Servicing a Deep Well

[MMalabama]

How do you know it's a deep well? Do you know if there's water?

This used to be my grandparents place. I remember it working prob 8 yrs ago and cant be certain but I think he said it was 400ft.

 

[CobyRupert]

One more question Lou. I get all the steps you are mentioning except where you say "lifting it a bit to expose the pump rod". Are you saying there is a rod inside the pipe? If so is it also in 20ft sections. Please explain this a little more if you could.

This is interesting. So many questions:

Looking at the diagram Lou posted the link to, it looks like there is a rod inside of the pipe; but is the "drop pipe" inside the well casing, or is it the well casing itself? I'm thinking it's separate from the well casing, otherwise how would you pull up the foot valve?
Does one pull the rod and piston first, then pull up the "drop pipe" with the foot valve?

What's the purpose of the bottom check valve (foot valve) if the piston is above it? Wouldn't water still pass through to the high side of the piston on the down-stroke if the foot valve wasn't there? And then get lifted on the upstroke?

 

[LouNY]

One more question Lou. I get all the steps you are mentioning except where you say "lifting it a bit to expose the pump rod". Are you saying there is a rod inside the pipe? If so is it also in 20ft sections. Please explain this a little more if you could.

If that has a pump chamber at the end of the pipe with a mechanical piston type of pump yes there will be a pump rod inside the water pipe.
That style works by lifting a bit of water with every stroke till the pipe is full and you have water flowing.
Some times the rod are threaded, some will have a twist lock connection, pined type also.
If its a shallow well as the others have mentioned under 30 feet to the water level the pistons/ pump chamber can be located in the pump.

 

[LouNY]

This is interesting. So many questions:

Looking at the diagram Lou posted the link to, it looks like there is a rod inside of the pipe; but is the "drop pipe" inside the well casing, or is it the well casing itself? I'm thinking it's separate from the well casing, otherwise how would you pull up the foot valve?
Does one pull the rod and piston first, then pull up the "drop pipe" with the foot valve?

What's the purpose of the bottom check valve (foot valve) if the piston is above it? Wouldn't water still pass through to the high side of the piston on the down-stroke if the foot valve wasn't there? And then get lifted on the upstroke?

The lower check/foot valve makes them much more efficient especially when the water level is close to the chamber level, it stops any slosh or wave action from emptying water from the chamber.
Yes you will normally have a smaller line inside the well casing to hang the chamber from and direct the pump water up with the pump rod inside that pipe, there have been designs that ran the pump rod separate from the piping with a packing at the chamber, those required guides to keep the pump rod stable.

 

[LouNY]

Here are some links to new ones, most are hand pumps some can have motors added;
Deep Well Hand Pumps 3 Foot Static



– SunshineWorks
Hand Water Pump, Well Hand Water Pump By Bison Pumps
This one discuss the different styles
Hand Water Pumps Operation and Classification

Most of the ones that we see in our area are the "pitcher" pumps on shallow wells, if you see one on a windmill its usually a deep one.

 

[MMalabama]

Here are some links to new ones, most are hand pumps some can have motors added;
Deep Well Hand Pumps 3 Foot Static



– SunshineWorks
Hand Water Pump, Well Hand Water Pump By Bison Pumps
This one discuss the different styles
Hand Water Pumps Operation and Classification

Most of the ones that we see in our area are the "pitcher" pumps on shallow wells, if you see one on a windmill its usually a deep one.

Interesting read. I dont think it would work for me since like I was saying I think i remember him saying it was 400ft well. But i feel confident now that if i figure out a good method to pull up that weight of all the sucker rod and a good method for holding it in place while disconnecting the joints at each 20ft interval that i can just replace or repair the piston assembly. Or look into dropping in a submersible if the casing is 3" or more.

 

[prichard]

A 400 ft well could still have a high static level. If I had to guess I'd say what you have is a shallow well suction pump. It may work if primed.

 

[GLyford]

Some of the pump guys have a special plate/dog/wedge that catches on the pipe couplings as you pull up the pipe sections. I wouldn't think of attempting this without having something like that to keep from losing the whole string of pipe down the hole, more than just a pipe wrench.

 

[LouNY]

Tools;
Well Pipe Clamps

And this place has most everything for a well;
the rancher holder sounds reasonable, they also have pump cylinders and leathers
Well Pipe Clamps

 

[quicksandfarmer]

What's the purpose of the bottom check valve (foot valve) if the piston is above it? Wouldn't water still pass through to the high side of the piston on the down-stroke if the foot valve wasn't there? And then get lifted on the upstroke?

The bottom foot valve serves two purposes. On the down-stroke of the piston it keeps the water from flowing back into the ground. In order for the valve on the piston to open on the down-stroke, the pressure on the bottom side of the valve has to be equal to or greater than the pressure on the top side. When the column of water is full there is about 400 feet of water riding on the piston, or about 150 PSI. Pushing down on the piston, the water is essentially incompressible and if there is something to keep the water in place it will reach that pressure and the top valve will open. But without a bottom valve the pressure would just push water back into the earth.

The other purpose is that once you've pumped the well full with a column of water you want to keep it from leaking back down.