Pitcher pump well

[BK1962]

I have a lot of questions and no experience with this...I'd like to be able to draw water in the event the municipal supply is interupted.

I still have the old well stubbed up in my basement that was used prior to municipal water. There is no ordinance against using it as long as it's not plumbed into the house. I can get water on a string at 22 or so feet. I put a pitcher pump on it and tried to draw water but it gets very hard to pump the handle. I wonder if anyone knows if that's because I'm trying to lift water that far or could the screen be clogged?

If the screen is clogged what can be done? Can you pull the pipe in a basement? Will acid be safe indoors? Should you cap it or onot if you use acid?

Short of calling a well guy in to do this. Can anyone reccomend a source for learning about this?
Thanks
BK

 

[caneman]

This from E-how site:

Sounds like you are right on the point of no return at that depth. Don't forget to add the height of the pump above ground level.

Pitcher Pump

• Pitcher pumps create a vacuum within the well that pulls water from the well into the pitcher pump's drop-pipe and up through the pump. The drop pipe is 25 to 30 feet long and bolted to the ground at the top of the well. Otherwise, the area at the top of the well is closed off. Pitcher pumps only work with shallow wells, and though some models may allow water to be pumped from depths of 5 to 10 feet deeper, most pitcher pumps can pull water from a depth of 20 feet at the most. The pump is worked manually -- usually by pumping the handle, though some models have a foot-pedal instead.
  
  

Read more: What Kind of Pump Do You Need to Pull Water Out of a Shallow Well? | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_8767331_kind-water-out-shallow-well.html#ixzz2LvWlgXDb​

 

[BK1962]

Thanks for the info caneman. I will have to check to see what the pump is rated for. The well is stubbed only a foot above the floor. The pump adds a foot or so to the overall length.

 

[Hajisc]

Try The Bison hand pump website.They also have deep well hand pumps.You should be able to use the standard size.

 

[BK1962]

Thanks Hajisk I will check it out.

 

[Sticks]

If you get a good pump for your well, could you post what brand and where you got it. Our well is hooked to an outside spigot only (the rest of the house is on city water) and we are interested in a hand pump. Until then, I found that using a 400W inverter plugged into the car lighter will operate our 110V pump long enough to refill the water barrels.

 

[BK1962]

Ah more good info on as an alternate solution. I will post info on a pump if I find one.
Thanks Sticks.

 

[Shibby575]

Holy ****, the bison pump is pricy.

 

[cosermann]

There are manual pumps that work differently that aren't limited to the theoretical 32' to which "sucker" pumps are limited (25' is a more practical limit).

The Simple Pump is an example:

Hand, Motor Water Pumps. How the Simple Pump works.

 

[Iroquois]

Have you tried priming the pitcher pump..can you? A local scout camp had one that required priming to create suction.

 

[stlaser]

Call Mark Swartz @ Hitzer Inc 260-589-8536 in Berne, IN. they make pitcher and also windmill style hand pumps at a reasonable pricing. Amish use these all over NE IN.

http://www.hitzer.com/products/pump/Model-50L-Windmill-Pump/

 

[BK1962]

Thanks again to all for the info. And yes I prime it and create suction. But it gets so much suction you can't pump the handle down to draw water. That's why I asked if it could be the length I'm drawing from or a clogged screen.

 

[cosermann]

Yes, it sounds like you're very close to the practical lift for that style pump.

 

[CountryBoy19]

Try The Bison hand pump website.They also have deep well hand pumps.You should be able to use the standard size.

Bison pumps have a spectacular reputation... they are worth the money in most case...

That being said, almost any non-suction type pump from a reputable manufacturer should work.

 

[BK1962]

Thanks everyone I will update when I get water flowing...