Well drop pipe removal

[Johnk68]

I have a 2 inch well , there's 100 ft. Casing and 40 ft. Drop pipe,the well is 14 years old ,it lost the prime and wouldn't prime again,so I called a well guy and for no reason he put a sleeve in the casing,it never pumped shell or sand,I just wanted a new foot valve and jet, when he finished it worked for 1 month,he used PVC for the drop pipe , he says the drop pipe can't come back out because of the sleeve, I need some advice on this,I'm disabled and can't afford a new well, I believe he planned for this,there evidence he used the old parts over

 

[RetiredInGueydan]

I have a 2 inch well , there's 100 ft. Casing and 40 ft. Drop pipe,the well is 14 years old ,it lost the prime and wouldn't prime again,so I called a well guy and for no reason he put a sleeve in the casing,it never pumped shell or sand,I just wanted a new foot valve and jet, when he finished it worked for 1 month,he used PVC for the drop pipe , he says the drop pipe can't come back out because of the sleeve, I need some advice on this,I'm disabled and can't afford a new well, I believe he planned for this,there evidence he used the old parts over

It appears that the well guy changed the cup leathers and reused the packer to prevent loss of pressure, which is standard practice. As for installing a sleeve, it would have to be below the packer because the casing above is used for jet function. This would not prevent the packer assembly from being removed. He speaks with forked tongue.

 

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[Johnk68]

It appears that the well guy changed the cup leathers and reused the packer to prevent loss of pressure, which is standard practice. As for installing a sleeve, it would have to be below the packer because the casing above is used for jet function. This would not prevent the packer assembly from being removed. He speaks with forked tongue

It appears that the well guy changed the cup leathers and reused the packer to prevent loss of pressure, which is standard practice. As for installing a sleeve, it would have to be below the packer because the casing above is used for jet function. This would not prevent the packer assembly from being removed. He speaks with forked tongue.

So I should be able to pull the drop pipe out ,I need to get it back out to see why it's not holding a prime , I prime it when we need water,it holds a prime for a day , I have a question,is it possible he put the sleeve not far enough down so it's keeping the drop pipe from going down far enough,thanks

 

[Johnk68]

So what you're saying is that I should be able to pull the drop out,I know I need to remove it, so I can figure out what he did,is it possible the sleeve is not down far enough,so it's keeping the drop pipe from going down,as of now I have to prime it every time we need water,it holds a prime for about a day,thanks

 

[RetiredInGueydan]

So what you're saying is that I should be able to pull the drop out,I know I need to remove it, so I can figure out what he did,is it possible the sleeve is not down far enough,so it's keeping the drop pipe from going down,as of now I have to prime it every time we need water,it holds a prime for about a day,thanks

Did you witness this work being done? If the so called sleeve was preventing the drop pipe from going down, it would stick up out of the casing. When the pump is powered and a pressure tank used, it should not lose prime due to normal cycling, just cycle with no water being used. Sta-Rite MSE-7 pumps need up to 60psi of back pressure to prevent loss of prime and function properly. Have you adjusted the back pressure recently for the water depth being lifted from? There is something causing a loss of pressure between the pump and poppet check in the packer. It could be the poppet itself, the cup leathers or a hole in the casing.

 

[Bannerman]

I just wanted a new foot valve and jet,

now I have to prime it every time we need water,it holds a prime for about a day,

I suspect he either didn't replace the foot valve, which is what you originally hired him to perform, or the one installed maybe defective or otherwise, not closing fully.

Is the foot valve the only check valve installed in the system? Additional check valve(s), will often prevent the foot valve from closing fully, which can result in loss of prime when there is any air leakage into the piping located between the foot valve and the additional check valve above.

Because you didn't mention the pump running periodically even when there has been 0 water consumed, I suspect there maybe an additional check valve installed, which is preventing the pressure tank from maintaining pressure in the drop pipe all the way down to the foot valve, whenever the pump is not active.

When the foot valve is defective and does not fully close, with no additional check valve(s), then the water leaking back into the well from the pressure tank, will cause the system pressure to gradually lower, thereby causing the pressure switch to periodically activate the pump to maintain pressure within the range programmed in the pressure switch (ie: 30/50 or 40/60 psi).

Since installing a sleeve and a new drop pipe was not included in your original service request, did your contractor obtain your consent before performing the additional work and adding to the price for the task you originally authorized?

 

[RetiredInGueydan]

I suspect he either didn't replace the foot valve, which is what you originally hired him to perform, or the one installed maybe defective or otherwise, not closing fully.

Is the foot valve the only check valve installed in the system? Additional check valve(s), will often prevent the foot valve from closing fully, which can result in loss of prime when there is any air leakage into the piping located between the foot valve and the additional check valve above.

Because you didn't mention the pump running periodically even when there has been 0 water consumed, I suspect there maybe an additional check valve installed, which is preventing the pressure tank from maintaining pressure in the drop pipe all the way down to the foot valve, whenever the pump is not active.

When the foot valve is defective and does not fully close, with no additional check valve(s), then the water leaking back into the well from the pressure tank, will cause the system pressure to gradually lower, thereby causing the pressure switch to periodically activate the pump to maintain pressure within the range programmed in the pressure switch (ie: 30/50 or 40/60 psi).

Since installing a sleeve and a new drop pipe was not included in your original service request, did your contractor obtain your consent before performing the additional work and adding to the price for the task you originally authorized?

A foot valve/check valve is not required in a packer system, because it contains a poppet check for this function. The only reason for a foot valve would be a tailpipe was installed to maintain a full suction pipe. This is what I suspect is being call a sleeve and may have either a foot valve or a PVC well screen to filter the sand/shell mentioned. The Sta-Rite MSE is a vertical jet pump that most people not from the coastal south will ever see.