Install Your Own Hand Operated Backup Water Pump in an Existing
Well Casing for Under $100.
This System Could be a Life Saver the Next Time we have an
Extended Power Outage.
FREE Instructions. No Gimmicks, No Obligations.
Instructions for Installing a Hand Pump for Wells with a Static Water Level of Twenty Five Feet or Less.
Written By Ben
Hissong, August, 2012
Step 1.
Determine if your Well and Pump are applicable to these instructions.
(a. Your
Well Casing should look something like the photos below: (a four to six inch
diameter pipe sticking out of the ground with a cover on top).
If the well cap has pipes coming out of the top, installing a hand-pump is still possible but there are issues not addressed in these plans.
Step 2.
Determine your Static Water Level
(a. Turn
off the power to the pump. This is usually a separate breaker/fuse/disconnect
box.
(b. Remove
the Well Cap. There are usually one or more set-screws to loosen first.
(c. Tie
about forty feet of Jute Twine to something small and heavy; A large metal
washer, a lead fishing sinker, or the like.
(d. Ease
the weight down into the well until it stops. Jog it up and down a few times to
make sure that it went all the way down and is not hung up on something.
(e. Tie
a loop knot on the twine at the top of the well casing for a marking and start
pulling it out of the well. At some point, the twine will be wet. Tie another
loop knot at that point then pull it the rest of the way out.
(f. With
the twine laid out straight on the ground, measure the distance between the two
knots. If it is less than 20 feet, you can proceed. (If you measure the
distance between the top knot and the weight you will know about how deep your
well is). Put the well cap back on and turn the pump power back on.
(g. Note
that if the water level is a little over 20 feet but still less than 25 feet
then you can still proceed. You will just need an additional 6 foot section of
Schedule 40 Pipe (Item #2 on the Materials List) and another 1 inch (or 3/4
inch) PVC Coupling (Item #3).
Step 3. Acquire
the Materials
(a. A
Complete List of Material is at the end of this Document.
(b. The
Material Estimates are based on prices charged by Lowes at the time of this
writing
For Complete
Instructions, Photos, and Materials List, A Viewable and Printable File (27Mb)
can be downloaded for FREE HERE:
(Download This One if you can. Lots of Photos)
Note: "COOKIES" Must be ENABLED. (It ain't me. Its the file Server)
(Download This One if you can. Lots of Photos)
Note: "COOKIES" Must be ENABLED. (It ain't me. Its the file Server)
Or, if you prefer, this File is available on CD ROM for a modest fee. If you prefer that method, Send me an email at: jbhwonders@gmail.com. Put "Pump CD" in the Subject Line.
There is No Registration or Sign Up to Download These (.doc) Files.
(What is free is free and I respect your privacy)
Materials List for
Hand Pump Installation. Last Update: 08/27/2012
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Item #
|
Qty
|
$Est. Ea
|
$Total
|
|
1
|
Pitcher Pump
|
1
|
$51.00
|
$51.00
|
2
|
10ft Section, 1" PVC
pipe, Schedule 40
|
2
|
$3.33
|
$6.66
|
3
|
PVC Coupling, 1”
|
1
|
$0.38
|
$0.38
|
4
|
PVC Pipe Cleaner and Weld,
About $5 each for a Small Can. Not Much is Needed
|
1
|
$0.00
|
|
5
|
Teflon Tape, About $1 per
Roll. Not Much is Needed.
|
1
|
$0.00
|
|
6
|
Small amount of
"RTV" Silicone Caulking
|
1
|
$0.00
|
|
7
|
PVC “Slip & Thread
Reducer, 1 ¼ inch (Male) to 1 inch (Female)
|
1
|
$2.13
|
$2.13
|
8
|
PVC “Slip & Thread"
Adapter, 1 inch to 1 inch (Female-Female for Screen tip, Female-Male Thread
for a Foot Valve
|
1
|
$0.53
|
$0.53
|
9
|
Footvalve (Optional, See Note 1 Below), Non
Metalic “Plastic” Type. It Costs about $10 if used.
|
1
|
$0.00
|
$0.00
|
10
|
"Screened" Pipe
Tip, 1 inch NPT Male (See Note 2 Below)
|
1
|
$4.00
|
$4.00
|
11
|
Concrete Blocks, 8 X
8 X
15 1/2, 2 Core Type
|
2
|
$0.98
|
$1.96
|
12
|
2 X 4” X 8FT, Pressure
Treated Preferred
|
1
|
$2.37
|
$2.37
|
13
|
2 X 6 X 8FT, Pressure
Treated Preferred (6 Ft is Enough if Available)
|
1
|
$4.97
|
$4.97
|
14
|
8 FT Landscape Post, (Flattened 4 X 4 Type)
|
1
|
$3.57
|
$3.57
|
15
|
Carriage Bolts, 3/8 X 5 inches, Galvanized
|
8
|
$0.62
|
$4.96
|
16
|
Flat washers for the above.
|
8
|
$0.05
|
$0.40
|
17
|
Nuts for the above
|
8
|
$0.05
|
$0.40
|
18
|
Carriage Bolts, 1/4 X 5 1/2 inches, Galvanized
|
4
|
$0.43
|
$1.72
|
19
|
Flat washers for the above
|
4
|
$0.03
|
$0.12
|
20
|
Nuts for the above
|
4
|
$0.04
|
$0.16
|
21
|
Hex Machine Bolt,
Galvanized, 1/4 X 2 Inch
|
3
|
$0.44
|
$1.32
|
22
|
Flatwasher for Above
|
2
|
$0.03
|
$0.06
|
23
|
Fender Washer for Above (Or
a 1 inch Diameter Washer)
|
1
|
$0.20
|
$0.20
|
24
|
Nuts for the above
|
3
|
$0.04
|
$0.12
|
Est Total Cost:
|
$87.03
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Misc. Items that you
may already have.
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50 Feet of
Jute Twine
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A Bucket
of Gravel or some concrete/mortar
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1 X 2 X
8ft board (Firring Strip)
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Note
1: Many Pitcher
Type Pumps have a built in flapper/check valve. A Foot Valve is not required
in this case. If you have a 4 inch Well Casing and need to use 3/4 inch pipe
instead of 1 the inch pipe, the Foot Valve may not work anyway.
Note
2: The screened
pipe tip for use instead of the foot valve is commonly called a
"Threaded Bulkhead Screen". It is normally used in large fish tanks
or ponds. Check your local pet store. Another resource is:
www.drfostersmith.com under the "Fish" tab. Their Part Numbers are:
CD-18991 for a 1 inch or CD-18990 for a 3/4 inch.
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