Jfharper
Member
We began smelling the rotten egg odor after the water sits in the lines for a few hours and googled the problem to discover we needed to chlorinate the system.
So I read a few procedures online, and one of the first few steps is to remove the well cap via bolts removal. So while loosening the bolts, each of the four broke.
So back to the internet to discover some well caps are not caps but well seals, in which case I was to only loosen the bolts. Well, whether I loosened or removed still would have resulted in broken bolts.
Further research discovered there could be a plug in the cap as well. I didn't see a plug, but there is another bolt that has some black rubber looking sealing around it...upon loosen it, it appears to just turn and not loosen.
Further research, I may have this well seal:
http://www.do-it-yourself-pumps.com/pitless-well-caps.htm
or this one:
http://www.simmonsmfg.com/online_catalog/seals/seals1_2.html
but again, the plug is replaced with a bolt.
So it maybe this one:
http://www.simmonsmfg.com/online_catalog/seals/seals10.html
So what is the last unbroken bolt holding...is it the eye bolt...should I not mess with it anymore?
The well seal does say simmons on it, and it is a split cap or splite top plate...I think, as it looks like two semi circles.
So now that the bolts are broken, I'm guessing I need to replace the seal...I mean I can't just leave it in...can I?
I'm also guessing I'm going to be into some work here. It looks like I will need to disconnect some galv. piping (drop pip I think) from top and connecting lines, disconnect the sub pump wires (after turning off the power of course ), somehow lifting the drop pipe, pump, and seal out enough to get the seal out, replacing the seal, runnning the wires through and reconnecting the conduit, then putting the whole thing back in the casing and tightening up the seal.
So here are some things I don't know, which I was hoping someone could give a bit of guidence on...:
1. Is there anything in my process above that doesn't sound right or something I missed?
2. How do I lift the drop pipe, pump and seal out...can I lift it myself, use a couple floor jacks with a square pipe, chain and tractor?
3. How do I determine ahead of time what size seal to get...when I'm working on this, we will have no other water source except maybe bottled source to use for the day, so I'm hoping I can complete in 1 day.
4. Should I also have some backup pipes just in case one of those break? How do I know what size to get?
5. If I do break a pipe and replace, should I coat the threads with teflon tape or some other sort of goo? How tight should I go...as tight as I can?
6. Is there something I should put on the seal before assembly, vaseline or something to slide in better...or should it be dry...should I clean the casing first...what if dirt or stuff falls in the well during casing cleaning?
7. How tight do I tighten the seal.
8. How do I get everything back down in the casing...do I have to pound it down, or will it go pretty smoothly?
9. Is there a perfect level at which it should be...should I measure the existing height now for reference and match this height when everything goes back in?
10. I'm guessing after this process would be the time to chlorinate the well...so a plugged cap will useful...but what if the bolt eye is holding onto something...should I get a cap with a bolt eye, then I need to chlorinate before putting everything back in, which means I don't think I'll be able to do this all in one day.
Sorry of the amount of questions, but I wanted to jot everything down I could think of...don't feel like you have to answer all...1-2 or all per reply would be great, or anything would be great...thanks in advanced.
So I read a few procedures online, and one of the first few steps is to remove the well cap via bolts removal. So while loosening the bolts, each of the four broke.
So back to the internet to discover some well caps are not caps but well seals, in which case I was to only loosen the bolts. Well, whether I loosened or removed still would have resulted in broken bolts.
Further research discovered there could be a plug in the cap as well. I didn't see a plug, but there is another bolt that has some black rubber looking sealing around it...upon loosen it, it appears to just turn and not loosen.
Further research, I may have this well seal:
http://www.do-it-yourself-pumps.com/pitless-well-caps.htm
or this one:
http://www.simmonsmfg.com/online_catalog/seals/seals1_2.html
but again, the plug is replaced with a bolt.
So it maybe this one:
http://www.simmonsmfg.com/online_catalog/seals/seals10.html
So what is the last unbroken bolt holding...is it the eye bolt...should I not mess with it anymore?
The well seal does say simmons on it, and it is a split cap or splite top plate...I think, as it looks like two semi circles.
So now that the bolts are broken, I'm guessing I need to replace the seal...I mean I can't just leave it in...can I?
I'm also guessing I'm going to be into some work here. It looks like I will need to disconnect some galv. piping (drop pip I think) from top and connecting lines, disconnect the sub pump wires (after turning off the power of course ), somehow lifting the drop pipe, pump, and seal out enough to get the seal out, replacing the seal, runnning the wires through and reconnecting the conduit, then putting the whole thing back in the casing and tightening up the seal.
So here are some things I don't know, which I was hoping someone could give a bit of guidence on...:
1. Is there anything in my process above that doesn't sound right or something I missed?
2. How do I lift the drop pipe, pump and seal out...can I lift it myself, use a couple floor jacks with a square pipe, chain and tractor?
3. How do I determine ahead of time what size seal to get...when I'm working on this, we will have no other water source except maybe bottled source to use for the day, so I'm hoping I can complete in 1 day.
4. Should I also have some backup pipes just in case one of those break? How do I know what size to get?
5. If I do break a pipe and replace, should I coat the threads with teflon tape or some other sort of goo? How tight should I go...as tight as I can?
6. Is there something I should put on the seal before assembly, vaseline or something to slide in better...or should it be dry...should I clean the casing first...what if dirt or stuff falls in the well during casing cleaning?
7. How tight do I tighten the seal.
8. How do I get everything back down in the casing...do I have to pound it down, or will it go pretty smoothly?
9. Is there a perfect level at which it should be...should I measure the existing height now for reference and match this height when everything goes back in?
10. I'm guessing after this process would be the time to chlorinate the well...so a plugged cap will useful...but what if the bolt eye is holding onto something...should I get a cap with a bolt eye, then I need to chlorinate before putting everything back in, which means I don't think I'll be able to do this all in one day.
Sorry of the amount of questions, but I wanted to jot everything down I could think of...don't feel like you have to answer all...1-2 or all per reply would be great, or anything would be great...thanks in advanced.