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Well Pumps

 

A well pump is a broad term for any pump that is used to pull water up from a well. Water well pumps are not intended for continuous use. They are, however, able to provide continuous pressure by moving the well water to a storage tank, which contains an air bladder that regulates the air pressure within the tank; as water is pumped in, the bladder is compressed, increasing the air pressure. It is the air pressure that moves the water through the plumbing.

 

There are three types of well pumps: shallow well pumps, convertible pumps, and deep well pumps. The distinction between these pumps lies in the vertical distance they are designed to move ground water. A shallow well pump is a non-submersible pump that is used when the water has to be moved a small vertical distance, usually no greater than 25 feet. A deep well pump, on the other hand, is intended for wells where the water must be moved a distance of up to 80-90 feet; some can handle distances of up to 1000 feet and more. Deep well pumps are also fully submersible for that reason. A convertible pump is simply a shallow well pump with a removable ejector kit, which allows the shallow well pump to be transformed into a deep well pump, which can then be used to carry water between 25 and 80 feet.  This conversion is accomplished by taking the removed ejector kit and placing it within the well itself, underneath the water level. The convertible pump, however, is not submersible, and must still be installed above ground.

 

 

Shallow Well Pumps
A shallow well pump is used to supply freshwater to rural homes and cabins, or to irrigate farms. Typically, shallow well pumps are installed in areas where the water table is high and the water does not to be pumped a great distance vertically.

A shallow well pump is installed above the well- either within the home or in a separate well house. This pump is meant to extract water from a well by creating a vacuum, where the weight of the air will force the water up through a tube lowered into the well. Due to this design, it is the weight of the air that determines how high the water can be lifted, so the exact distance may vary slightly with elevation, but most shallow well pumps are rated for approximately 25 feet of vertical lift. A shallow well pump is used to supply freshwater to rural homes and cabins, or to irrigate farms.
Convertible Pumps
For pumping groundwater that is deeper than 25 feet, it may be convenient to convert a shallow well pump into a deep well pump. This is done by removing the pump jet from the housing containing the motor and impeller, and placing the jet into the water. Placing the jet into the water increases the water velocity, which in turn creates a vacuum, which then pulls up the water into the converted pump in much the same way that a shallow well pump does. This set up allows the convertible pump to draw up water from up to approximately 80-90 feet in depth.

It may be necessary to include a tailpipe of approximately 35 feet in length in the convertible pump installation, so as to prevent overpumping. The tailpipe should be connected to the pump intake and lowered into the well. In this way, it the water level drops below the jet, the convertible pump would continue to operate as a regular shallow well pump. However, it should be noted that the further the jet is from the water, the less efficient the pump will be. For pumping groundwater that is deeper than 25 feet, it may be convenient to convert a shallow well
Deep Well Pumps
For transporting water large vertical distances, the use of a submersible pump may be preferable, as it is easier to push water up a pipe than to lift it by suction. Deep well pumps are also more efficient as they are able to pump more water while using the same size motor as a shallow well pump. Submersible deep well pumps can achieve between 25 and 500 feet of vertical lift.

Submersible pumps are constructed differently from regular well pumps, as the motor needs to be sealed tightly so as not to become flooded. Typically, the pump features a well casing and a hermetic seal. Submersible pumps also usually have a series of stacked impellers, which are separated by a diffuser; this mechanism is what drives the well water up the pipe, unlike the vacuum suction method used by shallow well pumps. For transporting water large vertical distances, the use of a submersible pump may be preferable,
  • Shallow well pumps are used when the water supply is relatively close to the ground’s surface and the vertical pumping distance is within 25 feet. These pumps are not submersible and must be installed above ground, either within the residence, or in a well house. Since the vertical distance that the water must travel is relatively small, the shallow well pump can operate by vacuum suction. That is, the pump created a vacuum at the top of the pipe, and the weight of the air pushes the water up through the tube. Because this design is dependent on the weight of the air, significant changes in altitude may affect the exact height that the water can be lifted.
  • Convertible pumps are employed when the groundwater is too deep to be reached by a shallow well pump. In these cases, it might be more convenient to convert a shallow pump into a deep well pump by separating the pump jet from the housing and lowering it into the water. This method of water extraction also uses suction, as the increased water velocity creates vacuum, and causes the air to push the water up. This modification allows the convertible pump to draw water from a depth of approximately 25-90 feet. For convertible pump installations, it may be required to install a 35-foot long tailpipe. This tailpipe should be connected to the intake and placed inside the well; should the water level drop below the jet level, the pump could still function as a regular shallow well pump, and thus prevent overpumping. However, the further the jet is from the water, the less efficient the pump.
  • Deep well pumps are also designed for lifting water deeper than 25 feet. However, unlike convertible pumps, these pumps are submersible. This gives deep well pumps a vertical range of 25 to approximately 500 feet, as it is easier to push water up a pipe than it is to lift it using suction. The submersible quality is also what makes deep well pumps more efficient than shallow well pumps, as they provide more lift for the same size motor. Since these pumps are meant for submersion, their construction varies slightly from the other well pumps. The motor needs to be tightly sealed to prevent flooding. Submersible pumps also have a series of stacked impellers separated by a diffuser, which is designed to drive the water up through the pipe, as opposed to having it pulled up through a vacuum.
  • Domestic - Well pumps are often used in residential housing to bring groundwater to the surface. This water can then be used for drinking, or other domestic applications.
  • Agricultural - These pumps can also be used in farms and other agricultural settings, where groundwater is used for irrigation and watering of crops.
  • Industrial - In industrial settings, these pumps can be used to provide water for processing, or for cooling machinery. Alternatively, well pumps can be used to remove water from mining sites, landfills, or service stations.

