Audel Water Well Pumps and Systems Mini–Ref

Answers at your fingertips

Designed for easy, on–the–job reference, this handy guide covers problems unique to water well pumps and systems and shows you how to install and make common repairs to both above–ground and submersible pumps. Rely on this no–nonsense resource for fast access to dependable information and increase your effectiveness as a skilled tradesperson.

Get useful rules of thumb and quick tricks

Reference vital information on servicing, repairing, and installing water well pumps and systems

Benefit from electrical facts and figures

Save time with illustrations and data formatted for quick reference and understanding

Chapter 1 T YPES OF WELLS 1

Dug Wells 1

Shallow Wells 2

Drilled Wells 3

Driven Wells 4

Jetted Wells 5

Alternative Water Sources 5

Recovery Rate 5

Water Storage Tanks 6

Chapter 2 T YPES OF WELL PUMPS 9

Booster Pumps 9

Simple Pump Choices 9

Shallow–Well Jet Pumps 10

Deep–Well Jet Pumps 10

Submersible Pumps 11

A Rule–of–Thumb 11

Cost 11

Chapter 3 PUMP SELECTION 13

Refresher Course 13

Friction Loss 14

Minimum Water Requirements 17

How Deep Is the Water In the Well? 17

Recovery Rate 27

Water Pressure 27

Planning for Future Use Conditions 31

Summary 31

Chapter 4 WELL PRESURE TANKS 33

Stand Models 40

In–Line Models 40

Pump Stand Models 41

Underground Models 41

How Does a Diaphragm Pressure Tank Work? 42

Pressure Tank Capacity 43

A Preinstallation Process 46

Mounting a Pressure Tank 46

Positioning In–Line Tanks 47

Mounting a Pump Stand Model 47

Mounting a Vertical Stand–Model Pressure Tank 49

Underground Well Pressure Tanks 51

Manifold Installations 52

Fine–Tuning Your Installation 52

Chapter 5 WELL PIPING CHOICES 57

Polyethylene Pipe (PE) 57

Copper 59

Cross–linked Polybutylene (PEX) 59

Which Pipe? 60

Piping Specifications 61

Some Installation Pointers 62

Chapter 6 WELL SYSTEM COMPONENTS 61

Major Components 66

Check Valves 66

Gate Valves 66

Foot Valves 67

Relief Valves 68

Pressure Gauges 68

Pressure Switches 68

Boiler Drains 69

Torque Arrestors 69

Pitless Adapters 69

Tail Pipes 70

Well Rope 70

Tank Tees 71

Unions 71

Electrical Devices 71

Chapter 7 E LECTRICAL FACTS AND FIGURES 71

Manufacturer s Recommendations 82

Connecting the Pressure Switch 83

Wiring for Submersible Pumps 86

Chapter 8 JET PUMP INSTALLATIONS 89

New Installation of a Shallow–Well Jet Pump 92

Replacing a Shallow–Well Jet Pump 95

The Installation of a Deep–Well Jet Pump 96

Chapter 9 SUBMERSIBLE PUMP INSTALLATION 101

Pitless Adapter 102

Connecting a Drop Pipe to a Submersible Pump 102

Wiring the Pump 103

Connecting the Drop Pipe to the Pitless Adapter 104

Lowering the Pump 105

Connecting Wires at the Wellhead 107

Inside the Foundation 107

Chapter 10 BOOSTER PUMPS 109

General Information 109

Sizing Booster Pumps 110

Installation Diagrams 112

Chapter 11 WATER QUALITY 119

Noticeable Problems 120

Naturally Occurring Pollutants 121

Microorganisms 122

Radionuclides 122

Nitrates and Nitrites 122

Heavy Metals 122

Fluoride 123

Human Activity 123

Chapter 12 T ROUBLESHOOTING AND REPAIRS 125

General Information 126

Problems and Solutions 135

Electrical Instructions 142

Typical Wiring Diagrams 152

More Electrical Testing 154

Appendix: ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND RESOURCES 161

Well FAQ 161

Well Maintenance 165

Well Treatment 166

Well Testing 167

Water–Related Diseases and Contaminants in Private Wells 171

Private Well Water and Fluoride 173

Resources 177

Roger D. Woodson is one of the most published writers of books for the plumbing professional. He is a master plumber with thirty years of experience, and his credentials are well established in both the plumbing and publishing industries.