question on wells

**Applejack** · 08-13-2012, 05:32 PM

Originally Posted by wac220

A couple have mentioned the foot valve as a probable culprit. Is this a common wear point and should a spare be kept, or is it part of the motor and an entire motor be kept for a spare? (1 is none and 2 is 1)

We already know it is not the pump, so the leak in in the pipe, but it is not a bad idea to have spare parts such as the foot valve. this is a new pump. As we have already replaced the old one. this pump is about 2 years old we have now and is much stronger and puts out more water. We have to prime the well every time we use it.
AJ

**wac220** · 08-13-2012, 07:04 PM

Originally Posted by Applejack

We already know it is not the pump, so the leak in in the pipe, but it is not a bad idea to have spare parts such as the foot valve. this is a new pump. As we have already replaced the old one. this pump is about 2 years old we have now and is much stronger and puts out more water. We have to prime the well every time we use it.
AJ

I understand that, I was just wondering after TEOTWAWKI when parts were no longer available. This seams like it might be cheep insurance when the cost of a pump is about the same as a rifle. And there are many on here, myself included, with multiple rifles and no spare pump parts. That is assuming you have and alternative form of energy and use and electric pump.

**Applejack** · 08-13-2012, 08:00 PM

Originally Posted by wac220

I understand that, I was just wondering after TEOTWAWKI when parts were no longer available. This seams like it might be cheep insurance when the cost of a pump is about the same as a rifle. And there are many on here, myself included, with multiple rifles and no spare pump parts. That is assuming you have and alternative form of energy and use and electric pump.

We have a generator that will run the pump that runs on natural gas and have a valve to convert to propane. we also have a portable generator that runs on gasoline. We have an old hand pump that is at my daughters house. We need to go get that since they could not strike water. We still have the old pump for parts. We might think about getting a second pump for extra. Something we need to check on. Also, When the guy comes to check out the problem and fix it, We are going to look into having an artisten well put in if not to expensive. I know it will be at least $2000.00 to put it in, so it may be on the back burner for a while till we get the new roof on sometime in the next 6 ot 8 months. Then we will have to have a new airconditiioner installed along with all new duck work. No fun at all, but something that must be done. Would like to put the airconditioner on solar, but don't know if it is going to work out to do that or not.
AJ

**wac220** · 08-13-2012, 11:30 PM

Sounds like you definitely have the long term water thing worked out. Good luck with the other home upgrades.

**ZAGran** · 08-14-2012, 12:05 AM

"We are going to look into having an artisten well put in if not to expensive."
???? How do you have an artisten well put in???? I thought you had to have a special geological formation of the ground to have an artiesten well. Or is this some special type of pumping system that does not require any power?? I would like to have one as well.

**Mortblanc** · 08-14-2012, 11:10 AM

Seems we need to do some education here. Most folks grow up on "city water" or the pump just works every time you turn the tap so why worry?

An Artisten well comes to the surface due to geological preasure and needs no pump until the distribution point. It is not something you "put in". It is like hitting a gusher on an oil well. I had one on my place that would shoot water 50 feet under its own preasure. They are a very unusual feature and not real common.

A "foot valve" is a one way flow valve. It is installed at the bottom of the well pipe. It keeps the pipe filled with water so that the pump is always primed and does not have to attempt to pump air (which it will not do) untill the water flows.

For the OP: if you need a new foot valve, which you probably do, just plan on replacing the entire pipe assembly with neoprene hose. That will solve a multitude of problems and insure there are no rust or joint leaks causing any problem. If your pipe is the problem you need to install a new foot valve anyway, since the pipe is already out of the ground to start with. Since the foot valve is at the bottom of the well the entire pipe must be removed for repair.

Pipe and foot valve are not expensive but the labor is!

You may find it cheaper to go with a submirsable pump which is attached to the bottom of the pipe with wires leading down to it. Pump and foot valve all in one. They are not usually needed for a 30 foot well but in this case you might come out cheaper due to being able to have a handyman neighbor do the installation rather than a plumer.

An adequite system should have at least a 20 year life.

An extra foot vale is one of those things that gets moved around the garage for 20 years and finally thrown away, only to be needed 6 months latter. I would put my money into a good well bucket and pully. If the grid goes down/stays down you can still get to your water. You will eventually run out of gen fuel no matter what. If you have access to grid power and/or gen fuel you also have access to spare well parts, so why stockpile spares to a system that can not be used?

It is like buying spare parts for a rifle when you only have 10 rounds for the gun.

**johnnie l.** · 08-14-2012, 11:41 AM

Originally Posted by Mortblanc

Seems we need to do some education here. Most folks grow up on "city water" or the pump just works every time you turn the tap so why worry?

An Artisten well comes to the surface due to geological preasure and needs no pump until the distribution point. It is not something you "put in". It is like hitting a gusher on an oil well. I had one on my place that would shoot water 50 feet under its own preasure. They are a very unusual feature and not real common.

A "foot valve" is a one way flow valve. It is installed at the bottom of the well pipe. It keeps the pipe filled with water so that the pump is always primed and does not have to attempt to pump air (which it will not do) untill the water flows.

For the OP: if you need a new foot valve, which you probably do, just plan on replacing the entire pipe assembly with neoprene hose. That will solve a multitude of problems and insure there are no rust or joint leaks causing any problem. If your pipe is the problem you need to install a new foot valve anyway, since the pipe is already out of the ground to start with. Since the foot valve is at the bottom of the well the entire pipe must be removed for repair.

Pipe and foot valve are not expensive but the labor is!

You may find it cheaper to go with a submirsable pump which is attached to the bottom of the pipe with wires leading down to it. Pump and foot valve all in one. They are not usually needed for a 30 foot well but in this case you might come out cheaper due to being able to have a handyman neighbor do the installation rather than a plumer.

An adequite system should have at least a 20 year life.

An extra foot vale is one of those things that gets moved around the garage for 20 years and finally thrown away, only to be needed 6 months latter. I would put my money into a good well bucket and pully. If the grid goes down/stays down you can still get to your water. You will eventually run out of gen fuel no matter what. If you have access to grid power and/or gen fuel you also have access to spare well parts, so why stockpile spares to a system that can not be used?

It is like buying spare parts for a rifle when you only have 10 rounds for the gun.

Very good post. I used a well bucket when I was a kid absolutely hated it. As soon as we got a submersible pump. I hid it in the attic. I look for it the other day, it's still there. Hope it stays there get a hand pump. Trust me on this.

**Applejack** · 08-14-2012, 07:27 PM

Originally Posted by ZAGran

"We are going to look into having an artisten well put in if not to expensive."
???? How do you have an artisten well put in???? I thought you had to have a special geological formation of the ground to have an artiesten well. Or is this some special type of pumping system that does not require any power?? I would like to have one as well.

We are going to talk to a neighbor of ours about it. He had one put in about 2 years ago and was going to put in a second one for his heat, but that didn't work out. It was going to be a hot water forced heating system that cycles the water through the well or something. But he did put the one artisten well in for drinking water and such. Don't know what is involved in putting one in yet.
AJ

**ZAGran** · 08-15-2012, 12:31 AM

Originally Posted by Applejack

We are going to talk to a neighbor of ours about it. He had one put in about 2 years ago and was going to put in a second one for his heat, but that didn't work out. It was going to be a hot water forced heating system that cycles the water through the well or something. But he did put the one artisten well in for drinking water and such. Don't know what is involved in putting one in yet.
AJ

When you do talk to him, please let us know what he says. It sounds a bit like a geo-thermal heating/cooling system using water. I'm really courious about this.
ZAGran