Any well pump guys in the Raleigh area?

Blaze

Blaze

The Jeeper Reaper
Joined
Aug 9, 2005
Location
Wake Forest, NC
My well pump died. The storm last night might have gotten it. I have power across the pressure switch but no power at the pump. I think the storm last night did it in. I think it was dying before but that did it in.

Anyone here replace them? I don't want to do it myself, but would lend a hand. I've never done it before so don't want to eff it up. Will pay to have it fixed, wifey wants water for the weekend, understandably.

Anyone?
 
Is it above ground? Do you know how deep? I've done a couple. Obviously, I'm in no position to swing by and help, but it's not that bad to do. Get started soon, though. It's not bad work, but it's tedious. Snag some waterproof inline splice connectors while you're picking up the pump.
 
I've got a good one in Durham that may come that way? Dude's like 76 years old and the hardest working man you ever met. Said he don't plan on retiring ever. He had a motor rigged to 3 wheels that tightened up to the water line and wheeled it out. Mine was 385'.

Harrold Pullam - 919-418-8667

My pressure tank was bad and calling for water like every 5 minutes and the wires were frayed in two where it bounced so much in the pipe.

He taught me a lot though if you wanted to do it yourself. He said if I ever had to pull it myself to just take 2 - 2x4's and bolt them together and run the pipe through it. When you get tired of pulling, just reach down and snug the bolts. And lay that rascal in the shade as you pull it cause it gets so hot in the sun you can't touch it.

Dude was a pure classic! He's my go-to for well work. They call him "the well man". That's about all he does. He has a younger guy he subs out anything else to.
 
Thanks man, I called a guy who has done work for me in the past on my old house and does work at my parents' house. He's on his way to check it out now. If it doesn't work out with him I'll give that guy a call.

I am tempted to do it myself but I am nervous as hell about dropping that shit down the tube. I have no idea how deep it is either. It is PVC pipe though.

It does look like someone replaced it at some point, there is a newer PVC union in the fittings under the well cover. There is a ton of silt in my well and I think it must have crapped it up or something.
 
Fuck that shit. I just started pulling it myself. The well is 265ft deep. I got it about 15ft out of the hole and decided I was done with it. I have a questionable back, it is normally fine with lifting heavy stuff for short periods around the shop, but if I do stuff over a long period it can give out and screw me up bad. I'm just going to pay the guy, I can't risk being down and not being able to run my business for a week.
 
Hey guys, I'm hoping someone can give me some insight on well pumps.

My house has a 265ft well. Our old pump lasted since 1994 until last summer when it dies. I had a plumber come out and install all new flexible pipe, wiring, and a new Flint & Walling sumbersible pump to the tune of $1800 emergency hour dollars. Came with a fine one year warranty.

Now 13 months later my pump burned up and I don't have shit to show for it. Sitting here on Saturday afternoon with no water and no prospects. Fuck. So now I'm going to replace this thing myself and save a bunch of money. The plumber showed me how to replace the pump, so I don't have a problem with it. I feel pretty confident I can handle it. I just need to find a pump that doesn't suck.

My well is 265' deep, rated at 5gpm on the driller's tag, 6" hole and the well head is about on the same plane as the expansion tank and house. If anything the well head is a bit uphill from the house. The current pump was a Flint & Walling M4F10S, 3/4hp, 10gpm, stainless, 2-wire 230v setup. I think the plumber said it was the same as the one they replaced. They have good 12/2 wire run for the pump and all that good shit.

I've been looking around and I'm not wanting to do another F&W pump because I am pissed at this pile, but I'm having a hell of a time finding a 3/4hp pump that can handle 265' of head. I see a lot of 1hp ones that seem to be able to handle it, but I'm not sure I can just swap out a 3/4hp one with a 1hp one without having any adverse effects.

Does anyone know a good pump, and preferrably one I can buy in the Triangle area either tomorrow ro Monday? I really don't want to spend a bunch of money on one either. I am trying really hard not to take a gamble on a Utilitech from Lowe's.
 
And I wouldn't take a gamble on Utilitech either. It's just another low cost China-produced house brand from Lowes. If you're going to buy something not made in the US, buy a Grundfos. Actually, some Grundfos pumps are made in the USA because they bought a few US pump companies. I remember that from my fairly recent sump pump research. Utilitech (and similar companies) mostly just make cheap copies of the older pump models from good brands once the patents run out.

And research cycle stop valves. I remember my dad talking about them when they replaced their well components some years ago. Very good benefits for pump life apparently.
 
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Grundfos is good. Bell and Gossett if you can find one that fits.

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One last thing. I'm not a big fan of submersible because they are expensive and hard to replace. I prefer the inductor at the bottom of the well that uses the ground level well pump recirculation to induct water as its used in the house. Not as efficient but I can walk up to my well pump with my coke in my hand right now and watch it run.

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Benjie said:
One last thing. I'm not a big fan of submersible because they are expensive and hard to replace. I prefer the inductor at the bottom of the well that uses the ground level well pump recirculation to induct water as its used in the house. Not as efficient but I can walk up to my well pump with my coke in my hand right now and watch it run.
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I thought with a well as deep as mine you couldn't run that? Or at least get into a very expensive pump.
 
Benjie said:
Grundfos is good. Bell and Gossett if you can find one that fits.

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I would imagine B&G is pretty expensive though. I can always call my sales rep Monday when I get to work, but I feel like they are pretty expensive. Of course, I am used to seeing prices on commercial stuff.
 
Blaze said:
I thought with a well as deep as mine you couldn't run that? Or at least get into a very expensive pump.
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You may be right about the limit of those types. I've not worked on my well in forever. Thankfully. I've got a good relationship with the B and G folks in NC. I may be able to help if your search doesn't work out. Let me know. B and G may not even have one that fits.

Another thought. Your in Raleigh right? If so, call Ferguson. All the plumbers use them. They'll have a good pump too.

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Electrically speaking you would be fine to put a 1hp motor in place of the 3/4. The amp draw wouldn't overload your #12 wire.
 
Benjie said:
You may be right about the limit of those types. I've not worked on my well in forever. Thankfully. I've got a good relationship with the B and G folks in NC. I may be able to help if your search doesn't work out. Let me know. B and G may not even have one that fits.

Another thought. Your in Raleigh right? If so, call Ferguson. All the plumbers use them. They'll have a good pump too.

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk
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Ferguson is where they bought this turd I have now.
 
13bullets said:
Electrically speaking you would be fine to put a 1hp motor in place of the 3/4. The amp draw wouldn't overload your #12 wire.
Click to expand...

That's what I was wondering. I have been looking at pump curves all night and at 265ft of head on a 10gpm pump, it really seems like a 1hp would make more sense.

On some at least, if my well is 5 gpm, it looks like a Goulds pump would be right on dot on the pump curve for 265ft at 5gpm well for a 3/4 hp.
 
Sounds like you need a whole house surge protector if it is getting spiked from all the storms lately. You can get smaller plug-on surge units that fit in a two-breaker spot in your main panel to make install easy. It may not hurt to install one out at the well head where the pressure switch connects as well. You would have to find one that fits your load center but here is an example:

Eaton BRSURGE Br Series Whole-Panel Surge Arrest Breaker - - Amazon.com

I have one on mine and bought one for my folks as well. I do not worry about surges quite so much as I used to.
 
Nah, I don't think the storms killed it. For the last couple weeks the thing wouldn't quite hold pressure when you were in the shower and someone flushed the tolet or turned another faucet on. I kind of wondered if something was up, now I know it was.
 
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