new to well, need help, please

[shenork]

Hello, I have a stab well approx. 47 feet down on my property in mid michigan. I was told that it was used last about 7 years ago and provided really clean water. I went out and purchased a 1 hp pump and hooked it up. From the verticle 1 1/4" pipe coming out of the ground there is a new check valve and about 4" up is a horizontal pipe with a 1" reducer to my pump. When I changed the check valve the water fell down the verticle pipe (as I expected), when I turn on the pump, I can get water to come up the verticle pipe all the way past the check valve to the "T" in the pipe but not into the horizontal pipe to the pump. I primed the pump twice but could not get water to come into the horizontal pipe and to the pump. Any help would surely be greatly appreciated, what is my next move to solve this and get water. Thank you,
Shenork

 

[Gary Slusser]

Where does the line off the tee before the pump go?

You should be priming into the outlet of the pump, are you or are you using the inlet side?

How about taking and posting a picture?

 

[Sponsor]

 

[shenork]

Hi Terry,
I filled the pump with water as directed by the instructions via a small hole in the top of the pump that has a cap on it. The bottom end of the "T" goes towards the check valve, the horizontal goes to the input of the pump, and the top end is capped.
Shenork

 

[Gary Slusser]

Sorry, I'm Gary and I still can't visualize what you have. A picture would show what you have.

 

[shenork]

Sorry Gary, I will try to download something to show you, but I won't be at my property for another 2 weeks. I will take a picture at that time and repost. I was talking to a couple of "old timers" next to our property and presented the problem to them, the only thing they could come up with was that possibly the end of the pipe in the well was clogged somehow and the water that I was able to pull up was just water that is trapped in the pipe. Since the end of the pipe that is in the well (beneath the surface) is clogged, it is preventing the water from coming completely out of the pipe at the top. Just a shot in the dark, I guess. Once again, what I have is a straight pipe going down under ground 47 feet to a water table, above ground is a check valve, then a "T" with the side opening going to the 1 hp pump (which has a 5 gallon tank attached) and the top opening of the "T" capped. The water with the primed pump on, will only come up the pipe past the check valve and to the "T" but not make the turn and come horizontally to the pump. go figure. Any help would be great, if not I understand. Thank you.
Shenork

 

[Masterpumpman]

You may have a lift problem?

If the pipe in the well goes down 47 feet, how far is it from the top of the of the water in the well to the top of the pump? If it's more than 25 feet you probably have a lift problem.

If this is not your problem then you have a leak in the suction line from the pump suction to the static (standing) water level.
I recommend that you remove all fittings (including the tee) from the pump to the well and reinstalling new fittings (without the tee). Install the check valve as close to the well as possible with the arrow pointing towards the pump and use as few fittings as possible. Be sure there are no leaks. A suction leak will prevent the pump from pumping.

You can check for leaks using an arisol can of shaving cream around all the fittings while the pump is trying to prime. A suction leak will show up at the leak while sucking the shaving foam into the leak.

90% of suction pumps won't pump because of a suction leak between the pump inlet and the well!

NOTE: Unless you purchased a shallow or deep well jet pump or a converta-jet you won't get much pressure. Be sure that you didn't purchase a Lawn Sprinkler Pump!

 

[shenork]

thank you very much Porky, I will try this out. Have a great day.
Shenork