Water Well pump went out

33dInd

33dInd

Veteran Member
So
Last week my well pump went out and would be two days before it could be replaced
Now being a preper I had already considered how I would supply water to the house facilities in an abstract way. And had even laid back items for such a scenario
Drinking water not a problem. Wife likes her ozark water dispenser
Here’s what I did
3 55 gallon water barrels not from the cistern but my cousins well
One 12 volt battery water pump and one electric water pump for back up
Shut of valve at the pressure tank to prevent back feed to the well
Turned of ice maker at fridge
Put a female hose adapter on a 50 foot garden hose
Hooked one end to the water pump
Other end to the outside water spigot
Opened up that valve and turned on the battery operated water pump
It powered up the water system in the house just fine

Not wanting the water pump to be running all the time I strung some electric line from the pump to the house installed a on off switch so we had water on demand

Pump was a little slow to fill the toilets but it still worked.
Kitchen sink and bathroom sinks worked
Shower was a little slow but you could shower

Took about an hour to fully set up but was pleased with the action.
I ran the 12 volt pump off a deep cycle car battery

I swapped over to the standard electric water pump and that did provided more water pressure

Totally quiet system
Wife was happy. She even used the dishwasher as this was clean well water.
The hot water heater worked just fine

So. Having a plan in place and the small equipment on hand made a holy crap moment a non existent issue

Now the holy crap moment was paying to have the well pump replaced. But. It was a 20 year old 1/2 horse pump and I replaced it with 3/4 horse pump
 
Hfcomms

Hfcomms

EN66iq
This is a big deal and good on you for being prepared for it. Too many people focus on guns, ammunition and various sundries (and of course it's a prep issue for sure) but then totally fall down on the necessities of life. Food, water, shelter, heat n power, etc.

For me I have a drilled well and installed my own shallow well pump 20 years ago on the QT because I didn't have an approved septic and the health department only authorized a hand pump. The shallow pump isn't a problem as the water table here is usually pretty high.

But, the well house needs to be heated and that can be a problem during a long term power outage. Short term I can run the generator for both the pump and heat but longer term requires a different fix. I have 2 55 gal drums of kerosene and lamps that can be used but after a while that would become a drag refilling them and of course that is a fire danger.

So what I have in total is a new identical shallow well pump as a spare in the storage shed. I have three generators, the primary being the Honda, the secondary being a Yamaha inverter generator that is barely big enough to run the pump and for contingency usage a 20YO 3KW generac pull start that still runs.

For a long term power outage I now have a 12v submersible pump down at the 35' level and 1" Pex line with #6 welding cable running down to the pump. Pump is designed for solar applications and only puts on 3 GPM but that is plenty to refill 5 gallon jugs that I can transfer to the indoor water tank. I also have a spare submersible pump identical to the one in the well. The pump is fed off a separate solar system in the shed next to the pump house.

And then if for some reason everything fails I have an old fashioned well bucket designed for drilled wells with the foot valve on the bottom that I can lower into the well to get 2 gallons at a time.

For all your preps as much as possible you want not only a backup plan but then a backup to your backup. Me and Mr. Murphy are old acquaintances.

Good on you for anticipating problems and having workarounds that keep life bearable while you work on a fix.
 
West

West

Senior
Right on!

So now I know where to go when our pump fails!

JK,

We have a brand new pump at hand, but thanks for posting. Made me recall to get new Pressure Switch in stock before winter hits!

TY!
 
M

mikeabn

Finally not a lurker!
If you don't mind me asking how much did it cost? I have well water and the pump is at least 12 years old.
 
33dInd

33dInd

Veteran Member
I watched the removal and reinstall
Pulling up the pipe
The steel cable
The pump and the electric wire
I could do it in a pinch NOW
But. With the proper lifting and lowering equipment it was better to pay a experienced installer
 
West

West

Senior
I found a old up to 3inch clamp like this but old and for $5 at a sale....

www.ebay.com

Bench Pipe Vise # 2 Yoke Hinged Clamp on Type Pipe Threader Plumbing Vice Tools 639469644328 | eBay

BENCH PIPE VISE YOKE HINGED CLAMP ON TYPE PLUMBING PIPE HOLDING TOOLS #2. Yoke is made of self-locking hinge construction. Pipe jaws are made of hardened tool steel. 3" Max Outside Pipe Capacity. We will not fulfill orders where the information does not match.
www.ebay.com

It's much bigger than the 4 or 5" casings we have. Never used it because I have always had help to pull our pumps and brass cylinder. For service and replace.

But if I ever had to do it my self...
 
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