Well Pump

I need to get my well pump replaced, I not sure of the brand that's in there now but I'll probably get a new one Lowe's, it's the closest place. They sell Water Ace brand. The existing pump is a 3 wire 3/4 hp and has the Franklin pump control box. Will Water Ace work with this box or will I need to get the Water Ace box?

Khalil

I wouldn't take any chances. Lowes pumps are not the same as Myers quality wise and they only sell 10 gallon per minute pumps as far as I know. Yours may be a 5, 8, 12, 20 or 25 gpm. Buying horsepower is not going to necessarilly get you the right pump.

bob...

I'm in the same boat as Khalil, I need a new pump and don't know what brand to get. My current one is a Sta-Rite but I don't know if I should get that or something different. I have seen Flotec (I think now owned by Sta-Rite) and WaterAce at places like Lowes and Ace.

Any recommendations for the best brand to give me around 15 GPM.

I sell pumps. Check out my website, the link is at the bottom of this post. You have no selection at either of the big box stores. They only have a couple of pumps to choose from. Flotec was not bought by Sta-Rite, they are made by Sta-rite. They were just too ashamed to put their name on such an inferior product.

bob...

When matching 3-wire pumps to control boxes, you will probably find that a 3-wire pump of one brand will work with the Franklin 3-wire control box if the motor and box are specified for the same horsepower. Many but not all brands use the Franklin motor, in which case it would certainly work.

Now the question of buying a pump by simply matching horsepower is a totally different story. A 3/4 horsepower motor could be attached to a pump that would produce 5 GPM at 160 psi, or to a pump that would produce 20 GPM at 50 psi, or anything in between.

The "big box" stores and hardware stores usually stock one pump at each horsepower that provides at least as much pressure as most users will need. There is probably a 50% chance that you will get the right pump for your needs, and a 50% chance that you won't get what you need.

You need to get the information that shows the pressure and flow for the pump, and examine that to see if it meets your needs. That depends on the pressure at which you want to operate your system, depth to water in the well when pumping in the dry season, and the size of pipes and pressure losses in the system.

If you get the pressure/flow/depth-to-water data on the new candidate pump, and your existing pump, and characteristics of the well, someone here can probably help you avoid an expensive mistake.