I am hoping someone can help me here. My wife and I bought our house back in June of 2013 (feels odd since its now 2014). We have really hard water here (125) and were having problems with high iron bacteria. So high It was plugging our (2) pre-filters (10 micron) and had to be changed ever 1-2 weeks. We were told from our prior to purchase "well inspection" that all equipment was new within 5 years and the condition of the well was "good". Well our pressure tanks failed after 3 months, both of them and the pump was always cycling. Come to find out the tanks were 11 years old! I called the only other well company in the area and they tried to say it was due to the inside of the pressure tanks rusting above the bladder. I had a water test done and confirmed the iron bacteria. They finally agreed to camera the well but even after letting the system settle for 4 days it was almost too hard to see anything, at least with their equipment. So after discussing with them we decided on a remediation of brushing, swabbing, air lifting and treating the well and replacing the 2 tanks and control box. In the process of everything I was up-sold on a "drive" system or 3 phase motor & new head. It would eliminate the 2 pressure tanks and would come with a new warranty, etc, etc. They agreed to pull & reinsert the pumps systems, remediation of the well, install the new equipment, new wire, new cap & valves for $5,800. This didn't sound bad.
So now here is my dilemma. The well was drilled and put into service in 1980. It is drilled to 289 ft, water is at 113 ft, pump sits at 254 ft. They decided not to brush and only swab / air lift. Well about the 200 mark their "tool" or swab got stuck. It took them 4 days to get it back out. They had to bring in 2 different trucks to get it out. When it finally came up the air line was wrapped up around the tool in knots from when they spun the pipe going down. It appears to have been pinched on the sides causing them to have difficulties getting it out and why the "air lifting" wasn't very productive. During the process of trying to remove the tool some gravel did come out when they were blowing in with the compressor. I asked if this was a problem and they indicated no. Well as a result we decided to line it with PVC. At an additional cost of $1800 & the assurance it would be the full 289 ft I said OK. Well.... the casing stopped at 205ft. They tried to tell me that they would set the pump now at 180ft (almost 70ft higher) and I would be ok with the bottom at 205ft. I was insistent about them running the camera down it again to find out what the problem is. They said the well was probably 200ft ft before and re-drilled to 289ft which would have required a smaller transition pipe. They also claimed that why the tool got "stuck". Well when they ran it down we found the 205ft is now completely gravel. They said they could try to pump it out but that would be at an additional charge.
So not knowing anything about wells other than some common sense and paying attention to them on what they are doing I have no idea what to do now. Can anyone give me some input here before it costs me more money. Im starting to feel like Tom Hanks in that movie "Money Pit".
Oh and they said my previous pump & head were sized wrong for the depth, etc. The info for them is below if anyone would like to confirm or disprove that.
Thanks,
Chris
PUMP -
Franklin Electric
S/N 08B18-07-0093
Model 2243022604
HP 3
HZ 60
PH 1
Head -
ITT 18GS30
So now here is my dilemma. The well was drilled and put into service in 1980. It is drilled to 289 ft, water is at 113 ft, pump sits at 254 ft. They decided not to brush and only swab / air lift. Well about the 200 mark their "tool" or swab got stuck. It took them 4 days to get it back out. They had to bring in 2 different trucks to get it out. When it finally came up the air line was wrapped up around the tool in knots from when they spun the pipe going down. It appears to have been pinched on the sides causing them to have difficulties getting it out and why the "air lifting" wasn't very productive. During the process of trying to remove the tool some gravel did come out when they were blowing in with the compressor. I asked if this was a problem and they indicated no. Well as a result we decided to line it with PVC. At an additional cost of $1800 & the assurance it would be the full 289 ft I said OK. Well.... the casing stopped at 205ft. They tried to tell me that they would set the pump now at 180ft (almost 70ft higher) and I would be ok with the bottom at 205ft. I was insistent about them running the camera down it again to find out what the problem is. They said the well was probably 200ft ft before and re-drilled to 289ft which would have required a smaller transition pipe. They also claimed that why the tool got "stuck". Well when they ran it down we found the 205ft is now completely gravel. They said they could try to pump it out but that would be at an additional charge.
So not knowing anything about wells other than some common sense and paying attention to them on what they are doing I have no idea what to do now. Can anyone give me some input here before it costs me more money. Im starting to feel like Tom Hanks in that movie "Money Pit".
Oh and they said my previous pump & head were sized wrong for the depth, etc. The info for them is below if anyone would like to confirm or disprove that.
Thanks,
Chris
PUMP -
Franklin Electric
S/N 08B18-07-0093
Model 2243022604
HP 3
HZ 60
PH 1
Head -
ITT 18GS30