submersible or jet pump for 28 ft deep well?

[chad22]

We have an old well that's in a pit. It's 28 ft deep from the top of the ground to the bottom of the well.

The water table is about 19 ft down and from the bottom of the well to the top of the water is 7 or 8 ft. My math ain't so great.

There's room for a submersible pump but I can get a jet pump cheaper and save on the cost of the submersible wire.

Do you think I should put a submersible pump down there or just use a jet pump?

Any pros versus cons on either one? Trying to get this well going to water the lawn and some trees without running the water bill up.

Thanks

Chad

 

[tommu56]

do you live in a freezing climate?
Yes then submersible so it wont freeze.

submersible = self priming = less headaches (my opinion)

Jet = more headaches chances to leak loose prime ect needs well house. and heat in winter.

tom

 

[sandman2234]

At that depth, a shallow well jet pump will/should work.
David from jax

 

[Kays Supply]

As the other guy said, submersible. You get more bang for the buck. The main advantage, since you are in Kansas, is that you can remove the check valve and make it an on off type pump. Don't use the pressure switch. That way when you turn it on it stays on and when you turn it off the water drains back into the well. No winterizing. I have done them that way for stock watering and it works fine.

 

[Carl_NH]

I agree submersible pump is easy and not too expensive. $200 here Water Sentry Submersible Well Pump Franklin 1/2 HP 230V | eBay

The two things you will need to do is 1) make sure the recovery rate or inflow is adequate otherwise you could run the pump dry = losing the pump and 2) you will need to hang this 2' or so off the bottom so a some bracket/hanging point with like a 1" galv elbow connecting to the poly pipe is needed.

 

[heehaw]

just did this same thing a few years ago..submersible is the only way to go: i didn't have 220v available, so i bought a 120v pump, an it went in so quick an easy: in fact the well was less than 30ft deep: so its about the same thing i did: a jet pump has to pump about 2 gallons of water, maybe more, to get one gallon for use: so it takes more electricity to pump the same amount of water: you will never regret going to a submersible pump.
heehaw

 

[Kays Supply]

If the truth be known, a good higher HP sump pump will do what you need. More volume less pressure. It depends on if you are going to run sprinklers or just move water.

 

[chad22]

Thanks guys. I'm now leaning towards going with a submersible pump. This way I won't have to worry about priming it.

I'll probably go with a 120 volt pump as it will be cheaper and easier to get 120 v out there. It'd be about 50 ft from the panel to the well.

If the well yields well enough and the water is okay. I plan to later hook it to the camper. I can't stand the city water around here for drinking. Too much Chlorine. Sometimes you can even smell it.

So when I do that I'll build a well house to house the tank and piping.


Chad

 

[BKBrown]

Another thing to think about (with a jet pump) is any small amount of dirt or rust can plug up the jet in the injector. That requires pulling the unit out of the well, cleaning, putting the unit back, and priming again.
Jet pump = push and pull ... submersible = push only.

If it is possible, use the submersible !

 

[Larry Caldwell]

I'll probably go with a 120 volt pump as it will be cheaper and easier to get 120 v out there. It'd be about 50 ft from the panel to the well.

If you have 240v at the panel, it won't take any more wire to run a 240v. pump than a 120v. With 120v you need a hot leg, a neutral and a ground. With 240v. you need two hot legs and a ground. A pump is a balanced load, so you don't even need a neutral unless you want to tap 120v at the well head. The advantage of 240v is half the amperage and thus half the voltage drop. Where possible, always run motors on 240v.

 

[aczlan]

as it will be cheaper and easier to get 120 v out there. It'd be about 50 ft from the panel to the well.

If you get a 2 wire pump you will only need the 2 220v legs and a ground, so you can use the only cost difference will be in the breaker.
A 220v pump will pull less amps per leg, so you can use lighter wire.
As a random example, the recommended fuse sizes for a Flotech 1/2 hp submersible well pump are: 115v 35 amps. 230v 20 amps
You can also go 104 feet with 14 gauge wire and a 1/2hp 115v pump, but you can go 400 feet with the 230v version of the same pump and 14 gauge wire
Source (charts on pages 6-7): http://www.pumpvendor.com/media/flotec/pdf/Flotec_4_inch_2_and_3_wire_submersible_well_pumps.pdf

Aaron Z

 

[Carl_NH]

Aczlan,

The 220V 2 Wire 1/2 HP motor is 5-6 Amps, the 115 V 2 Wire 10-12 amps. A 15 Amp double breaker to support the 2 wire 220V will work fine, and the 115V 20 Amps would work but the suggested is 30 as you note due to the starting current.

I have a 1.5 HP on a 30 Amp breaker and the starting current spikes to 20-22 Amps then it runs at 9-10 amps.

Its better to go with the 220V especially if this will be used with a generator at any point in the future due to the balanced loads.

Carl

 

[turnkey4099]

Thanks guys. I'm now leaning towards going with a submersible pump. This way I won't have to worry about priming it.

I'll probably go with a 120 volt pump as it will be cheaper and easier to get 120 v out there. It'd be about 50 ft from the panel to the well.

If the well yields well enough and the water is okay. I plan to later hook it to the camper. I can't stand the city water around here for drinking. Too much Chlorine. Sometimes you can even smell it.

So when I do that I'll build a well house to house the tank and piping.


Chad

I also vote for submersible. They now have "constant pressure" pump controllers. I don't know how they work but if they do not need a pressure tank that is what I wouild be using. Cuts one more maintenance item out of the mix.

If you go for a 'top of the well pump' at your measurements you maybe could get away with a simple shallow well pump (not a 'jet'). A shallow well will suck from about 26' at sea level - decreases with altitude. Of coruse that runs you back to the 'priming/frost protection' problems.

Harry k

 

[Kays Supply]

One other think to add. If you go 220V, you can use a three wire pump with a box. This box contains relays and capacitors that are inside the motor of a 120v two wire. If you have a failure in one of these parts, you can replace it. If that part fails in the 120v motor, you have to pull the pump and replace the whole motor. Just a few more facts to put in the mix.