Hi guys. Looks like the house is getting older. Along with me.

I went downstairs a bit ago and saw water on the floor and sure enough my well pump/pressure tank were the culprits.
And I know if I knew what the parts were and did I could probably find some info on YT, but maybe not because of its age. And you folks have always steered me right in the past when I had a question about something.

So I have a 20 year old pressure tank and pump motor my father installed for me years ago. And I really wish I had been paying attention, but I was working on other things like the electric and HVAC.

Here's what I have.
A hole here:



And the part that used to be attached to it here:



So can this be put together again? I looks like a short nipple between the two that corroded away, but I would not bet money on it.

Do I need a new part where the electric goes into? I'm not even sure what that is. I haven't taken it apart yet.
Can I find the things to fix it on a Saturday? Would I need a whole new motor because that box is built into it or proprietary or something? Maybe replace it just because of its age?

And how do I prime things again? I recall my father having a hard to priming it, but I'm not even sure what that is or how you add the water. There is a valve where the water comes in I turned off, so hopefully I only need to get a few feet of water into the lines. And of course the breaker is off.

Really lost when it comes wells, but I'm handy if I have instructions.

 

Wow.... that hole in the pump volute is a short steel pipe nipple. It connects the pressure switch to the pump. You can connect the pressure switch somewhere else but you'd need to plug that hole. I severely doubt the pipe piece could be removed. You may be forced to replace the pump.

Post some more pics.

 

Pjmax, sorry, I didn't see a way to quote your reply.

And yes, I wasn't thinking. I bet that broken off nipple is corroded as heck and an easy out would be useless.

If the pressure switch is still good wouldn't it need to sense the water pressure? I'm not understanding how I could connect it somewhere else.

I can take more pics tomorrow if you let me know what you want to see.
I'd just as soon let the basement dry out a little bit. I was just trying to get an idea what might lie ahead of me, since I have no water until it's fixed.

 

That pressure switch is probably no good either with the pipe rusted off in it.
You may be able to install a tee in your system for a new pressure switch.

Thinking what you can use to plug that hole. Possibly a fine threaded bolt.
You can buy self tapping bolts and screw it right in.
Something like this. Finer threads is better. Silicone or compound to seal the threads.
A place like ACE will have bins. Pick up a few different sizes.

 

I've done some more Googling and it looks like a lot of these pressure switches are mounted to the piping somehow. I see a lot down low on the pressure tank. But that does not solve the hole problem in the pump.

So I'm thinking I would need a new pump/motor regardless. The way water was shooting out that hole I can't see inserting something to plug it. And it looks like the pump is cast, so I can't see me welding it and trusting it.

 

Just thinking..... my father would plug it with a dowel. Just larger than the hole and tapered down.

 

I didn't see that self-tapping screw picture or suggestion when I first read that post and replied.
That's a pretty good idea. I imagine it could hold. At worst I might have to drill out the hole to reach solid metal, assuming the hole is surrounded by corrosion.

So then I would only need to buy the pressure switch and figure out how and where to mount it. And how to prime things.

 

Sometimes ideas occur as I read thru and I add them on to an existing post.

 

Pumps aren't as expensive as I thought they'd be. Not cheap, but not outrageous.
I think I might be better off replacing the whole shebang and maybe it will last another 20 years. Then if I get the gumption, maybe I can replace the pressure switch and the cast iron part with the hole in it on the existing pump and have a spare. If they still make parts for it. I imagine someone on Ebay probably has parts to rebuild it.

 

Think you're on the right track; I doubt a 20 year old pump would be worth much labor to save. Wouldn't hurt to play with the old one, though. Looking at the pic it appears like there is some sealant on the body. Perhaps sometime in the past the connection leaked at was sealed. The broken off piece may be easier to remove than it seems. I think I would try drilling it out slightly larger and use a large EZ-Out.

 

Thank you the_tow_guy.
The more I read about finding a new place to mount a new pressure switch and patching up the old pump, the more buying a new one kept coming up as the smart option.

Fortunately Home Depot had two in stock. I was up and running in no time with a minor alteration to the mounting bracket they use now. The only downfall was, now the pressure switch faces the back wall. I wired it up then spun it around and bolted it down. Then hooked up the pipes.

Priming was pretty painless, too. Got it running first try. Not as much air in the lines as I thought there'd be.

 

There is probably a foot valve or check valve holding the suction line full of water.
The only air was at the pump.