New Deep Well Pump won't build pressure
Last Monday our Sta-Rite 1/2 HP Deep Well Pump died. We replaced it with a 1/2 HP Deep Well Pump made by Wayne Reliant One (bought at Lowes). The Sta-Rite pump had 4 openings: 2 for the 2 pipes coming out of the well, one of the house supply, and one for the tank. Unfortunately, we didn't notice till we got home with it that the Wayne Reliant One pump only had 3 holes, 2 for the well pipes, and an additional hole on top of the pump. After talking to an associate at Lowes, he said that he had never seen one with 4 holes, and that 3 was the standard. He suggested us using a Tee in the hole on top of the pump, and connecting the house supply to one end of the Tee, and the other end would run to the pipe coming up from the tank. We did this, but the problem is that the pump won't build pressure past 20 PSI. As a result, we can only run it for about 15 minutes before we have to shut off the power to it, since the pressure won't build up high enough to kick off the pump. Here is what we are planning on doing next: The Brass Tee that I added to the pump has 2 holes on top(currently plugged), and 2 smaller ones on the side(one is plugged, the other has the pressure gauge mounted in it). What I am going to try tomorrow is running a pipe from the prime plug, to the pipe that is now coming out of the tank. We can then use either of the plugged holes on top of the tee as a priming plug, and this will get us back to separate pipes for the tank and house supply, like we had with our previous pump. I am hoping that this will allow us to build pressure past 20 PSI. Does anyone think this will work? I wish I had thought to take pictures to show everyone what the set up looks like now, but of course it is dark now If you don't think this will work, what do you suggest instead? Did you just replace the pumnp? You didn't pull the piping and replace the deep well ejector or anything else? Pumps and ejectors are sold in matched sets. Every manufacturer of deep well pumps sells the ejectors to match. I doubt if you realize how much difference there is between the Starite and Wayne pumps (other than the amount of holes). I'm guessing that the Wanye pump won't work (at least not very well) with your current ejector setup. Ron I assume you mean the jet assembly(?) and foot valve at the end of the pipes in the well? No we didn't replace those because no one mentioned to us that we would need to. We are using a foot valve we also got from Lowes, and I don't remember the brand, but I don't think it was Sta Rite or Wayne. Assuming that we don't have to replace those, do you think re-doing the piping to give us 4 lines instead of 3 would solve the problem of the pressure not building past 20 PSI? Unfortunately it is now raining so I can't do anything till later. Changing the piping won't help the pump pressure. Anytime you replace a deep well pump you need to change the ejector assembly, especially if you switch pump size, or manufacturer. Ron Originally Posted by Pumpman Changing the piping won't help the pump pressure. Anytime you replace a deep well pump you need to change the ejector assembly, especially if you switch pump size, or manufacturer. Ron Ok maybe I'm not doing a good job of explaining my current setup. Currently we have the same pipe that runs to the house, running through the pump via a tee, and then running to the tank. Previously we had a pipe running from the pump to the tank, and a separate pipe running from the pump to the house. I'm not talking about simply changing the piping, I'm talking about changing the pipe setup from the current 1 pipe setup, to a separate pipe for the tank, and house. If what you say is true about having to replace the jet assembly and foot valve when you replace the pump(and I'm not saying it isn't), then why doesn't Lowes carry the Wayne foot valve or jet assembly? I believe you can order those parts, but Wayne Reliant One are the only pumps they carry (at least locally), and they carry Pro Pumbler foot valves and jet assemblies. That doesn't make sense. I understand that you are going to change the piping configuration, but it won't help the pressure problem, which is that the pump won't build pressure. Our local Home Depot sells Flotec pumps, which includes converible deep well pumps. However, there isn't a deep well ejector to be found. Buyers for Lowes/HD apparently aren't pump people. They don't understand what's needed for sucessful pump installations. While we're on this subject, and I'd like to open this up to other posters on this forum, are some facts about pumps that are sold at big box stores (Lowes, HD, Sears, etc.). Lowes carries WaterAce pumps, which are made by Myers (Pentair). Sears carries Craftsman pumps, which are built by Sta-rite (also Pentair), and HD carries Flotec, which again are Sta-rite built. To go one step further, Grainger pumps are Teal, which again are Sta-rite pumps. All of these manufacturers build pumps under their own brand names, too. The pumps that carry the brand name (Myers, Sta-rite, Berkeley, etc.), are sold to pump pros through distributors. You generally need to be a pump or drilling contractor to buy through these distributors. So what's the big deal? Not all pumps are created equal!! Most pumps built for and sold through big box stores are not the very same pump that carries the brand name. They're generally built with cheaper motors, many times have plastic housings, and cheaper components and materials are used. Hence, the cheaper price. Not only that, but the manufacturers down-rate the pumps built for the big box stores. In other words, if you have a 1 hp Sta-rite brand pump, a 1 hp Sears pump will not deliver the same capacity, even though they may look just alike. Also, the big box stores usually don't carry repair parts (seals, impellers, etc.), and in the case of the Wayne pumps, the parts need to be ordered from the factory, or service center. I'm not trying to knock the pumps, or anyone, but you need to be aware when you lay out lots of money for something as necessary as a water pump. Ron Ok so if I am following you, your suggestion is that I need to take off the jet assembly and foot valve I have on the pipes in the well now, and replace them with ones made by Wayne, like my pump? I am a novice to all this, so please explain to me how changing the jet assembly and foot valve will help me build pressure at the pump?
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