How to choose the right pump for your water well

If you get your water from a well, you already know how important your well pump is. Just operating is not enough. You need a pump that fits your well and your changing water demands. Are you having out-of-town visitors for the holidays? You will need to accommodate extra showers. Do you anticipate a string of hot summer days? Watering your lawn and garden, not to mention the kids playing in the sprinkler, will boost demand significantly.

How do you know what type of pump will do the job? First, you will need to know the depth of your well. A shallow well can be managed easily with a jet pump, which is external and may need less maintenance. Water is held in a tank, which can be easily heated.

A deeper well will either need a more complex jet pump or a submersible pump. Since a submersible pump pushes water rather than pulling, it tends to be a little more energy efficient, but maintenance is a little more challenging because the pump is housed within the well.

Understanding the features of water well pumps also is critical to choosing the right pump for your needs. Three features to consider are:

• Vertical suction lift, which refers to how far the pump can be from the water and still allow suction to pull it.
• Maximum head lift, which measures how far the pump can lift the water to a discharge point or tank.
• GPM discharge capacity, which measures the volume of water that can be pumped in one minute.

For the first two features, the depth of the well is the key issue. A deep well will need higher measurements, dictating the style and operation of the pump you choose. The discharge capacity you need will be dictated by how you and your family use your well. A large family, or heavy use of water to keep a vegetable garden growing in the summer will put greater demands on the discharge capacity at any given time. The key is to choose a pump that will meet your needs at the highest demand, understanding that when demand is lower, the water can be stored in a tank until you need it.

Choose a pump that meets your water demands, allows for the type of maintenance you can provide and is appropriate for the depth of your well.

• Wells that are 25 feet in depth or less are easily operated with a non-submersible pump that has controls, pipes and a tank set outside the well.
• Wells that are deeper than 25 feet are best operated with submersible pumps, which are more energy efficient in drawing the water from greater depths. Models are available that have controls above ground, making maintenance a bit easier.

For more information about the best well pump for your home, contact Watson’s Plumbing.