How To Plumb Well Water Lines for 2 Homes

[Larry Caldwell]

So you are saying I can "T" off near the well and run one line to the guest house and one to the future house and still just have the controller sit in the guest house?

If you turn on the water at the main house, how will the pump know that it needs to turn on?

Put the controller next to the pressure tank and the whole system will run off of one controller, no matter how many lines you have.

 

[Pettrix]

I think with the VFD system you will need to bring all the water past the pressure transducer before you tee to the other house, or the pressure will fluctuate. At least I know it does with the Sub Drive systems.

According to the pump installer the VFD will work properly with the tee at the well area. All the water lines are pressurized at all times, and the water will always take the path of least resistance. The water does not care which way it runs in the pipes. The VFD senses the pressure drop and will turn on until the demand is met and the pressure is met.

 

[Egon]

There are a lot of ways to do this. There are a handful of good ways to do this. There is no ONE right way, and no ONE best way.

How true. All that is required is a simple line drawing and configure areas of equall static pressure. Under flow conditions pressures will vary slightly as per the physical piping configuration and resulting losses.

 

[Valveman]

According to the pump installer the VFD will work properly with the tee at the well area. All the water lines are pressurized at all times, and the water will always take the path of least resistance. The water does not care which way it runs in the pipes. The VFD senses the pressure drop and will turn on until the demand is met and the pressure is met.

That depends on which VFD you are using, because I know for a fact it won't work with the Franklin Sub Drive.

 

[Larry Caldwell]

So I CAN run two separate lines from the well using a "T" valve to split them (one for the guest house and and one for the main house).

SEE ATTACHED DETAIL -

View attachment 477453

So being it's a closed hydraulic system, once I turn on the water in the future main house, the water will flow from the line from the well and then then the guest house line will begin to drain back and cause the controller in the guest house to sense the pressure loss and kick on the well pump.

Is that correct?

So there shouldn't be any problems or issues later if I do it with the above way, correct?

Yes, that will work fine. The only problem is if there is no water use at the guest house for long periods of time. Stagnant water in pipes can get pretty nasty, so make sure there is always enough water use at the guest house to keep the water fresh.

 

[turnkey4099]

Yes, that will work fine. The only problem is if there is no water use at the guest house for long periods of time. Stagnant water in pipes can get pretty nasty, so make sure there is always enough water use at the guest house to keep the water fresh.

Or be sure to run the water a good amount of time to flush the lines. Myi interconnect with the neighbor we both have used it and both understand to set up a sprinkler for 1/2 hour before using the water...About a 1,000 ft of dead water between us.

 

[hawkeye08]

The pressure tank and switch are in the guest house garage. The well is 100 feet away and an underground water line will run to the guest house garage.

See this diagram:

View attachment 477504

You need to be careful putting the pressure switch and controller in the guest house. If you have a leak and shut the valve off to the guest house and the valve open to main house, your pump could turn on and the pressure never reach the pressure switch (since it is on the other side of a closed valve near the "T"). I think your pressure switch needs to be on the pump side of any shutoff valves.

 

[Pettrix]

That depends on which VFD you are using, because I know for a fact it won't work with the Franklin Sub Drive.

Why would the Franklin Sub Drive not work on that type of setup?

 

[Valveman]

Why would the Franklin Sub Drive not work on that type of setup?

The Sub Drive uses a switch, while most other VFD's us a transducer. The switch actually turns the pump on and off 45 times per minute while you are using water. During the time the pump is off, water is coming from the small tank. When the pump is on, water comes from the pump. When there is a tee at the well head and the pressure switch and tank are at the dead end of another line, the pressure pulses wildly because the water has to change direction in tank line 45 times per minute.

 

[Pettrix]

The Sub Drive uses a switch, while most other VFD's us a transducer.

Per Gould's Spec Sheet:

It is allowable to run branches off the pipe between the pump and the transducer/pressure sensor as long as no flow restricting devices are between the pump and the transducer.