow had been a bit on the weak side.
Feeling like and idiot and I think my wife agrees.
Any suggestions for what to check?
Ok. I admit. I didn't read the manual. But I'm thinking it should have worked. Could it be that the motor is indeed bad? There is a backflow preventer near the top just under the seal. Possible that the backflow is stuck closed somehow and my original pump wasn't the problem? Didn't check the pipe. Could it be clogged with iron buildup? Flow had been a bit on the weak side.
Feeling like and idiot and I think my wife agrees.
Any suggestions for what to check?
#2
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The old motor ?? If that was the problem the new pump should have worked.
You've checked the wiring down to the pump. When the pump is all the way down in the well you are sure it's running ?
If it is... something has it blocked. It is possible that an inline installed check valve is frozen.
The check valve is usually in the submersible pump and it's called a foot valve. When installing a new pump you should not need a check valve up top. A check valve is usually installed topside when the one in the pump fails.
Could it be that the motor is indeed bad?
You've checked the wiring down to the pump. When the pump is all the way down in the well you are sure it's running ?
If it is... something has it blocked. It is possible that an inline installed check valve is frozen.
The check valve is usually in the submersible pump and it's called a foot valve. When installing a new pump you should not need a check valve up top. A check valve is usually installed topside when the one in the pump fails.
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Yes. Wasn't sure why there was a second check valve at the top. Not a well guy and didn't own the house when the well was installed. Noticed a small weep hole drilled into the bottom part of the top check valve. Assume it was intended to squirt water back down into the well to provide ariation in an effort to remove sulfur smell and taste. A local problem often cured by some similar method. Might be the extra valve was installed to cure some cycling issue. Don't have a clue.
Wasn't sure what u meant in the first line about the old motor. I am sure it's running. Worked while pulled. I can hear it running strong down the well. Might be that it isn't running strong enough to pump the water to the top. Have read about guys using a multimeter to test well motors but I've always been vague about how to do more than test for voltage with those things.
I can pull the pump again, remove the motor and pump, and spray a hose up the pipe to test for blockage. Probably should have tried that before. My neighbors got a hose spigot not far from my well.
Thanks for responding. My wife says thanks too!
Wasn't sure what u meant in the first line about the old motor. I am sure it's running. Worked while pulled. I can hear it running strong down the well. Might be that it isn't running strong enough to pump the water to the top. Have read about guys using a multimeter to test well motors but I've always been vague about how to do more than test for voltage with those things.
I can pull the pump again, remove the motor and pump, and spray a hose up the pipe to test for blockage. Probably should have tried that before. My neighbors got a hose spigot not far from my well.
Thanks for responding. My wife says thanks too!
#4
Glad to help when and where I can.
Hmmm..... hole under the check valve. The only bad thing I can think of with that is it's always washing crap back down into the water. Either way... the hole isn't the problem.
Actually.... when the pump runs.... does water come out of that hole ?
It should if the pump is pumping.
Hmmm..... hole under the check valve. The only bad thing I can think of with that is it's always washing crap back down into the water. Either way... the hole isn't the problem.
Actually.... when the pump runs.... does water come out of that hole ?
It should if the pump is pumping.
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Assume that water shoots thru the hole when water is being pumped. Have never seen it. When I go to pull the pump tomorrow I will raise the assembly as far as I can while still connected to power and see if water comes out the hole. If so I'll know the check valve is stuck. If not I'll pull the pump the rest of the way and check for blockage with the hose. I did buy a replacement check valve when I bought supplies. So I can replace what is there if necessary.
#6
Sounds like a plan.
If you're replacing the pump you might consider removing that check valve and let the foot valve do the job.
If you're replacing the pump you might consider removing that check valve and let the foot valve do the job.
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Ha! Well human error strikes again. Switched power connections before taking all the plumbing apart. Guess that was the problem. My water is flowing and the bleach is doing its job. Should be good to go. Thanks for all your responses!
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