Well died tonight

[RedNeckGeek]

Cat_Driver, good you caught on before spending that K-buck. I'd be making a call to the BBB to report the slob. Nothing worse than a repair person taking advantage of a woman. At least if there's a complaint there's a chance other people will be warned off.

 

[TheGoose]

I assume the poster meant that they had a "3-wire pump" that had R, B, Y wires but no ground and replaced it with a "4-wire" model that has R, B, Y, and G. Thus the 4 wire model that brings it up to code.

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.

 

[Branchchipper]

I assume the poster meant that they had a "3-wire pump" that had R, B, Y wires but no ground and replaced it with a "4-wire" model that has R, B, Y, and G. Thus the 4 wire model that brings it up to code.

Yes, that is exactly right in our case.

 

[brokenknee]

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.

No insulated cover, just a lid made out of treated 2X6s, I had a 100 watt light bulb connected to a weather watchman that would turn the bulb on if the temp dropped below 40*F Usually we have a foot or two of snow on the ground before the real cold weather hits. This year that is not the case, I ended up putting a small electric heater in the pit and covering the lid with straw bales.

 

[brokenknee]

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?

I don't think he would last long around here, word travels fast about someone that tried to cheat you or poor service. One of the advantages of living in a small community.

Good service is rewarded by new customers and repeat business. Talking to my boss at work today and he said he will be giving him a call to run a water line to his horse barn.

 

[dave1949]

No insulated cover, just a lid made out of treated 2X6s, I had a 100 watt light bulb connected to a weather watchman that would turn the bulb on if the temp dropped below 40*F Usually we have a foot or two of snow on the ground before the real cold weather hits. This year that is not the case, I ended up putting a small electric heater in the pit and covering the lid with straw bales.

Thanks for that info. I've wondered what are the good & mostly fail-safe ways of keeping a well pump and pressure tank working with an unheated building.