Timagination
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I am going to try to get a young, strong back down here today and if I get one, we'll be replacing my deep well (181') submersible pump and changing out the pressure tank and all related components except the well pipe (1" black plastic) and the similar pipe from the pitless to the house.
I have considerable experience in many aspects of residential plumbing, I worked for a plumber/ welder/ mechanical contractor for two years many years ago here in the area where we now live in North East, MD. I helped pull, repair and replace probably a half dozen or so deep well assemblies back then and I have done all of my own residential plumbing, including gas-fitting, ever since.
The house where I live now is the first I've owned that has not been on a municipal water supply and it is 23 years old, and as far as I can tell, the pump is the only one that has ever been in this well. We bought the house from an older couple who did not have much company, and in the three years that we've been here, we have experienced low water pressure and extremely long recovery times, particularly on the weekends when we commonly have lots of guests. I checked with the county for the records, and our well was installed in 1986 and had the following stats:
181' deep
4" casing
70' to top of water before pumping
100' after pumping
15 GPM
I don't have any hard and fast information concerning the pump itself but when I recently, on the advice of our home inspection report, replaced the aged cast iron non-hermetic well cap with a modern, tight one, I observed that the cap did not appear to have been removed any time within the last ten years or so and also, there are only two wires going down to the pump. There is also a piece of thin wire rope ending in a loop near the cap.......might it go all the way down to the pump?
The plumber for whom I worked those many years ago has graciously obtained for me all of the necessary replacement parts including a 3/4 hp Goulds submersible pump, (1/60/230 2W 13STG 4" SUB), S/S barbs to go from the pump, to the single check valve directly above, all new S/S clamps, Well-Trol 203 pressure tank, Tee, pressure relief valve, pressure switch and gauge. I've cleared the saplings from the vicinity of the well-head and have a T-bar to grab the whole thing with.
I've spent some time perusing the threads here on this great site but I still have one or two concerns. First is the question of the wiring on my new pump. It is listed as a 2 wire, but there is a third, ground wire present on the motor. I don't recall the configuration of the pumps I helped change those many years ago, but I can't imagine that it would be necessary to run a ground wire back to my circuit breaker box from what has to be one of the best natural grounds possible. Do I have to use that third, green conductor? and if I don't, how do I treat it? I have a three wire splice kit ready, I assume I could seal it with that.
My other question has to do with disinfecting the assembly during and after re-installation. I seem to recall spraying the assembly with a mild bleach solution from a small spray bottle during re-insertion but I don't remember ever dumping bleach in any volume down the well and I certainly would rather not but what is appropriate?
I'm prepared to run-off the well for as long as necessary and I know that most or all of that should be prior to the pressure tank.
Any responses appreciated, and I apologize if I haven't been diligent enough in answering these questions myself through search. Thanks for your time.
I have considerable experience in many aspects of residential plumbing, I worked for a plumber/ welder/ mechanical contractor for two years many years ago here in the area where we now live in North East, MD. I helped pull, repair and replace probably a half dozen or so deep well assemblies back then and I have done all of my own residential plumbing, including gas-fitting, ever since.
The house where I live now is the first I've owned that has not been on a municipal water supply and it is 23 years old, and as far as I can tell, the pump is the only one that has ever been in this well. We bought the house from an older couple who did not have much company, and in the three years that we've been here, we have experienced low water pressure and extremely long recovery times, particularly on the weekends when we commonly have lots of guests. I checked with the county for the records, and our well was installed in 1986 and had the following stats:
181' deep
4" casing
70' to top of water before pumping
100' after pumping
15 GPM
I don't have any hard and fast information concerning the pump itself but when I recently, on the advice of our home inspection report, replaced the aged cast iron non-hermetic well cap with a modern, tight one, I observed that the cap did not appear to have been removed any time within the last ten years or so and also, there are only two wires going down to the pump. There is also a piece of thin wire rope ending in a loop near the cap.......might it go all the way down to the pump?
The plumber for whom I worked those many years ago has graciously obtained for me all of the necessary replacement parts including a 3/4 hp Goulds submersible pump, (1/60/230 2W 13STG 4" SUB), S/S barbs to go from the pump, to the single check valve directly above, all new S/S clamps, Well-Trol 203 pressure tank, Tee, pressure relief valve, pressure switch and gauge. I've cleared the saplings from the vicinity of the well-head and have a T-bar to grab the whole thing with.
I've spent some time perusing the threads here on this great site but I still have one or two concerns. First is the question of the wiring on my new pump. It is listed as a 2 wire, but there is a third, ground wire present on the motor. I don't recall the configuration of the pumps I helped change those many years ago, but I can't imagine that it would be necessary to run a ground wire back to my circuit breaker box from what has to be one of the best natural grounds possible. Do I have to use that third, green conductor? and if I don't, how do I treat it? I have a three wire splice kit ready, I assume I could seal it with that.
My other question has to do with disinfecting the assembly during and after re-installation. I seem to recall spraying the assembly with a mild bleach solution from a small spray bottle during re-insertion but I don't remember ever dumping bleach in any volume down the well and I certainly would rather not but what is appropriate?
I'm prepared to run-off the well for as long as necessary and I know that most or all of that should be prior to the pressure tank.
Any responses appreciated, and I apologize if I haven't been diligent enough in answering these questions myself through search. Thanks for your time.