On Demand Well Pump?

[Jack-of-All-Trades]

I have had a submersible pump on an artesian well. The pump burnt out and we have been running on just artesian power. We still have a good pressure tank etc. from the old system.

I was wanting to install an on demand pump for taking showers etc.

Would it be possible to tap into the line near the house with a T diverting water toward a pump and then back to the main line with another T. We would only turn on the breaker to the pump when we want more pressurized water.

Would we need to include a shut off in the main line - after the T for the pump inlet and before the T to the pump outlet - in order for it to work properly? Seems it would be less of a hassle if we could just flip the breaker and didn’t need to go outside to divert the water flow.

Would a simple ½ Hp shallow well pump work since the system is artesian?

Anything you think I would need other than the necessary piping, fittings, and the pump itself?


Thanks for your help.

 

[Valveman]

The whole idea of water on demand is to not have to turn on any switches. I don't like the so called "on demand" type pumps as they are made to sell and not to last. But any jet pump with a pressure tank/pressure switch will supply water on demand, and the PK1A kit turns any pump into a constant pressure pump. It will be a little more expensive this way, but will last 30 years instead of 3-5 years.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Jack-of-All-Trades]

Money is tight some months. So I really want to just keep my house running with the artesian well, avoiding the expense of using electric every time we need water.

I was wanting to make a system that will allow water to flow naturally into the house the majority of the time, but when we want extra pressure for showers etc, we would / could get that by simply turning on the breaker ( ideally) .

I drew a picture to further illustrate the idea


.

Plan would be to tap into the line near the house with a T diverting water toward a pump and then back to the main line with another T. We would only turn on the breaker to the pump when we want more pressurized water.

- Would we need to include a shut off in the main line - after the T for the pump inlet and before the T to the pump outlet - in order for it to work properly? It would certainly be less of a hassle if we could just flip the breaker and didn’t need to go outside to divert the water flow beforehand.

- Would a simple ½ Hp shallow well pump work since the system is artesian?

- How would you recommend insulating the pipe? As I will be digging up the pipe below the frost line the line and pump will be exposed more to the effects of cold weather etc. Would regular insulation, packed around it all, run the risk of overheating the pump?

Is there anything additional you would recommend or think I should take into consideration for successfully accomplishing this project ?


Thanks for your help.

 

[Valveman]

It is great that the Artesian pressure is enough to use in the house, as that is rare. But the electric bill for the average house pump is less than $10 a month. Mine runs about 5 bucks when I am not doing any irrigation. And that is supplying all the water to the house with good pressure. Yes you can just turn on the pump when you want more pressure than the Artesian flow provides. You really don't need the bypass line as the water will just flow through the pump when the power is off. You could also set the pressure switch to turn on the pump lower than the Artesian pressure. That way the pump comes on automatically anytime there is more flow and the pressure drops.