Well died tonight

tomcat7359 · Jan 4, 2015

Sounds like a very reasonable cost for the repair.. Glad you are back up and running...

brokenknee · Jan 4, 2015

lakngulf said:
Glad you got it fixed, and for reasonable charge. Just curious, how do they handle all that length of pipe? Or do they cut and resplice?

It was the black poly pipe you see used in sprinkler systems; once they took the cap off they were able to pull it out by hand. I did assist, but the two of them were more than capable of pulling it out themselves. My pump was set at sixty feet. they say they can usually pull them out by hand with the poly pipe up to about 200 feet. Now these were two young guys in good shape; asked them if they wanted a ladder to get down in to the pit, they said no and just hoped down. Now I may have been able to jump down there but never would have gotten out without a ladder.

They did have a rig on the back of their truck to pull ridged pipe, but said it does not work for the poly pipe. I did ask what type of pipe they use when installing a well and he said schedule 80 PVC in 20 foot lengths.

I may have him back this summer to put in a new supply line to the house. They will dig in a new line, fill in the pit and make it a pitiless and move the pressure tank inside for between $1200 and $1500. I have a slab house so they will need to bore under the house. Water pressure has been an issue since I bought the place. Originally they used a 3/4 galvanized pipe, he said it most likely only has an opening maybe a little bigger than a pencil.

brokenknee · Jan 4, 2015

avillahdw said:
Not to deviate from OP original, but I have seen several posts mention a 4-wire pump being required. Whose requirement is this? City? State? All pumps manufactured in approximately the past 20 years have been manufactured with ground wires per NEC. We sell, on average, 175-200 pumps per year through my hardware store and all I stock are the 3 wire pumps that do not require control boxes. My 22 years as a licensed well contractor and installer has convinced me that we experience fewer problems with these than 4wire units. 4 wire units have their advantages in well 300'+ but, personally speaking, give me a 3 wire any day.

I also wondered about this; well guy did not say anything about having to upgrade, but then no building permits are required were I live. What is the purpose of the controller? Just an added safety? The county does regulate septic systems though.

dave1949 · Jan 4, 2015

All's well that ends well. :laughing:

Couldn't resist. Glad you are back in business.

I have a question about your well pit. Does it not freeze because of the 6' depth, or do you have some heat in the pit? I assume it has an insulated cover? Thanks.

RedNeckGeek · Jan 4, 2015

brokenknee said:
What is the purpose of the controller? Just an added safety?

My well is 380' deep and the pump sits at 360', but even with all that depth, starting in the late summer the well casing will run dry after the pump runs for a minute or so. Without a controller the pump would overspeed and burn out. The controller senses the overspeed condition and shuts the pump off for a programmable number of minutes before turning it back on again. The same controller also turns the pump off with the 2500 gallon storage tank is full, or if it senses a short in the wiring to the pump.

Billrog · Jan 4, 2015

Brokenknee I would defiantly follow up on the pitiless adapter and replacing the galv. pipe & the cushion tank inside the home. This is your most trouble free option and give you some piece of mind.

SPIKER · Jan 4, 2015

IF you move to having the pressure tank INSIDE the home then that can help IF the galv pipe is getting reduced dia from internal pipe diameter reduction from scale buildup. Not that it matters much but could get you more years without having to re-run that line.

Mark

buckeyefarmer · Jan 4, 2015

glad you got it fixed quick.

turnkey4099 · Jan 4, 2015

SPIKER said:
IF you move to having the pressure tank INSIDE the home then that can help IF the galv pipe is getting reduced dia from internal pipe diameter reduction from scale buildup. Not that it matters much but could get you more years without having to re-run that line.

Mark

Yep, he would have normal pressure until the tank emptied and the pump kicked in.

Harry K

Cat_Driver · Jan 5, 2015

Mine quit working, I was too bust to meet the well guy, so wife went to meet him. Told her it was $1000.00 to fix it, needed a pressure switch. There was a new switch sitting in the control panel - YET he needed to order one, said it would be 10 days. I went over to the pump, unscrewed the broken switch ( 4 turns left with the crescent wrench) replaced it with the new one sitting there ( 4 turns right with the crescent wrench ) FIXED. Took less than five minutes. WOW $200.00 a MINUTE, or $12,000 an hour for labor. Nice work if you can get it.
I called and asked WHY $1,000.00 to fix the pump. He said he needed to buy the part and reprogram the controller.
WHY, WHY, WHY do scum like this have to rip people off. Is there any honest business people out there any more?