When choosing a well pump, the first decision is between submersible and non-submersible pumps. This choice depends on the height of the water table: if the water table is high and the water is within 25 feet of the surface, then a non-submersible pump, such as a shallow well pump will suffice. However, if the water is deeper than that, then either a convertible pump or a deep well pump will be necessary. For a vertical lift of 25-80 feet, either pump will get the job done, but for water that needs to be lifted greater than 80-90 feet, a submersible pump is a must.

 

The next step is to determine the gallons per minute (GPM) required. This can be done in one of two ways: by fixture count, or by peak demand. Fixture count is fairly straight forward: the GPM should be equivalent to the number of fixtures in the home, taking account all bathroom outlets, sinks, diswashers and washing machines, outdoor hoses, hot tubs, etc. Each fixture counts as 1 GPM.
To determine GPM by peak demand is slightly more involved. Using Table 1 as a reference, the peak demand can be calculated based upon the number of bathrooms within a home; the minimum GPM for the peak demand has already been calculated. So, for a home with one and a half bathrooms has a seven-minute peak demand of 45 gallons, and the minimum sized pump required is 7 GPM.

 

Once the GPM has been calculated, the next step is to figure out the required feet of head. This requires some calculation.

 

  • To determine the head required for the house, the house pressure must be determined, and multiplied by 2.31. So a house with a pressure of 60 PSI, requires 138.6 feet of head.
  • Next, it’s necessary to figure out the depth of the well, and how far the well pump will be set. Most pumps are set approximately 20 feet from the bottom of the well, so for a well that is 200 feet deep, subtracting the pump height of 20 feet, yields 180 feet of head.
  • The height of the house is also relevant; for each floor, 10 feet of head is added, so for a 2-story home, the head is 20 feet.
  • The head lost traveling from the well to the pressure tank must also be taken into account; for every 125 feet of 1-inch pipe, 6 feet of head are lost. Assuming the distance is 100 feet: divide 100/125=0.8; 0.8 x 6 = 4.8 feet.
  • Finally, to determine the total minimum head pressure, add the results of the preceding steps: 138.6 + 180 + 20 + 4.8 = 343.4 feet of head.

 

Using the head pressure and the GPM, the final step is to consult a pump curve. This diagram is unique to each type of pump, and it demonstrates the GPM that the particular pump can put out for a given head. It is vital to select the well pump that best matches the calculated GPM and head height; otherwise the pump may be either too small or large for the required application.

Well pumps are designed to extract water from a well. These pumps are not intended for continuous operation, but they are able to provide continuous pressure. These pumps can move water into a storage tank, where an air bladder regulates pressure within; as the pump brings water in, the air pressure increases, the water is pushed from the tank into the plumbing.

 

There are three types of pumps used for well water, which differ within the vertical lift they are able to provide. Shallow well pumps, as the name suggests, are used in applications where the ground water is relatively close to the surface- usually within 25 feet. These are non-submersible pumps, and must be installed above the well. Convertible pumps are modified shallow well pumps; in this configuration, the jet is removed from the housing and placed into the water. This allows a greater vertical lift, ranging between 25 and 80 feet. Deep well pumps, on the other hand, are fully submersible and are able to give a greater vertical lift between 25-500 feet, as they push the water up from below, instead of pulling it up by suction.

 

Grundfos Well Pumps

 

Grundfos is an internationally recognized manufacturer of pumps for domestic, commercial, agricultural, and industrial applications. This company maintains production plants in five continents, and offices in over forty countries, which makes if always accessible to their customers.

 

Grundfos offers cast iron shallow well pumps, which have a vertical lift of up to 26 feet, and cast iron deep well pumps, which have a lift of up to 80 feet. Grundfos also has a line of stainless steel shallow well pumps, which are corrosion resistant.

 

Little Giant Well Pumps

 

Little Giant is a division of Franklin Electric, a global company which produces a full line of water and fueling systems. This company has a significant global presence and owns manufacturing and distribution facilities worldwide, which makes their offices never far from their customers.

 

Little Giant produces shallow well pumps with a lift of up to 25 feet, convertible pumps with a lift of up to 90 feet, and deep well pumps which can lift up to 400-500 feet.

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