I don't know much about household well systems or jet pump systems but I am
an irrigation contractor and installed many shallow well irrigation systems
w/ centrifugal pumps. Some of the principles will apply:
Any kind of air leak can keep it from priming. If you have a brass above
ground check valve, make sure there aren't any leaks at the male adaptors.
If glue dripped down inside it, it can keep it from opening. Sometimes
tapping it with a hammer will free it up. You can smear Teflon paste around
the joints and if that gets it pumping, you need to replace the male
adaptors but be sure not to reuse them. If you have an above ground PVC
check valve, it's real easy to get a piece of glue stuck in it. If debris
were stuck in it ,it would keep the valve from closing but if that were the
case it would prime and pump but you would lose prime every time the pump
was shut off and have to re-prime. Same goes for a faulty foot valve (will
pump but lose prime after shutdown). Most of the time when a pump is
replaced and it doesn't pump, it's due to a bad joint (air leak). Check
them one at a time by smearing Teflon paste around them (it's messy but
works). Also, for all the male adaptors, I always do 5 wraps of Teflon tape
followed by a smear of Teflon paste. Since I started doing that, I haven't
had a leak on a first time install. When I use to use just Teflon tape or
paste, 1 out of 20 installs would leak.
Hopefully someone with jet pump/household system experience can help too.
Oh yeah...make sure the water you are priming with is actually going into
the pump. Depending on how it is plumbed, it's possible for the water to go
straight down the well and not in the pump (if you have a foot valve).
James
-----Original Message-----
From: owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net
[mailto:owner-dakota-truck@bent.twistedbits.net] On Behalf Of Terrible Tom
Sent: Sunday, January 02, 2005 3:53 PM
To: dakota-truck-moderator@bent.twistedbits.net
Subject: DML: Offtopic Well Water Pump Need Help!
No - not the kinda help most of you think I should get heh - but I require
some information from anyone with knowledge on household well systems.
Sorry for the offtopic post to the List - but I figured there would be
someone out there who knows more about this stuff than I do - and since I
havn't been able to get info anywhere else... to the DML I go.
I replaced the in house electric Jet Pump, upgraded to a 1 HP Simer
convertable Jet... up from an old GE 3/4 HP pump - put in a bigger pressure
tank... but I'm unable to get water up from the ground.
I've done some research on the net - but I don't have the Google Gold Finger
- as I was unable to find anything to help me.
According to the previous owner - the system is about 30 feet down - deeper
than a shallow but not really a *deep* deep well. I only have one line
going to the well - not two. The pump has been converted over for Deep
Well, using the manufactures kit. And I've primed it according to
instructions - but I'm unable to get water outta the well. I think I'm just
not priming things right or something. Cant get hold of the manufacturer
because of the holiday weekend - and I am desperate to avoid having to call
a well service company, because of the large amounts of money I can't afford
to drop on it right now.
Soo - anyone with any info - or knowing a place where I could get info -
shoot me an email off list if you can. I appreciate it! Oh yeah - I've
tried the hardware store where I bought the pump and tank - lets just say
they are even less knowledgeable on this stuff than I am.
-- ----------------------------------------------------------------- Attention Infidels: I am your official DBDoMPfIWUMOT! Terrible Tom -- AIM & Yahoo Name: SilverEightynine http://members.aol.com/silvereightynine/
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