Is My Pump Too Big

Hello Plumbers,

I have a sizing question. Here are the particulars of my set up

-25' overall well depth
-19' static water level
-4' stainless steel point
-1 1/4 galvanized pipe
-14 gallon wel x trol bladder tank
-1 1/2 F & W shallow well pump set up for 230v
-I use a pitcher pump to prime the pump

I used the pump a little toward the end of last year but experienced a problem with holding a vacuum on the suction side of the pump. I am going to eliminate two unions in the suction line by moving the pump from the pit (well head) horizontally 10 feet to my cottage basement.

My concern is that although I got a great deal on this pump, it may be pulling too much vacuum.

-Should I trade down to a 1/2 or 3/4 hp.
-Should I sink the point to the previous depth of 31' (same hole) Dont know why I stopped at 25!!
-is the slight kick back on my pitcher pump handle due to not having approx 2 times the point length of water in the pipe (25' minus 19'=6') If I went to 31 I would have 12' of water.

Thanks for you input!

Mayfly

Put it back to the old depth.

Going smaller with the Pump isn't going to solve anything.

bob...

pump

vacuum is a function of physics and you cannot pull "too much vacuum". You can overpump the well, however if you try to extract water than faster than it can be replenished in the well. But that is a function of restricting the outflow, if that is the problem, since even a smaller pump at those parameters would probably pump about the same amount of water.

Foot Valve

Hello Plumbers,

Can I, should I put a foot valve on an 1 1/4 galvanized shallow well per the specifics above. I thought a foot valve was used in conjunction with a casing but what do I know.

Where do you put a foot valve. Between the pointd and the first section of galvanized in my case?

Thanks!


Mayfly

I'm not a Plumber and you can't put a Footvalve in an 1-1/4" well unless it's a 3/4" and that won't work well at all.

bob...