Re: New Sprinkler Pump Pressure Problem -- Water Well Helpline Message Board

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Subject: Re: New Sprinkler Pump Pressure Problem

Author:
Fred Dungan
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Date Posted: 11:12:08 04/14/08 Mon
Author Host/IP: adsl-69-235-135-168.dsl.irvnca.pacbell.net/69.235.135.168
In reply to: Jerry 's message, "New Sprinkler Pump Pressure Problem" on 08:19:18 04/13/08 Sun

>I recently installed two wells in Central Florida
>using the Brady method. Both are 1 1/4" wells about
>24' deep with the water level at about 17'. I rented a
>5 hp gas pump from Lowes to develop and test them
>with. They produced very well.
>
>#1 produced 26 gpm at startup and went down to 19 GPM
>after 1 hour of continous pumping.
>#2 produced 18 GPM at startup and went down to 12 GPM
>after 1 hour of continous pumping.
>Then I purchased my pump a 1 1/2HP Flotec Plastic
>sprinkler pump. I then Teed the two wells together
>into an 1/1/2" brady check valve (It appeared to be
>the best check valve).
>
>I then tested it again right at the pump, with the
>combined wells and the new pump and I was able to get
>20GPM. So that seemed plenty.
>
>I then fed this into my existing sprinler system. My
>largest zones are 6 x 3gpm heads or 18 GPM. It
>appeared that the 1 1/2 HP Flotec should be plenty.
>
>However here is the problem:
>
>#1 Should it take 4 to 5 minutes to produce water
>after the pump has been primed?
>
>#2 When running on the large zones the sprinkler
>pressure surges. It goes from full power down to just
>a small spray. It will cycle like this over and over
>about every 30 seconds. It does not do this on the
>small zones. If I try to start it up an hour later it
>will take it another 4 to 5 minutes to start producing
>water. Then the surging starts again.
>
>Is this a suction leak?
>
>If so how do I find it?
>
>If it is a suction leak, do you think it is before the
>check valve or after it? Since it is taking 4 to 5
>minutes to start producing water.
>
>My pressure guage is only showing about 29 to 30 lbs,
>shouldn't this be higher?
>
>Do I need a bigger pump?
>
>Thanks for your help.
>
>Jerry
The "surge" is caused by too many sprinklers on a line. Take one or two off and put them on a seperate line. Each well should be controlled with a seperate full-flow PVC ball valve (the same size or larger than the PVC line -- never reduce).

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Replies:

Subject Author Date

Re: New Sprinkler Pump Pressure Problem Jerry 13:16:44 04/14/08 Mon

Re: New Sprinkler Pump Pressure Problem -- Jerry, 16:13:27 04/14/08 Mon

Re: New Sprinkler Pump Pressure Problem -- Vey, 17:03:41 04/14/08 Mon

Re: New Sprinkler Pump Pressure Problem -- Jerry, 17:14:26 04/14/08 Mon

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>>I recently installed two wells in Central Florida >>using the Brady method. Both are 1 1/4" wells about >>24' deep with the water level at about 17'. I rented a >>5 hp gas pump from Lowes to develop and test them >>with. They produced very well. >> >>#1 produced 26 gpm at startup and went down to 19 GPM >>after 1 hour of continous pumping. >>#2 produced 18 GPM at startup and went down to 12 GPM >>after 1 hour of continous pumping. >>Then I purchased my pump a 1 1/2HP Flotec Plastic >>sprinkler pump. I then Teed the two wells together >>into an 1/1/2" brady check valve (It appeared to be >>the best check valve). >> >>I then tested it again right at the pump, with the >>combined wells and the new pump and I was able to get >>20GPM. So that seemed plenty. >> >>I then fed this into my existing sprinler system. My >>largest zones are 6 x 3gpm heads or 18 GPM. It >>appeared that the 1 1/2 HP Flotec should be plenty. >> >>However here is the problem: >> >>#1 Should it take 4 to 5 minutes to produce water >>after the pump has been primed? >> >>#2 When running on the large zones the sprinkler >>pressure surges. It goes from full power down to just >>a small spray. It will cycle like this over and over >>about every 30 seconds. It does not do this on the >>small zones. If I try to start it up an hour later it >>will take it another 4 to 5 minutes to start producing >>water. Then the surging starts again. >> >>Is this a suction leak? >> >>If so how do I find it? >> >>If it is a suction leak, do you think it is before the >>check valve or after it? Since it is taking 4 to 5 >>minutes to start producing water. >> >>My pressure guage is only showing about 29 to 30 lbs, >>shouldn't this be higher? >> >>Do I need a bigger pump? >> >>Thanks for your help. >> >>Jerry ><font face=georgia color=scarlet>The "surge" is caused >by too many sprinklers on a line. Take one or two off >and put them on a seperate line. Each well should be >controlled with a seperate full-flow PVC ball valve >(the same size or larger than the PVC line -- never >reduce).</font>

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