CollinChaffin
New Member
Hi pros!
First of all have to say of all the DIY forums I read, I have spent huge magnitudes of time here and you pros that help us DIYers out are great!
Sorry for length here but like folks to have a decent background when I ask a question nothing worse than someone asking a question without providing enough info, and (un)fortunately there is also already a bit of a story behind my questions.
Okay so I have a well that is 185ft and was just told that my pump sits at ~90 feet if that sounds correct. I have learned to do the AVC's about every 2 years from this forum but have still had waterlogged tank regularly and a pump that has certainly cycled far too frequently over the years - and before you ask, it was put in by prior owner just before they sold in year 1996.
Here's what happened, and where it is now - Symptom: Pump began short-cycling back to back.
Luckily, I am in by basement enough that I am very confident I caught this within no more than 1-2 hrs after it began. Shut off all water to house saw it was still draining pressure after pumping so I went in back yard opened the well cap with flashlight and sure enough, could already HEAR the water SPRAYING out of near the top of the pipe (that sits about 12 feet down that I had NO idea how to even get to). So, unlike every other repair I believe I (might) be able to DIY, since this sat a dozen feet down and I only once saw a big crane truck supposedly putting in a pump, I made what I believe now to be a huge mistake and just assumed this HAD to be a pro job and began making calls. And, as you pros know I'm sure, here in WI all the companies I called said that this would be at least a grand to pull up the pump and then supposedly because WI DNR required several water well tests performed any time a repair is done, that those tests total almost $300 dollars which helps basically ENSURE this would be at least a grand. That grand minimum was also to pull the pipe only to get to the top and replace the broken section and bleeders/checkvalves at the top - if they pulled it all and put in a new pump $2k was the cheapest quote and worse yet, if, because this was so visibly corroded at the very top near the metal adapter that it may fall, god forbid they had to "fish" for it because our DNR required they made "every reasonable effort" to get it out, blah. blah - basically kiss your wallet goodbye.
That's the background. Here's what happened and I post this only to hear feedback as to whether or not I should feel as frankly violated as I do, or whether there is a slim chance this is all normal. Either way, the 2nd and even more important purpose of this post is, after spending about 2 hrs reading MANY posts on this, to ask for help summarizing how I can do this myself in the future (if at all possible) with what is really required, etc. - Yes, I know this info is posted BUT it appears to change over time and I frankly have found several (of course) opinions and even requirements of everything to approach to equipment needed for possible DIY.
What happened is that they told me initially 2 guys were needed, and it was now up to $150/hr for the 2 guys and the "crane truck" charge and they anticipated it taking a couple to few hours, best case scenario. Since multiple well companies gave me similar numbers, I reluctantly agreed using one of the more advertised companies but one that I knew had been in business a very long time. I was told when they came and spent about 20 min looking at it on a prior day that the 2nd guy would help and he would have to "fashion a tool" to basically take a 2nd pipe and add a "latch" to "grip" the failing pipe down lower than the adapter as a secondary to ensure it did not break and if it did - would not fall down the well. All sounded logical.
They arrived in my driveway at 9am sharp. Literally to my amazement as I watched, within a couple min of work, and what was now only 9:35 on my watch, the pipe that was "most likely going to be a problem" was up and clamped off and he was, at 9:35, literally now installing the LAST of the bleeders. Yes, almost DONE. In the 35 min he had replaced the rotten top broken pipe section, and I did not see if just one or mult bleeders and I believe a single brass check-valve.
Ten more minutes, 9:45am, it was back in. Yes, they offered for another $1000+ on top to put in a replacement pump but by this time I had asked, if we were only at 45min and was reminded that with a almost $300 water test, some "shop time" he "had into it already", etc. somehow I was still as almost the grand discussed (this is the moment I felt raped) but of course we'd see when he added up. Being a single dad with 2 sick babies at home and this being an out-of-budget emergency repair, had it been the $800-1000 up from a couple-few hundred we SHOULD have been at of course I would have opted for a full pullout and new pump, but now hearing it was a MINIMUM of 2k total if I proceeded with a pump, I had to reluctantly opt to risk having to pay the 2k on top of this to re-pull it later. Since my pump was still pumping strong, I rolled the dice.
So, of course when, at the 1hr mark I questioned lightly why the hourly rate of $200 he just stated was up from the $150 total crane truck charge with the same 2 guys that their office girl had quoted me not once but three times as I asked and re-asked over the phone to clarify the rate when we scheduled on a Monday because I was able to flip my breaker on and off at brief intervals and actually WAIT all the way until the FRIDAY to accommodate their schedules. Since guy #2 on the truck was one of the company OWNERS, when he stated she was "wrong" and it was "more with 2 guys not the $150 you were quoted but $200"....I felt totally backed into a corner (raped) since the friggin work was already DONE. They then of course still needed to (believe it or not they had done everything without EVER entering my home to check the breaker I told them was off or look at at THING), they came in found the points on the pressure switch slightly burned on one side and told me it needed replacing (and just proceeded to do it without asking if I approved and by this time I just felt defeated), I let it go since I knew it was old and was certain they were cheap since I have SEEN them at the HW store. Pump fired right up, pumping strong enough they said they were "surprised" was actually able to cycle all the way off with the garden hose running full blast to flush the iron. End state - everything working 100% perfectly and everyone was happy WITH THE WATER.
