I pulled our pump years ago because pressure would take forever to build up. After I installed the new pump I took the old pump apart. The pump propellers were about completely gone. The new pump ran about 1/3 the time the old one did to build up pressure. The new pump used less power to run even though the ratings were the same as the old pump.
Well Issues
I took the wife and kids to the airport today and get home and I was going to start some of my projects. First on the list was to descale the tankless water heater. Head down to the basement and I can hear the hum of the well pump running. I think to myself that this is odd because I just got home so no one is using water. I keep working and think to myself that the pump should have cut out by now even if it was low. Take a look at the gauge and it is sitting at 60PSI. We have a 40/60 switch so it should be cutting out.... I go over and flip the breaker and start looking into my new project for the day. As I look over things I look at my filters. They normally are changed every 3 months and I did it last month. The first is a spin down sediment pre-filter and I can see what looks like cotton or down on the outside of the filter and what I would say is the amount of sediment we would normally see in 3 month clean out. I have never seen these fibers before so I shutdown my valve and pull the filter. Here is a photo of the fibers.
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So the well pump is down about 160'. It comes into the house and there is a T that goes to the pressure switch and pressure tank. The other direction goes to the filters and on to the house. The fibers are on the well side of the filters so it has to be coming from well, well pump or pressure tank. I just cant think of anything that would have fibers in it like this. They feel like cotton. Not sure why they would have something like that in the pressure tank. Any ideas?
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I did some troubleshooting. When I drained the pressure tank I noticed that the pressure gauge should have dropped to 0 but it was still sitting at 60psi. Thinking the nipple going to the pressure switch. nipple and gauge could be plugged I replaced all three with new ones. Now the pump still runs non-stop but the pressure gauge reads 0psi all the time. I even ran the pump for a minute. Verified that there is water in the tank by opening my drain briefly. Then I pulled the pressure gauge, nothing came out of it. The odd thing is there is that the hole it screws into has something on the inside of it. It is hard like the plug on the end of the fitting. I tried opening up the pipe where everything attaches but I can't seem to be able to budge the end plug. Who knows how long it has been there. The house was built in the 60s but I replaced the pressure tank about 4 years ago. At that point I had everything disconnected from the union down to the tank. The rest of it could be original for all I know.
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My thoughts are these fibers are plugging up the passages to the pressure switch and pressure gauge. I am thinking I need to try and get this stuff apart to clean them out. However. If it is these fibers causing the issue, it is just a band-aid fix, I am still getting these fibers into the spindown filter and even if I clean this out, it will likely plug up again. Anyone ever see anything like this before or have an idea where they might be coming from. There is a section of rubber hose from where the copper pipe comes out of the ground to where it ties into copper pipes and make that T. For now I just run the pump for a bit when I need water and cut it off. It is just me in the house this week so I can get by. I go to the gym every morning so I shower and get ready for work there.
So the well pump is down about 160'. It comes into the house and there is a T that goes to the pressure switch and pressure tank. The other direction goes to the filters and on to the house. The fibers are on the well side of the filters so it has to be coming from well, well pump or pressure tank. I just cant think of anything that would have fibers in it like this. They feel like cotton. Not sure why they would have something like that in the pressure tank. Any ideas?
I did some troubleshooting. When I drained the pressure tank I noticed that the pressure gauge should have dropped to 0 but it was still sitting at 60psi. Thinking the nipple going to the pressure switch. nipple and gauge could be plugged I replaced all three with new ones. Now the pump still runs non-stop but the pressure gauge reads 0psi all the time. I even ran the pump for a minute. Verified that there is water in the tank by opening my drain briefly. Then I pulled the pressure gauge, nothing came out of it. The odd thing is there is that the hole it screws into has something on the inside of it. It is hard like the plug on the end of the fitting. I tried opening up the pipe where everything attaches but I can't seem to be able to budge the end plug. Who knows how long it has been there. The house was built in the 60s but I replaced the pressure tank about 4 years ago. At that point I had everything disconnected from the union down to the tank. The rest of it could be original for all I know.
