| Replacing a submersible well pump is not a | | | | you lift you will be getting an idea of how heavy |
| complicated task and relatively simple if you | | | | the whole assembly is of which you have to lift |
| understand the basics about a well system - like | | | | out of the well. |
| the placement of the pump, how the submersible | | | | Now you are ready to lift the pump. Rubber |
| pump operates and how it is installed in a well | | | | gloves, protective clothing or coveralls should be |
| casing. An advanced do it yourselfer with | | | | worn as the pump piping may have an iron and |
| knowledge of electrical wiring and some basic | | | | silt residue on the exterior and can be quite a |
| plumbing skills is probably capable of replacing a | | | | messy job. Fasten a pull rope around the top of |
| submersible irrigation pump. This is not a step by | | | | the well head for the other person to hold on and |
| step installation guide but rather an overview for | | | | tie off if needed. Some wells may have a leader |
| a general understanding to evaluate whether to | | | | rope or cable already attached from original |
| do it yourself or hire a contractor. The savings on | | | | installation instead of relying on the discharge hose |
| the cost of labor, if you do it yourself, will be | | | | clamps and connection. The person who will do |
| about 50 - 60% of the total price of a contractor | | | | the actual pulling should stand directly above the |
| doing the job. The first factor in deciding whether | | | | well to lift the discharge piping straight out of the |
| to attempt doing it yourself is how deep the well | | | | casing and the other person should stay with the |
| is and do you have a large enough lay down area | | | | top end of well cap and guide it to where you lay |
| to layout the pipe in your yard once you start | | | | it down as you pull. Make sure that the person |
| pulling it out of the casing. If your well is 50' to | | | | guiding the end has a good grip on the end before |
| 150' deep, I would recommend doing it yourself if | | | | you release to get another grip. Continue until |
| you are physically capable to continuously lift and | | | | pump assembly is fully out of the casing and |
| pull about 40 to 70 pounds of weight and hold it in | | | | wash off the entire pump end so you read the |
| place for during the complete removal of pump to | | | | specification tag of the pump. |
| keep from dropping it back into the well. To do | | | | Collect the information from the old pump - brand, |
| this you will need at least one other person to | | | | model, HP, voltage, phase, 110/220, rpm, 2 or 3 |
| help you pull out the pump and guide the | | | | wire configuration, continuous duty and the pumps |
| discharge pipe away from the well as you are | | | | outlet size and discharge pipe size. Most residential |
| lifting it out. | | | | submersible pumps are either 2 wire or 3 wire |
| The well casing in made of steel, iron or PVC pipe | | | | configuration. The 2 wire type has 2 - 110v wires |
| usually 3"or 4" inside diameter and this acts as a | | | | along with a case ground to pump housing. The 2 |
| sleeve in which the pump housing, discharge pipe | | | | wire pump needs no controls. If it is a 3 wire |
| and wiring go down to reach the water level | | | | pump you should replace the controls also. |
| within this pipe casing. Attached to the | | | | Most submersible pump are two piece units bolted |
| submersible pump is the discharge pipe, usually 1" | | | | together to be one assembly and consists of the |
| to 1- ¼" flexible poly pipe and the electrical | | | | motor and the pump. You can just replace the |
| wiring which also runs into this casing to the depth | | | | motor or pump if you choose, but I would highly |
| of submersible pump in the well. The deeper the | | | | suggest that you replace the whole assembly. |
| well, the heavier and more difficult it is to lift out. | | | | After you have identified what type and size |
| The weight of the pump assembly may require | | | | pump you have you may want to decide to |
| some rigging above the well casing to help lift and | | | | upgrade your system with a higher volume pump |
| hold the pump assembly in place so it doesn't slip | | | | of keep the same configuration. For upgrading, |
| and drop back down into the well casing as you | | | | you should contact a supplier or well contractor |
| are pulling it out. Once you start pulling up of the | | | | for recommendations to be compatible with your |
| pump you must continue the motion until it is fully | | | | needs and piping sizes to which your pump feeds. |
| out of the casing. If you are doing this manually | | | | Installing the new pump assembly. Make an |
| attach a rope beforehand to the top end of well | | | | itemized list of new parts, controls, fittings or |
| cap so the other person can easier hold on to it | | | | wiring as needed. If the existing wiring and flex |
| and tie it off to something - a tree or fence, in | | | | pipe are in good condition there is no need to |
| between lifts if you need to take a break and | | | | replace them. To install the new pump you will |
| stop lifting. | | | | have to splice the electric wires together in a |
| If you decide to replace the well pump yourself, | | | | waterproof connection. Consult an electrician or |
| here are some tips to remember. Determine that | | | | well contractor to specify the power wire splice |
| the pump motor is bad by checking circuit | | | | connector type and technique acceptable for well |
| breakers, switches and check that power is at | | | | applications. Connect the pipe fittings and pipe |
| the well head. If power is on at well head it is a | | | | clamps as directed in the manufacturer's |
| good sign that the pump is broke. Turn off the | | | | instructions. Tape the power wires about every 2' |
| power at the breaker panel, tag and lock it out | | | | for the entire length to the flex pipe for ease in |
| for safety before you start exposing the well | | | | reinstallation of pump into casing. Turn the power |
| head. Clear the area around the well head, approx | | | | to the pump on momentarily to check if it is |
| 6' to 8' diameter, of shrubs and plants so you | | | | working before inserting assembly into well. Turn |
| have enough room to expose the pump outlet | | | | the power breaker off and prepare to insert the |
| and electrical connections. Disconnect the | | | | pump back into the well again using 2 people - one |
| discharge pipe and undo the wiring at the junction | | | | at the well opening lowering and feeding the pump |
| box near the top of the well. Loosen the bolts on | | | | down and the other person at the well head |
| top of the casing cover, this is a squeeze type of | | | | cover feeding the slack to you and to help hold |
| cover with a thick rubber ring that expands as | | | | back to prevent the pump from dropping quickly |
| tightened and contracts as loosened against the | | | | down the casing. |
| casing interior. Once loose, try to lift the cover, as | | | | |