Almost bought the farm: Need info on flood detection/power interrupt for well pump

[rbstern]

depending on how your system is plumbed pressure switches are available with low pressure cutouts that will shut off on low pressure.
Square D FSG2J21M4CP 30/50 PSI Standard Pressure Switch with Low Pressure Cutoff

Tempting. That's almost a perfect, low cost solution. Only problem is, there could be a leak condition where the pump is still supplying enough pressure to not trip the low-cut off. Would have worked in a situation like my original post (completely sheered line), but a crack in the PVC, even spraying water under pressure, might not drop the pressure enough to cut off the pump. It also has to be reset after power failures, which happen a bit too frequently where we are.

 

[rbstern]

Replumb it in copper. It won't shatter like PVC. Problem solved, methinks, and copper isn't that hard to do for this. There are even pre-made manifolds that have all the fittings already tapped in.

I love copper as much as the next DIY guy, but it's not a panacea. In a different home, had a rigid copper main line sheer due to foundation settling, resulting in a 30,000 gallon spill in the basement.

 

[Quebecguy]

It also has to be reset after power failures, which happen a bit too frequently where we are.

The pressure switch with low pressure cut-out that I have does not have to be reset after a power failure as long as pressure is maintained in the pressure tank during the power failure.

 

[rbstern]

The pressure switch with low pressure cut-out that I have does not have to be reset after a power failure as long as pressure is maintained in the pressure tank during the power failure.

Same model described by LouNY?

 

[Deere Dude]

I love copper as much as the next DIY guy, but it's not a panacea. In a different home, had a rigid copper main line sheer due to foundation settling, resulting in a 30,000 gallon spill in the basement.

I never had copper break or leak but had CPVC break or crack even in a crawl space at least once a year. Anything can break but much more unlikely with plastic, otherwise plastic would be run in factories.

For either type of system when we left the house for more than a day or so the circuit breaker was turned off because I did have a leak outside one time on a piping from the pump that would keep the water flowing.

 

[rbstern]

I never had copper break or leak but had CPVC break or crack even in a crawl space at least once a year. Anything can break but much more unlikely with plastic, otherwise plastic would be run in factories.

For either type of system when we left the house for more than a day or so the circuit breaker was turned off because I did have a leak outside one time on a piping from the pump that would keep the water flowing.

The PVC setup made it 25 years before something broke, and it took my 200lbs stepping directly on it, right at the fitting. Not sure even a copper fitting would have survived the physics of that circumstance. The way it's plumbed, near the floor, it really needs a physical barrier to protect it, and now it has one. Funny thing is, with the work I'm doing in the basement (converting it to a workshop for the wife's craft biz), I already foresaw the need for that kickplate, to protect it from her. Didn't occur to me I would have to protect those pipes from me while I was doing the conversion work.

Life lessons.

 

[CalG]

The PVC setup made it 25 years before something broke, and it took my 200lbs stepping directly on it, right at the fitting. Not sure even a copper fitting would have survived the physics of that circumstance. The way it's plumbed, near the floor, it really needs a physical barrier to protect it, and now it has one. Funny thing is, with the work I'm doing in the basement (converting it to a workshop for the wife's craft biz), I already foresaw the need for that kickplate, to protect it from her. Didn't occur to me I would have to protect those pipes from me while I was doing the conversion work.

Life lessons.

right

because there are infinite ways for something to fail and only so many ways to protect against them, the money guys invented insurance.

You get "made whole" regardless. as long as it's not sabotage. There is the cost however.... ;-)

 

[buickanddeere]

right

because there are infinite ways for something to fail and only so many ways to protect against them, the money guys invented insurance.

You get "made whole" regardless. as long as it's not sabotage. There is the cost however.... ;-)

Floor drain and sump pump will take care of minor plumbing squirts .

 

[MossRoad]

You could cut the wire to the pump and put in twist-lock plugs. Pretty easy to disconnect in a pinch. Also makes it easy to hook up to a generator in a power outage. Do it to your furnace, too.

 

[CalG]

You could cut the wire to the pump and put in twist-lock plugs. Pretty easy to disconnect in a pinch. Also makes it easy to hook up to a generator in a power outage. Do it to your furnace, too.

I thought the issue was the proximity of the panel box breaker to the spraying water. Even I won't grab an energized twist-lock plug to disable the pump that is soaking both me and the wall socket. I'm not the most cautious person, but I'm not "stipid"! ;-