Thread: Pump weight on well cap?

I am dropping my well today, 1 hp 90 feet down on 160 psi poly. Do I let the weight of the pump sit on the well cap or do I support the weight with the safety rope? If it sits on the well cap does the rubber seal hold it up or do I let the galvanized tee rest onto the top of the cap?

Never use rope, cable or torque arresters. Simply tape the wire to the pipe at the splice and every ten feet there after. The cap as you describe it, is hopefully a well seal. They are made to support the weight of the pump. The tee should sit down on the seal. Or you can put a coupling on the seal and a nipple with a tee on top if you like.

bob...

Products and Pricing

Thanks Bob. I am trying to locate some longer 1 1/4 barbed fittings, the ones I have are only have about 2" that go into the pipe. I would feel much better with about 4" into the poly. Is that a reasonable worry or should I go with the short ones and just two clamps? Are those barbs designed to hold the pump and water weight?

Yes they are designed to hold the pipe/pump and be water tight. A little heat before clamping is a must do. I'm with you on the longer barbs. I have never seen one with only 2" of barb. I would look around a little before trusting something like that. They also make a venturi adaptor that is longer from barb to thread. This makes it long enough to go through the well seal easily. Galvanized or Brass is a must also. Do not use plastic.


bob...

Products and Pricing

I did most of my well pump work on 6" rock bore wells using PE pipe.

If you don't use cable guards every 10' or so and tape well (two layers [one up and then back down] spiral wrapped for 3" to 5" every 5' between the guards in a rock bore, you probably will eventually damage the cable through twisting and rubbing the cable against the rock as the pump goes down/up the hole or as the pump starts.

Don't use a torque arrestor or any type of rope.

Regular insert fittings (about 2" insert) with two opposed SS hose clamps (the clamp screws pointing 180* apart in opposite directions and on opposite sides of the pipe) that are right next to each other no farther apart than say an 1/8" and torqued correctly (you can buy the tee handle wrench where you buy the clamps) will hold a 1 hp pump at 90' just fine.

You don't need extended insert fittings but, if you install them correctly, no problem except... if you get them, know they are harder to install and you'll use more heat and that can undo any benefit of longer fittings.

Allow any heat to cool to air temp before tightening the clamps or they will not be tightened correctly. And don't tighten them on soft/hot warm pipe.

Gary
Quality Water Associates
www.qualitywaterassociates.com
Softener Forum