1/2hp water pump vs 3/4hp water pump...need fast answer...please (foundation, fireplace)

[Gary Slusser]

Yes I can be surprising.

[rockky]

Here I am.....bringing back this thread. Still having problems with the water pump.

We have adjusted the fittings several times. We are still having air in the pipes. It's especially noticeable when toilets are flushed.

I called a plumber this past Thursday. He came out..... charged $59.00 (I wasn't informed of this cost prior to his arrival.) For that charge I got an estimate of $800.00 and told that this isn't the worst case scenario. It could go much higher, but he would try the $800.00 service. Maybe it would work. Maybe it wouldn't.

Called another plumber.

A couple of guys came the next day. They adjusted the fittings.......$164.00. I was hopeful. I was wrong. It's just as bad, if not worse, than it was before.

Guess I'll call them back tomorrow. sigh

I realize that asking for help with this mess on line is a shot in the dark. Without being able to see the set up, it's impossible to make a diagnosis.

Maybe this is more of a vent and a search for discussion and insight.

New water pump, new lines, and the cost is rising.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by rockky

Here I am.....bringing back this thread. Still having problems with the water pump.

We have adjusted the fittings several times. We are still having air in the pipes. It's especially noticeable when toilets are flushed.

I called a plumber this past Thursday. He came out..... charged $59.00 (I wasn't informed of this cost prior to his arrival.) For that charge I got an estimate of $800.00 and told that this isn't the worst case scenario. It could go much higher, but he would try the $800.00 service. Maybe it would work. Maybe it wouldn't.

Called another plumber.

A couple of guys came the next day. They adjusted the fittings.......$164.00. I was hopeful. I was wrong. It's just as bad, if not worse, than it was before.

Guess I'll call them back tomorrow. sigh

I realize that asking for help with this mess on line is a shot in the dark. Without being able to see the set up, it's impossible to make a diagnosis.

Maybe this is more of a vent and a search for discussion and insight.

New water pump, new lines, and the cost is rising.

Call a well driller. Could be as simple as you pressure tank. Could be in the well.

[rockky]

Hi ya, Driller! Nice to see ya.

It doesn't happen all the time. When we play with the fittings, it will work for a period of time without the suckin' air sound. I'm not sure, but it seems when I do a load of laundry we don't hear the noise and get the spurts as much. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.

We are open to all suggestions. We may end up with a well driller at some point.

[Driller1]

Originally Posted by rockky

Hi ya, Driller! Nice to see ya.

It doesn't happen all the time. When we play with the fittings, it will work for a period of time without the suckin' air sound. I'm not sure, but it seems when I do a load of laundry we don't hear the noise and get the spurts as much. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.

We are open to all suggestions. We may end up with a well driller at some point.

Don't wait until it is cold (if it gets cold where you are). If it is in the well it could cost you twice as much, IF any driller will work on it. I don't work in the winter at all. Just any warranty work if needed.

[Gary Slusser]

Originally Posted by rockky

Hi ya, Driller! Nice to see ya.

It doesn't happen all the time. When we play with the fittings, it will work for a period of time without the suckin' air sound. I'm not sure, but it seems when I do a load of laundry we don't hear the noise and get the spurts as much. Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part.

We are open to all suggestions. We may end up with a well driller at some point.

The problem may not be air, it may be that the pump is suffering cavitation.

I mentioned the below to you back in June and you never replied to it....
"... you should tell hubby he should have bought the same size pump (gpm and hp) because the jet in the well and the pump must match and going to a 3/4 hp different gpm won't match a 1/2 hp x gpm pump's jet all that well. The j-body is on the bottom of the two pipes going down the well. The j-body won't be all that deep in the well, a 2 line jet pump system is usually not too good below 150'"

Find a pump guy or driller that can and will discuss this on the phone with you rather than wanting to run out and charge you a service call first. I suspect you never changed the jet in the j-body to match the new larger pump.

[rockky]

Originally Posted by Gary Slusser

The problem may not be air, it may be that the pump is suffering cavitation.

I mentioned the below to you back in June and you never replied to it....
"... you should tell hubby he should have bought the same size pump (gpm and hp) because the jet in the well and the pump must match and going to a 3/4 hp different gpm won't match a 1/2 hp x gpm pump's jet all that well. The j-body is on the bottom of the two pipes going down the well. The j-body won't be all that deep in the well, a 2 line jet pump system is usually not too good below 150'"

Find a pump guy or driller that can and will discuss this on the phone with you rather than wanting to run out and charge you a service call first. I suspect you never changed the jet in the j-body to match the new larger pump.

Gary, we thought the pump was working after I posted about it last summer.

The update: We had a different plumbing company out last week. They refitted the fittings under the house, and we still had a problem. They came back and dug down about four feet at the well pipe which rises above the ground. All those fittings were badly rusted. Twenty years in sandy soil will do that. They replaced those fittings. For now, the system seems to be working normally.

I did mention to them about the different sizes of stuff, and they didn't think that was a concern....other than that the stronger draw may have been hard on the couplings they ultimately replaced.

If we have problems again, I will certainly bring up your diagnosis more strongly.

I don't speak the 'plumbing language', and I'm sure that doesn't help.

I sincerely thank you for your time and effort to help us.

[Gary Slusser]

Sad to say that most plumbers are great people and excellent at putting pipes together but not so good at pump work.

You have a two line, deep well jet pump. The jet and venturi are in the j-body in the well; Click on the picture below.

The size of the jet, measured in 32nds of an inch is critical to the operation of the jet pump; meaning the amount of water it will deliver.

The jet is specific to the size of the pump, your 1/2 hp was replaced with a 3/4 hp pump and the jet in the well is not sized for the larger pump.

And the jet is old and possibly worn. The jet for the 3/4 hp would be larger than the one in the well used for a 1/2 hp pump. Meaning not as much water can get through it so you aren't getting the benefit of the larger pump. Which can cause the pump problems, like cavitation of the impeller. Cavitation will damage the impeller very quickly and then you get less'n less water out of the well and the pump.
.

[nhmaster]

Originally Posted by rockky

Gary, we thought the pump was working after I posted about it last summer.

The update: We had a different plumbing company out last week. They refitted the fittings under the house, and we still had a problem. They came back and dug down about four feet at the well pipe which rises above the ground. All those fittings were badly rusted. Twenty years in sandy soil will do that. They replaced those fittings. For now, the system seems to be working normally.

If it is working, it will be fine. A badly mismatched jet can cause performance problems but if you are getting water and good pressure then don't sweat it. Your plumber did the right thing.
I did mention to them about the different sizes of stuff, and they didn't think that was a concern....other than that the stronger draw may have been hard on the couplings they ultimately replaced.

If we have problems again, I will certainly bring up your diagnosis more strongly.

I don't speak the 'plumbing language', and I'm sure that doesn't help.

I sincerely thank you for your time and effort to help us.

A badly mismatched jet can cause problems but since you seem to have good pressure and things are working I would not worry too much about it. Your plumber apparently knows what he is doing.

[rockky]

I just mentioned these posts to my son. I guess the confusion is that this is 'a single line pump'. There is just one line from the well up to the pump under the house.

Thanks for all the interest and help. I'm sure hoping this is a done deal on the water pump. We seem to have plenty of water now. What I don't have is $$$.