Water Service Line Connected to Well - Questions

Beltzington · May 25, 2015

Based on comments from TBN members and digging around on the always factual internet, I have decided to place my well pump house about 50ft from my well. Summarizing previous discussions this will allow better access to my well if it needs a pump replaced, well house can be large enough for a bigger pressurized storage tank and necessary filtration and it will make it easier to route water lines to new locations. So..

Service line - Rigid PVC, Flexible PE or new age PEX? I will need four 90-degree turns between the well and the pressure tank which makes rigid PVC seem like the easiest to install in a 6" wide trench. PE bend-radius seems like it would require a much wider trench. PEX is seems very flexible but requires special tools and network chatter is plumbers don't trust it buried.

Pressure Switch - At the well or at the pressure tank 50-feet away? Does the pressure-switch have to be mounted so the pipe is vertical or can it be on horizontal?

Any other thought? Here is a picture of my current situation. Keep in mind this is south GA so freezing is rarely a concern. Thanks.

C4Ranch · May 25, 2015

I have both... One well with my pressure switch and tank in my garrage about 130' away from well head.

My ranch has all the well head with tank and switch all within a 6x6 well house.

The pressure switch is on a horizontal pipe. I used schedule 40 PVC. and ran all the pipe about 200' to house and 200' to barn (well is in between).

turnkey4099 · May 25, 2015

Beltzington said:
Pressure Switch - At the well or at the pressure tank 50-feet away? Does the pressure-switch have to be mounted so the pipe is vertical or can it be on horizontal?

.

At the pressure tank. You need that pressure guage there when trouble shooting things and monitoring how things are going.

When making additional runs put a 1/4 turn ball valve shutoff on each run! I learned that the hardway last year when I had a major leak and had problems isolating where it was (turned out it was in he well itself).

Harry K

Stimw · May 25, 2015

PVC is cheap and easy!
Try go to a larger size for long runs, 1" or at least 3/4". The extra cost is low.
PEX doesn't impress me. Tools are added cost and the fittings high too.

SandburRanch · May 25, 2015

With a pitless adapter you could move all of that to the well house except the casing.

For better flow purchase long radius ELLs.

Billrog · May 25, 2015

PVC is good use 1" or 11/4" be very particular where the 90 ty's are buried nearly 100% of all pvc repairs I do each yr. are cracked ftings at joints. They don't take any strain very well. Primer and glue 1/4 turn to get the air out and seat the joint then hold for 10 sec.

techman · May 26, 2015

For sure the pressure switch, and possibly the pump controller box, are not rated for outdoor service. Water intrusion (rain) will eventually catch up with you. Also the wiring should be protected in flex or rigid conduit to meet code.

paul

R_Walter · May 26, 2015

How deep is your well? Are you running one pump? Or two? You definitely need something to keep the weather away from the controller box and the wiring you've got going at the well head?

TheGoose · May 27, 2015

Yes they are. Not "waterproof" but definitely rain resistant. That being said, they will last a long time if indoors.

techman said:
For sure the pressure switch, and possibly the pump controller box, are not rated for outdoor service. Water intrusion (rain) will eventually catch up with you. Also the wiring should be protected in flex or rigid conduit to meet code.

paul

MacLawn · May 27, 2015

Belt, yours looks about exactly mine, also in Appling, done in 1975, 500' deep 400' feet of that through our blue granite! Good, cold water, and even though we now have Columbia County water at our place, we still use our well water. Like it better. I'm wanting to do about the same thing as you, move everything but the well pipe (6") over to my garage 100' away. My neighbor has his like that, no problems at all for over 35 years for his. I plan to use 1" CPVC schedule 40 or stronger. I think you still need a cover over the well pipe. I will cover mine.

Oh, and I've seen our January temperature drop to 9º one winter!! Coldest I've ever checked it, but we do get some cold spells...