Problems with my deep well

robbsclassics · Apr 24, 2011

I have a 2 pipe deep well jet pump that won't work. It is a Read Jacket pump. There is a sticker on it that says 1979, so I think its over 30 years old. The problem I have is it is not pumping any water. The power was off for about a week. I did not need to prime the pump at all, started pumping fine for about 2 weeks. I noticed that it kept running so adjusted the pressure down a little, the next day same thing, adjusted the pressure down a little more. The next morning there was no water pressure, and the pump was dry. I shut it off, but I have no idea if it was dry for 5 min or 5 hours. I tried priming it, and it did nothing. I poured about 7gal into the pump over the course of a few hours, gave up and tried the next day. When I was priming the pump it would bubble while running, but never started to pump. I think I need a new pump, but would a foot valve cause that too? How can I test the pump and the foot valve? The problem with that is I have no clue where the well is. The previous owner said it was "Over there in the woods somewhere", but it is buried and was put in maybe 1949-1979. I know the well has water because there is an artesian well that is still running a few hundred yards from my house. I do have water, but I have to walk a ways to get it, so I would like to get it fixed.

WellWaterProducts · Apr 25, 2011

There are many variables here but my gut feeling is that something is misbehaving in the well. If that's the case, then consider a submersible.

robbsclassics said:
I have a 2 pipe deep well jet pump that won't work. It is a Read Jacket pump. There is a sticker on it that says 1979, so I think its over 30 years old. The problem I have is it is not pumping any water. The power was off for about a week. I did not need to prime the pump at all, started pumping fine for about 2 weeks. I noticed that it kept running so adjusted the pressure down a little, the next day same thing, adjusted the pressure down a little more. The next morning there was no water pressure, and the pump was dry. I shut it off, but I have no idea if it was dry for 5 min or 5 hours. I tried priming it, and it did nothing. I poured about 7gal into the pump over the course of a few hours, gave up and tried the next day. When I was priming the pump it would bubble while running, but never started to pump. I think I need a new pump, but would a foot valve cause that too? How can I test the pump and the foot valve? The problem with that is I have no clue where the well is. The previous owner said it was "Over there in the woods somewhere", but it is buried and was put in maybe 1949-1979. I know the well has water because there is an artesian well that is still running a few hundred yards from my house. I do have water, but I have to walk a ways to get it, so I would like to get it fixed.

Sponsor · 2022-01-29T12:20:58-0800

LLigetfa · Apr 25, 2011

robbsclassics said:
How can I test the pump and the foot valve? The problem with that is I have no clue where the well is. The previous owner said it was "Over there in the woods somewhere", but it is buried and was put in maybe 1949-1979. I know the well has water because there is an artesian well that is still running a few hundred yards from my house.

If the foot valve is holding, you would not be losing water to the well. A pressure test would confirm it.

If the water table is such that there is a running artesian well, it didn't need to be setup as a two pipe deep well pump. Anyway... it's time you figured out where the well is if ever you need to get into it. If you do put in a submersible, you will need to trench in the cable so just follow the pipes to the well if they are not buried too deep.

Problems with my deep well

robbsclassics

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WellWaterProducts

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LLigetfa

DIYer, not in the trades

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