toolman613
New Member
Here's the background: Our 4 year old submersible well pump started acting up last week. It would run for about 15 sec. and then shutoff for about 60 sec. and repeat (the pressure switch was working properly). I figured it was a thermal overload trip in the motor. I called our home warranty company who dispatched their local plumbing contractor (the only one in our area). The tech confirmed my diagnosis and got approval for a new pump. Our pump was a 1/2 hp 110v which they would have had to order. I was told by the tech that 110 pumps were more expensive and you could only replace the entire pump (not just the bad components) and we could go with a 2 wire 220v pump (the house had originally been wired for a 220v pump so all that was required was re-installing the 220 C/B and moving the wires) for the same price and have the ability to replace a motor separately if needed in the future. They had that type of pump available. As we had been without water for 2 days and with the weekend looming, I agreed. The tech was able to pull the pump himself, by hand (pitless adapter, only about 50' deep in well). He replaced it with a 3/4 220v 2 wire pump, dropped it in and we had water again.
My questions:
1) I was charged $1100 for everything. From what I've seen online for pump prices and labor rates that seems a bit steep. I even found the exact same 110v pump for under $300! I was told by the tech they had a flat fee for pulling pumps and he had no control over the pump price (both the old and new pumps were F&W brand). Everybody has to make their dime but I feel this was a couple hundred too high. Thoughts?
2) When installing the new pump the tech left the torque arrestor off, claiming he had seen where the upper clamp would fail causing the the arrestor to "balloon" when trying to remove the pump the next time and wedge everything in place. This seems rather unlikely and, after some reading, even less likely that the damage that could be caused by the pump slapping around down there. Should I install an arrestor?
3) He also left the ground wire disconnected saying "why ground something that's already in the ground". That seems plausible and I've seen posts about it being a nice path for lightning (which I'm pretty sure caused this fiasco). Should I get that wire connected properly?
This has been an educational experience and I'd just like to tie up these loose ends and put it behind me.
My questions:
1) I was charged $1100 for everything. From what I've seen online for pump prices and labor rates that seems a bit steep. I even found the exact same 110v pump for under $300! I was told by the tech they had a flat fee for pulling pumps and he had no control over the pump price (both the old and new pumps were F&W brand). Everybody has to make their dime but I feel this was a couple hundred too high. Thoughts?
2) When installing the new pump the tech left the torque arrestor off, claiming he had seen where the upper clamp would fail causing the the arrestor to "balloon" when trying to remove the pump the next time and wedge everything in place. This seems rather unlikely and, after some reading, even less likely that the damage that could be caused by the pump slapping around down there. Should I install an arrestor?
3) He also left the ground wire disconnected saying "why ground something that's already in the ground". That seems plausible and I've seen posts about it being a nice path for lightning (which I'm pretty sure caused this fiasco). Should I get that wire connected properly?
This has been an educational experience and I'd just like to tie up these loose ends and put it behind me.