Shallow well jet pump question

Users who are viewing this thread

Messages
32
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
NJ
I have a fairly shallow well with a jet pump setup. I have been in this house for 30+ years and replaced the foot valve not long after moving in -- probably within the first 6 months. That was uneventful. My well is at least 72 feet deep (I dropped a weight down it with that much rope and didn't hit bottom) and there's 60 feet of plastic pipe in the well. So I'm drawing water at 60 feet down.

Not that it matters, but the water surface is about 12 feet down.

When I replaced the foot valve 30 years ago I was told by a local well guy that he knew this well, which goes back probably to the 40's, and that it had only 20 feet of casing in it. Meaning there's no casing in the well down where the foot valve is.

The foot valve went bad last January, so I replaced it. I also replaced the venturi, and that's another story.

My first question is this: When I run my pump, would the foot valve be moving around down in the well? I won't say "thrashing" around, but maybe I should.

This foot valve (from Home Depot) is apparently N/G because I lost at least a gallon from my jet pump last night and that's been a recurring situation so I'll be returning it and getting one from a reputable company. But that's a separate problem.

The problem I keep seeing -- when I AM pumping -- is that the water is alternately clear and cloudy. By "cloudy" I mean it's brown. That's from the shale we have around here and I'm thinking that either the foot valve is resting against the side of the uncased well, or it's "thrashing" around down there and thus sometimes sucking clearer water and sometimes stirring things up.

Also know that when I replaced my venturi, I chose one for a depth of over 60 feet. The old one was more like for a depth of 60 feet and my choice was either "60 feet or less" or "over 60 feet." Since I'm right at 60 feet, I chose the latter.

Maybe I shouldn't have? I'm using the old nozzle, so could the new venturi be causing the jet body/foot valve to "thrash around" when I'm pumping?

I'm about at the limit of my patience with this situation.

Anyway, that's my basic question. If the foot valve is resting against the side of the uncased well wall, I can solve that problem. But it it's thrashing around, my solution probably won't help much, if at all.

I NEVER had this problem in the 30+ years that I've been here. It only started when the old foot valve went bad 3+ months ago.

Thanks for any help.
 

Valveman

Cary Austin
Staff member
Messages
14,599
Reaction score
1,296
Points
113
Location
Lubbock, Texas
Website
cyclestopvalves.com
I doubt that there is enough "thrashing around" to cause a problem. I suspect the foot valve failed because of the sediment, not that a bad foot valve caused the sediment.
 
Messages
32
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
NJ
I doubt that there is enough "thrashing around" to cause a problem. I suspect the foot valve failed because of the sediment, not that a bad foot valve caused the sediment.

I agree. In fact, the valve seems to be holding at the moment so it may have cleared itself. My real concern is whether or not the foot valve assembly at the end of the pipes moves around significantly when the pump is running.

I don't know that anybody knows the answer to that questions, but hopefully somebody does.

Thanks for the feedback.
 

LLigetfa

DIYer, not in the trades
Messages
7,497
Reaction score
575
Points
113
Location
NW Ontario, Canada
My real concern is whether or not the foot valve assembly at the end of the pipes moves around significantly when the pump is running...

In my former home, I had a shallow dug well with concrete rings. The contractor used poly pipe tied with a rope to hold the footvalve a few inches off the bottom. The cheap plastic footvalve moved back and forth and wore away from rubbing against the concrete.
 
Messages
32
Reaction score
1
Points
8
Location
NJ
In my former home, I had a shallow dug well with concrete rings. The contractor used poly pipe tied with a rope to hold the footvalve a few inches off the bottom. The cheap plastic footvalve moved back and forth and wore away from rubbing against the concrete.

Was this a jet pump (two pipes) or an in-well pump?

Thanks for your input. Much appreciated.
 
Top
Hey, wait a minute.

This is awkward, but...

It looks like you're using an ad blocker. We get it, but (1) terrylove.com can't live without ads, and (2) ad blockers can cause issues with videos and comments. If you'd like to support the site, please allow ads.

If any particular ad is your REASON for blocking ads, please let us know. We might be able to do something about it. Thanks.
I've Disabled AdBlock    No Thanks