Still have a concern about pipe rise

[Banjo Bud]

after I had a guy bore under my driveway I felt pretty good about laying my suction pipe. I have a small concern. For those who might not know, I am sucking sideways from a spring. So, Starting from the foot valve, I have a run of about 20’ with a rise of about 2’. Then, because of other underground things in the way, I had to drop vertically about 16”, then after that I rise all the way to the pump. Maybe 4’ of rise and 50’ of run. I’m thinking since the pump is still the highest point, I shouldn’t have any trouble priming. What do you guys think?

 

[Valveman]

That high point is going to make it really hard to prime and keep primed. When the pump is off for some time, air from the water will accumulate in that high spot. When the pump comes back on it will get a slug of air and most likely lose prime.

 

[Sponsor]

 

[Banjo Bud]

How about if I put a tee at the high point with a riser pipe up to ground level, and a cap on top that I can unscrew to prime that area if I need to?

 

[Valveman]

Yeah you will probably have to do that. But any extra fittings on the suction side is just another opportunity for a suction leak.

 

[Banjo Bud]

Yeah. I don’t have a choice.

 

[Banjo Bud]

Maybe the better answer is to ditch the shallow well pump and go with a submersible??