....CONTINUED BELOW.......
First of all have to say of all the DIY forums I read, I have spent huge magnitudes of time here and you pros that help us DIYers out are great!
Sorry for length here but like folks to have a decent background when I ask a question nothing worse than someone asking a question without providing enough info, and (un)fortunately there is also already a bit of a story behind my questions.
Okay so I have a well that is 185ft and was just told that my pump sits at ~90 feet if that sounds correct. I have learned to do the AVC's about every 2 years from this forum but have still had waterlogged tank regularly and a pump that has certainly cycled far too frequently over the years - and before you ask, it was put in by prior owner just before they sold in year 1996.
Here's what happened, and where it is now - Symptom: Pump began short-cycling back to back.
Luckily, I am in by basement enough that I am very confident I caught this within no more than 1-2 hrs after it began. Shut off all water to house saw it was still draining pressure after pumping so I went in back yard opened the well cap with flashlight and sure enough, could already HEAR the water SPRAYING out of near the top of the pipe (that sits about 12 feet down that I had NO idea how to even get to). So, unlike every other repair I believe I (might) be able to DIY, since this sat a dozen feet down and I only once saw a big crane truck supposedly putting in a pump, I made what I believe now to be a huge mistake and just assumed this HAD to be a pro job and began making calls. And, as you pros know I'm sure, here in WI all the companies I called said that this would be at least a grand to pull up the pump and then supposedly because WI DNR required several water well tests performed any time a repair is done, that those tests total almost $300 dollars which helps basically ENSURE this would be at least a grand. That grand minimum was also to pull the pipe only to get to the top and replace the broken section and bleeders/checkvalves at the top - if they pulled it all and put in a new pump $2k was the cheapest quote and worse yet, if, because this was so visibly corroded at the very top near the metal adapter that it may fall, god forbid they had to "fish" for it because our DNR required they made "every reasonable effort" to get it out, blah. blah - basically kiss your wallet goodbye.
That's the background. Here's what happened and I post this only to hear feedback as to whether or not I should feel as frankly violated as I do, or whether there is a slim chance this is all normal. Either way, the 2nd and even more important purpose of this post is, after spending about 2 hrs reading MANY posts on this, to ask for help summarizing how I can do this myself in the future (if at all possible) with what is really required, etc. - Yes, I know this info is posted BUT it appears to change over time and I frankly have found several (of course) opinions and even requirements of everything to approach to equipment needed for possible DIY.
What happened is that they told me initially 2 guys were needed, and it was now up to $150/hr for the 2 guys and the "crane truck" charge and they anticipated it taking a couple to few hours, best case scenario. Since multiple well companies gave me similar numbers, I reluctantly agreed using one of the more advertised companies but one that I knew had been in business a very long time. I was told when they came and spent about 20 min looking at it on a prior day that the 2nd guy would help and he would have to "fashion a tool" to basically take a 2nd pipe and add a "latch" to "grip" the failing pipe down lower than the adapter as a secondary to ensure it did not break and if it did - would not fall down the well. All sounded logical.
They arrived in my driveway at 9am sharp. Literally to my amazement as I watched, within a couple min of work, and what was now only 9:35 on my watch, the pipe that was "most likely going to be a problem" was up and clamped off and he was, at 9:35, literally now installing the LAST of the bleeders. Yes, almost DONE. In the 35 min he had replaced the rotten top broken pipe section, and I did not see if just one or mult bleeders and I believe a single brass check-valve.
Ten more minutes, 9:45am, it was back in. Yes, they offered for another $1000+ on top to put in a replacement pump but by this time I had asked, if we were only at 45min and was reminded that with a almost $300 water test, some "shop time" he "had into it already", etc. somehow I was still as almost the grand discussed (this is the moment I felt raped) but of course we'd see when he added up. Being a single dad with 2 sick babies at home and this being an out-of-budget emergency repair, had it been the $800-1000 up from a couple-few hundred we SHOULD have been at of course I would have opted for a full pullout and new pump, but now hearing it was a MINIMUM of 2k total if I proceeded with a pump, I had to reluctantly opt to risk having to pay the 2k on top of this to re-pull it later. Since my pump was still pumping strong, I rolled the dice.
So, of course when, at the 1hr mark I questioned lightly why the hourly rate of $200 he just stated was up from the $150 total crane truck charge with the same 2 guys that their office girl had quoted me not once but three times as I asked and re-asked over the phone to clarify the rate when we scheduled on a Monday because I was able to flip my breaker on and off at brief intervals and actually WAIT all the way until the FRIDAY to accommodate their schedules. Since guy #2 on the truck was one of the company OWNERS, when he stated she was "wrong" and it was "more with 2 guys not the $150 you were quoted but $200"....I felt totally backed into a corner (raped) since the friggin work was already DONE. They then of course still needed to (believe it or not they had done everything without EVER entering my home to check the breaker I told them was off or look at at THING), they came in found the points on the pressure switch slightly burned on one side and told me it needed replacing (and just proceeded to do it without asking if I approved and by this time I just felt defeated), I let it go since I knew it was old and was certain they were cheap since I have SEEN them at the HW store. Pump fired right up, pumping strong enough they said they were "surprised" was actually able to cycle all the way off with the garden hose running full blast to flush the iron. End state - everything working 100% perfectly and everyone was happy WITH THE WATER.
....CONTINUED BELOW.......
