20-09-2017, 02:32 PM
Selecting the right pump from the well
A well pump provides potable water to your home from a well on the nearby ground. When a pump is paired with a pressure tank, the water pressure is leveled throughout the house and the number of times your pump needs to be turned on and off is reduced.
Choosing a well pump can be as easy as replacing the one you currently have. However, new facilities or houses with pumps of less than current size may require a little more research before buying a new pump.
Before buying ...
See the questions below to help you determine the correct pump type and size. For an existing water system, consider the equipment you currently have.
What type of pump do you have?
If your pump is on the ground or in the basement, you have a jet pump. This type of pump draws water from its well through one or two pipes running into the well. A jet pump is often combined with a pressure tank.
If your pump has a pipe going to the well, you have a shallow well pump. If you have two tubes, you have a deep well pump.
If you have a single pipe that comes from your well and in your home that can connect to a pressure tank, you have a submersible pump. This type of pump is installed near the bottom of your well and pumps the water only when needed.
How big is your current pump?
Look on the nameplate of your pump to determine the power (HP).
For submersible pumps, observe their original installation documentation or carefully remove the pump from its well. If you want a pump that runs less frequently and lasts longer, choose a model that offers more power. However, just move up to the next larger size to avoid having too much energy for the job.
Two two- and three-wire submersible pumps are available: three-wire pumps require a separate control panel (two-wire pumps have built-in controls). Be sure to determine if your pump has two or three wires.
For a new installation
What is the depth of the well to water?
Watch the report of your well well - you should list the depth of the water. If it is not available, you can easily determine the depth to water by tying a small fishing bobber to the end of a piece of string. Lower the rope into the shaft until you feel the bobber is floating. Take the slack and mark the rope at ground level. Remove the rope and bobber, and then measure the length of the mark to the bobber.
What type of pump do you need?
Choose a pump based on the depth of your well to water:
Depth Type of pump
Less than 25 'Use a shallow well jet pump
25 '- 110' Use a deep well pump
25 '- 400' Use a submersible pump of 4 "
What size pump do you need?
A typical 3 to 4 bedroom home requires 8-12 GPM (gallons per minute). To better estimate how much water your home needs, simply count the number of water fittings in your home. This includes showers, faucets, outdoor water taps and appliances that use water such as dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers. For calculation purposes, each facility requires a water flow GPM.
Example:
3 bathroom accessories
+ 3 kitchen accessories
+ 2 external devices
= 8 GPM
If pumps are considering the list capacity in gallons per hour (GPH), simply multiply the GPM value by 60.
A well pump provides potable water to your home from a well on the nearby ground. When a pump is paired with a pressure tank, the water pressure is leveled throughout the house and the number of times your pump needs to be turned on and off is reduced.
Choosing a well pump can be as easy as replacing the one you currently have. However, new facilities or houses with pumps of less than current size may require a little more research before buying a new pump.
Before buying ...
See the questions below to help you determine the correct pump type and size. For an existing water system, consider the equipment you currently have.
What type of pump do you have?
If your pump is on the ground or in the basement, you have a jet pump. This type of pump draws water from its well through one or two pipes running into the well. A jet pump is often combined with a pressure tank.
If your pump has a pipe going to the well, you have a shallow well pump. If you have two tubes, you have a deep well pump.
If you have a single pipe that comes from your well and in your home that can connect to a pressure tank, you have a submersible pump. This type of pump is installed near the bottom of your well and pumps the water only when needed.
How big is your current pump?
Look on the nameplate of your pump to determine the power (HP).
For submersible pumps, observe their original installation documentation or carefully remove the pump from its well. If you want a pump that runs less frequently and lasts longer, choose a model that offers more power. However, just move up to the next larger size to avoid having too much energy for the job.
Two two- and three-wire submersible pumps are available: three-wire pumps require a separate control panel (two-wire pumps have built-in controls). Be sure to determine if your pump has two or three wires.
For a new installation
What is the depth of the well to water?
Watch the report of your well well - you should list the depth of the water. If it is not available, you can easily determine the depth to water by tying a small fishing bobber to the end of a piece of string. Lower the rope into the shaft until you feel the bobber is floating. Take the slack and mark the rope at ground level. Remove the rope and bobber, and then measure the length of the mark to the bobber.
What type of pump do you need?
Choose a pump based on the depth of your well to water:
Depth Type of pump
Less than 25 'Use a shallow well jet pump
25 '- 110' Use a deep well pump
25 '- 400' Use a submersible pump of 4 "
What size pump do you need?
A typical 3 to 4 bedroom home requires 8-12 GPM (gallons per minute). To better estimate how much water your home needs, simply count the number of water fittings in your home. This includes showers, faucets, outdoor water taps and appliances that use water such as dishwashers, refrigerators, and clothes washers. For calculation purposes, each facility requires a water flow GPM.
Example:
3 bathroom accessories
+ 3 kitchen accessories
+ 2 external devices
= 8 GPM
If pumps are considering the list capacity in gallons per hour (GPH), simply multiply the GPM value by 60.