My thoughts are these fibers are plugging up the passages to the pressure switch and pressure gauge. I am thinking I need to try and get this stuff apart to clean them out. However. If it is these fibers causing the issue, it is just a band-aid fix, I am still getting these fibers into the spindown filter and even if I clean this out, it will likely plug up again. Anyone ever see anything like this before or have an idea where they might be coming from. There is a section of rubber hose from where the copper pipe comes out of the ground to where it ties into copper pipes and make that T. For now I just run the pump for a bit when I need water and cut it off. It is just me in the house this week so I can get by. I go to the gym every morning so I shower and get ready for work there.
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I get a call from JJ that he was on the way. He then asks if he can get the truck to the well head. Ahhh sure there is some snow but I can take care of that.
I went out put the blower on the X and started working at clearing a road for the truck. The problem was I had used it a few weeks ago to move the snow away from the pole barn. Then those couple big snow falls I used the blower to clear the sidewalk. All of this snow went in one big pile, right through that pile I needed to make a road. Hmmm. The blower couldn't cut through the 6-8" of ice on top of the 6-8" snow. Hmm. I got a lot of it cleared but time to try something else. I drop the blower and quick hitch in the driveway and head down to one of my other buildings where the FEL spends its winter. Hook that up and I was able to bust through the ice and move the snow away. Just as I was finishing up my new road JJ pulled up. He appreciated the snow work and was able to back right up to the well.
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As the pump was coming up I noticed wet pipes at about 80'. That means the pump is 80' underwater.
Here is the old pump.
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The pipe was all in really good condition. No sign of holes or leakage. They must have been replaced the last time the well was done. As he was removing the tape securing the wire I noticed that the wet areas that had surface rust were rust free when the tape came off.
JJ was splicing in the wire and I saw him go over to one of the side storage areas and start cutting small chunks off what looked like a copper refrigerator water line. He takes the three pieces he cut off and brings them over to the well. I asked if he just made his own butt splices? Yep we have been doing them this way for years. Too many times the butt splices fail. We have never seen one of these fail. The two wires sit next to each other in the copper tubing and he crimped it in a few places.
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New pump going down.
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We powered up the pump.... Did he put it down the well pipe or the septic cleanout?
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So, everything is running now. I showed him the fibers, he is pretty sure they are from the impeller as it was letting go. That explains the lack of pressure.
Total damage.... $1150.00
I went out put the blower on the X and started working at clearing a road for the truck. The problem was I had used it a few weeks ago to move the snow away from the pole barn. Then those couple big snow falls I used the blower to clear the sidewalk. All of this snow went in one big pile, right through that pile I needed to make a road. Hmmm. The blower couldn't cut through the 6-8" of ice on top of the 6-8" snow. Hmm. I got a lot of it cleared but time to try something else. I drop the blower and quick hitch in the driveway and head down to one of my other buildings where the FEL spends its winter. Hook that up and I was able to bust through the ice and move the snow away. Just as I was finishing up my new road JJ pulled up. He appreciated the snow work and was able to back right up to the well.
As the pump was coming up I noticed wet pipes at about 80'. That means the pump is 80' underwater.
Here is the old pump.
The pipe was all in really good condition. No sign of holes or leakage. They must have been replaced the last time the well was done. As he was removing the tape securing the wire I noticed that the wet areas that had surface rust were rust free when the tape came off.
JJ was splicing in the wire and I saw him go over to one of the side storage areas and start cutting small chunks off what looked like a copper refrigerator water line. He takes the three pieces he cut off and brings them over to the well. I asked if he just made his own butt splices? Yep we have been doing them this way for years. Too many times the butt splices fail. We have never seen one of these fail. The two wires sit next to each other in the copper tubing and he crimped it in a few places.
New pump going down.
We powered up the pump.... Did he put it down the well pipe or the septic cleanout?
So, everything is running now. I showed him the fibers, he is pretty sure they are from the impeller as it was letting go. That explains the lack of pressure.
Total damage.... $1150.00
Had to use the JD 650 FEL to get the Pitless adapter off, after that my wife and I pulled it out. The tough part is pulling up on wet plastic pipe. It was heavy but the good thing is they get lighter as they come up.
Our pump is on black plastic pipe.
Ours is buried also and would be a ***** in the winter.
:thumbup1gif:
:thumbup1gif::laugh:
gizmo2-let me know when ur pulling ur pump out-
ickup: and i'll drive up to give ya some moral support that day-ok:mocking::hide:i would really help ya pull it. not just sit and take the pics for ya.
61 - 72 of 72 Posts
