Well pump keeps going out!! 4 in last 6 years!

[clovergamecock]

Have to pull my well pump again today for the 4th time in 6 years!!! The first pump was installed when the house was built 6 years ago. That one went out 3 years ago on Christmas morning. I replaced it with a Lowes pump simply because that was the only one I could get quickly. That pump went a year later. I took the pump back to Lowes and they would only replace it. So I tried that one and it lasted till last fall. After that one I went and got a quality pump that has a 5 year waranty on it. Last night after everyone had their showers and with absolutely no warning at all the 4th pump stopped working!!!

I checked the volts coming from the house to the pump and I get 240 when the breaker is on and of course 0 when it is off. There was no voltage drop at the head. I guess my only option is to pull the pump again. I would not dread it so bad but it is 350' down!!!!

Any ideas why this is happening so ofter??

Thanks
Wade

 

[RoyJackson]

Very curious...how much "head" (water above the pump) do you have?
My first guess is the pumps are cavitating.

 

[clovergamecock]

Hey Roy. Honestly I am not sure of that. I do know that the pipe is wet probaly around the last 10 feet or so from the pump when we pull it. Is there any method we can use to verify??

Thanks
Wade

 

[B7510HSD]

Is it possible the wire you have for the run to the pump is too small to handle the correct amp draw given the amount of feet in the run?? just a thought..

 

[RoyJackson]

Thinking about it...there's supposed to be a thermal cutoff to prevent the pump from burning out (that's saved mine).That's built into the pump.
Do you ever run out of water for a day or so?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Very curious...how much "head" (water above the pump) do you have?
My first guess is the pumps are cavitating.

Hey Roy. Honestly I am not sure of that. I do know that the pipe is wet probaly around the last 10 feet or so from the pump when we pull it. Is there any method we can use to verify??

Thanks
Wade

Im with Roy. 10' is not near enuf to prevent the pump running dry pretty often. Do you ever notice "milky" looking water when you fill a clear glass. Thats tiny bubbles.
larry

 

[MikeInEburg]

There was no voltage drop at the head.

Wade

There MUST be some voltage drop simply because there is at least 350' of cable involved. To get a meaningful measurement, the pump (or an equivalent load) must be on the cable and active.

 

[Alien]

I know a lot of bore pumps are designed to start no more than 8 times an hour. Mine is at about 120 ft and has been in for around 7 years now. I have been punishing it as it is connected directly to the house.
I now have a water tank and just bought a pressure pump to hook the tank to the house and am fitting a special float on the tank that only allows the bore pump to start once the tank level drops to about 1/4 full. This means my bore pump will only start once every 3 or so days. If it rains the bore pump won't need to start at all as the roof will feed the tank as well.
The bore pump is 1500 wattts so the new pressure pump will save me a lot of power as well. It is less than half that.
Check with your pump supplier on the cycling capabilities of your bore pump.
Hope this helps.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

Depending if using a pitless connection or pit simply test your head by dropping a tennis ball (or other ball that floats) down the well tied to a string. Mark string at top of well casing (assuming pitless connection) pull out and measure with measuring tape. Adjust for distance to get water level above ground level.

Compare to actual pump depth via measuring actual hose length and again adjust for distance to gnd level.

Depending on casing size say 5" where we are having 40' of water above the pump (head) is not a bad thing to have. It all depends on how fast your well recovers water from the source versus your usage.

When was well dug? only 6 years ago so hopefully you have a pumpdown test from the driller that tells you what rate the well flowed when new. This will tell you pump size. Check to see pump size matches flow rate (less safety measure). Normally driller will recommend pump size to help you ensure you do not pump down the well. If you do not still have the paperwork from the driller than maybe the well was registered with local authorities. Where we are we must register all wells for location, depth, water level, well yield, etc...

Since well was new has the water table changed much? if water table changes (especially drops) you will want to increase your head or lower the pump. Maybe there is a big water user in the area and when they pump the water level falls below pump depth. Where our cabin used to be we were near a Seagrams wiskey plant and when they were running baches and filling their tanks with water the water table would drop more than 20' sometomes in matter of 1/2 a day.

Finally 350' feet? really???? and you are using a pump from Lowes? What make / model of pump as last time I was at Lowes I did not think they had a pump that could handle that depth. for that depth a 2hp pump is highly recommended. I know some say a HQ 1 1/2hp will do but fat chance in the long run. 350' is a big push especially if you add a big distance from well to the house or worse if pumping to house + barn/garage that are even longer runs normally.

Check volts at load at the pump if you can

devils in the details likely for your problem. Assume you have multiple torque arrestors on the line (probably not the problem) and that the backflow valve working properly (but with so many pumps doubt thats the problem as most have them built in so getting so many duds unlikely)

Good luck and if you can share some more details sure someone here can help.

My gut feeling is if truelly at 350' you need a commercial grade pump designed for that depth and not a homeowners quality pump sized too small.

 

[MotorSeven]

I agree with Roy, 10' is not enough water over the pump. B75 is asking a pertinent question...what size wire do you have and how far is it from the panel?