Hose from well to pressure tank sucked in/collapse

[Catskill Cat]

I am trying to reopen an old farmhouse. Well is 98 feet deep with a submersible pump. There is a white PVC pipe running from the well that then goes into a braided PVC hose, which then goes into a check valve and the pressure tank. The braided PVC hose sprung a leak, so I replaced. As you can see, the hose is getting sucked in/collapsed big time. No wonder it sprung a leak with flexing. The system actually works well, btw, no air in system, no cycling that I notice. What is going on here? Is the check valve on the submersible pump shot? Or is the vacuum normal but hose should never have been used in the first place? How to best fix? I was able to re-plumb the house with pex, new water heater, rebuilt toilet and faucets, etc., but am a relative novice in plumbing. Thanks in advance.

 

[Reach4]

The system actually works well, btw, no air in system, no cycling that I notice. What is going on here? Is the check valve on the submersible pump shot?

Try removing or gutting the check valve that the flex hose is connected to. If the leak down the well is small enough, that could fix things. If you cycle much with the check valve in your picture removed, then you will need to fix that leak. Removing or disabling that topside check valve may be all you need.

To disable the check valve, you may be able to remove the insides, but leave the housing in place. I am not a pro.

 

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[LLigetfa]

Is the check valve on the submersible pump shot?

Maybe not shot but malfunctioning. There should not be a (topside) check valve at the tank. The check valve in the pump needs pressure against it to make a good seal but the topside check valve prevents the one in the pump from working.

Try removing the topside check valve and see if the one in the pump starts working again. If it does not, then pull the pump and install a check valve directly above the pump.

 

[LLigetfa]

I am trying to reopen an old farmhouse.

If the farmhouse is meant to be seasonal, then it is possible the check valve in the pump was deliberately removed to facilitate drain-back. In that case, there would be a valve somewhere to let in air.

 

[Catskill Cat]

Thank you very much for for your replies. It was not a seasonal house, so my best guess is that there is a check valve on the submersible pump. I will try to remove the check valve on the pressure tank and see if that fixes things. I have never pulled up a pump from a well and with everything else to do in the house, I am hoping not to have to learn now!

 

[Catskill Cat]

With your help, fixed! Thanks so much, guys. Greatly appreciated!

 

[Valveman]

Very good example of how much of a vacuum a second check valve can cause, and how that can draw in contamination. Removing the top check probably bought you some time. But keep an eye out for the pump cycling when no water is being used as there is probably still a problem with the bottom check valve.