Re: Broken well pipe/valve -- Water Well Helpline Message Board

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Subject: Re: Broken well pipe/valve

Author:
Vey
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Date Posted: 15:28:05 01/27/08 Sun
Author Host/IP: user-0c6tit5.cable.mindspring.com/24.110.203.165
In reply to: Ron Cozart 's message, "Broken well pipe/valve" on 20:14:41 01/26/08 Sat

>I live in Florida and have an old well that I use for
>yard irrigation only. Recently I accidently ran over
>my well PVC pipes. The pipe comes out of the ground
>and goes through a check valve and immediately returns
>to the ground and then to my pump.

That's not the best way to do things. Any air at all in the system and a bubble develops at the highest point of the pipe. I understand why they did it that way. It was so that 75 feet of wire wouldn't have to be run out there 2 feet underground.

>The pipes stayed
>broken for about 3 weeks. I replaced the piping but
>reused the check valve. I am not sure what the check
>valve is for but would imagine it is to prevent back
>flow.

The check valve is to maintain the prime. In your case it is very important because it is imperative to keep only water and let no air at all into the system.

I turned the pump on and let it run for about 30
>minutes but could not get any water pressure to my
>holding tank. I was afraid to run much longer because
>I was not sure that it would not damage the pump. What
>do you think? Does it take longer to create the
>suction (prime). It is about 75 feet from the pipes to
>the pump. The well is probably about 100 feet deep.
>Thanks for your help.

30 minutes was way too long. You may have already damaged the pump. You have to prime the pump. To do that, you have to pour water into the pump's output or in a "priming hole" (I am not sure of the right word for it. Some pumps have a hole that has a plug screwed into it, the idea being to remove the plug to put priming water in. The hole will be near the top of the pump.

Also, here in Florida, it is common practice to have a bibcock attached to the output pipe. This is handy since it gives you a place to attach a garden hose, but that isn't it's primary job. It's primary job is for priming. The idea is to attach a double female adapter to the garden hose coming from the house, then attach the garden hose to the bibcock (or outdoor faucet if you prefer). Water comes from the house to prime the pump.

When priming, it is important to fill the pump and all of the pipe back to the check valve. You have to fill it all up and that will be hard for you because you have to far to go. Once it is full all the way back, then turn the pump on. All the water you poured in will be pushed out plus some air. Put your hand on the pump body and feel the temperature. When it begins to get warm, turn the pump off and pour water in again until the pipe is full all the way back to the check valve. Turn the pump on again until it gets warm. And you do this over and over. Each time you do this, water is being pulled up a little in the well. How little or how much depends on how well you fill the pump and pipe. You may have to do this 10 or 20 times. It's like sucking on a soda straw a little at a time. Eventually, the water reaches the check valve and you get nothing but solid water coming out of the pump.

You don't want that water go back down the well because if it does, you have to prime again and that's a pain. Do you see why people put a bibcock on the output of the pump?

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Re: Broken well pipe/valve speedbump1 07:07:01 01/28/08 Mon

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>>I live in Florida and have an old well that I use for >>yard irrigation only. Recently I accidently ran over >>my well PVC pipes. The pipe comes out of the ground >>and goes through a check valve and immediately returns >>to the ground and then to my pump. > >That's not the best way to do things. Any air at all >in the system and a bubble develops at the highest >point of the pipe. I understand why they did it that >way. It was so that 75 feet of wire wouldn't have to >be run out there 2 feet underground. > >>The pipes stayed >>broken for about 3 weeks. I replaced the piping but >>reused the check valve. I am not sure what the check >>valve is for but would imagine it is to prevent back >>flow. > >The check valve is to maintain the prime. In your case >it is very important because it is imperative to keep >only water and let no air at all into the system. > >I turned the pump on and let it run for about 30 >>minutes but could not get any water pressure to my >>holding tank. I was afraid to run much longer because >>I was not sure that it would not damage the pump. What >>do you think? Does it take longer to create the >>suction (prime). It is about 75 feet from the pipes to >>the pump. The well is probably about 100 feet deep. >>Thanks for your help. > >30 minutes was way too long. You may have already >damaged the pump. You have to prime the pump. To do >that, you have to pour water into the pump's output or >in a "priming hole" (I am not sure of the right word >for it. Some pumps have a hole that has a plug screwed >into it, the idea being to remove the plug to put >priming water in. The hole will be near the top of the >pump. > >Also, here in Florida, it is common practice to have a >bibcock attached to the output pipe. This is handy >since it gives you a place to attach a garden hose, >but that isn't it's primary job. It's primary job is >for priming. The idea is to attach a double female >adapter to the garden hose coming from the house, then >attach the garden hose to the bibcock (or outdoor >faucet if you prefer). Water comes from the house to >prime the pump. > >When priming, it is important to fill the pump and all >of the pipe back to the check valve. You have to fill >it all up and that will be hard for you because you >have to far to go. Once it is full all the way back, >then turn the pump on. All the water you poured in >will be pushed out plus some air. Put your hand on the >pump body and feel the temperature. When it begins to >get warm, turn the pump off and pour water in again >until the pipe is full all the way back to the check >valve. Turn the pump on again until it gets warm. And >you do this over and over. Each time you do this, >water is being pulled up a little in the well. How >little or how much depends on how well you fill the >pump and pipe. You may have to do this 10 or 20 times. >It's like sucking on a soda straw a little at a time. >Eventually, the water reaches the check valve and you >get nothing but solid water coming out of the pump. > >You don't want that water go back down the well >because if it does, you have to prime again and that's >a pain. Do you see why people put a bibcock on the >output of the pump?

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