Shallow Well Jet Pump Problems??

[William Palmer]

I will explain my problem, I have a shallow well with 3/4 inch pipe running down from the pump. The inlet has a pvc check valve i just bought and put on running to a brand new utilitech 1/2 horse shallow well jet pump. Now when i cut the pump on the primer slowly bubbles out the prime hole but after the pump loses prime it will not pump any water from the ground? Now if i got and work the lever to my pitcher pump it forces water threw the inlet of my house pump and into the tank, but if i stop moving the lever then the water won't come through the inlet anymore and the pump will not pump by itself?? some people tell me that it could of been a bad foot valve but i'm not sure? I'm wondering if the water flows through the inlet into the pump and out to the tank, how could any of the valves be bad then? Its always had this set-up with a 1/2 horse pump but i'm still questioning if it needs a stronger pump?

[LLigetfa]

Generally speaking, you cannot throw more horses at a shallow well pump to get it to draw water. If a 1/2 horse won't do it, more horses won't help.

If I understand, you have a footvalve, then a pitcher pump in series, then a checkvalve, then the shallow well pump. Sounds like there is too much resistance in series.

The footvalve is likely spring loaaded. Why do you have a checkvalve at the pump? It too is probably spring loaded. The valves in the pitcher pump might also be spring loaded. Try removing the last checkvalve and put a bypass valve on the pitcher pump. It should then be able to draw but if the water leaks back to the well, the footvalve needs replacing.

[William Palmer]

The footvalve(not sure if spring loaded) starts in the ground then a pipe running out above the ground from foot valve had a check valve i put on there brand new (spring loaded) then remaing pipe runs into the house pump. when primed it doesn't pull water from the well and the water continues to bubble out of the house pump?

When i go an pump the pitcher pump though the water starts flowing only after i pour water into the pitcher pump, but when it starts flowing it also pushes water from the well through the inlet pipe of the house pump and all the way through the pump but when I stop pumping the lever to the pitcher pump the water stops and the house pump will not pump by itself ultimately causing for the water to go back down to the well???

[Porky]

There should only be one check valve or foot valve in the suction line, preferably at the end of the suction line in the well (however that's not always possible). The pitcher pump should be on the outlet side of the pump. . . not on the inlet side. There should be a cutoff valve between the house and the pitcher pump. Once you pump water through the pump with the pitcher pump the well pump should be primed and pump water. If it doesn't, you have a defective or stuck foot valve or a suction leak in the suction side or the pump. Ifr the pitcher pump won't pump or pumps air there's a suction leak in the suction side of the pump.