Well pump issues

[BK911]

Regrading the driveway and did some work around the well head.
Carefully used a shovel but still dropped some clay down the casing.
Lost water pressure and noticed sediment filter was full of clay.
Cleaned it out and now only have a trickle of water, and not enough to pressurize the bladder tank.
Guessing the well pump inlet filled with mud.
Any ideas?
Thought maybe air pressure?
Probably just pay to replace the pump since it's 20 years old.
Fortunately I keep water jugs just in case, but they won't last long.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by BK911

Regrading the driveway and did some work around the well head.
Carefully used a shovel but still dropped some clay down the casing.
Lost water pressure and noticed sediment filter was full of clay.
Cleaned it out and now only have a trickle of water, and not enough to pressurize the bladder tank.
Guessing the well pump inlet filled with mud.
Any ideas?
Thought maybe air pressure?
Probably just pay to replace the pump since it's 20 years old.
Fortunately I keep water jugs just in case, but they won't last long.

20 years is a long use life. I'd be surprised if the inlet is clogged with mud. Isn't the pump positioned in the sweet zone rather than near the bottom?

I did a reno on my house back in '08 with a lot of new plumbing. My pump at that time was 16 yo so I replaced it as well.

[oldE]

What kind of set up? Shallow well, jet pump, submersible?
As above, if submersible, it should be some way up from the bottom. How deep is the well? How deep is the pump or foot valve?

Best
Les

[Baz]

Agree with Les on details on your setup.

I'm wondering how you drop anything down into your well. Everything is supposed to be sealed up from outside elements.

[BK911]

Not sure how deep or type, I'm 2nd owner of this house.
Pulled the cover off the well to look inside.
Only a little bit of debris fell in, but can't think of what else it could be.

[BK911]

Submersible pump.

[Bugsinrugs]

My submersible pump lasted 25 years. Pump guy told me 15 years is about the life span.

[Baz]

I get that you're looking for input here but ultimately may be worth your while to have a well/pump contractor come take a look. If you don't know which one to call....give your local irrigation/pump supply house a call and get a recommendation. They would know the right one.

Good luck!

[BK911]

Thanks guys.
Plan on calling tomorrow.
But tried ppot just in case!
Verified voltage at pump controller.
Next step is checking relay and cap.
Maybe something easy?
Yea right!

[Arizona_928]

I would pull amps. A burnt out winding will be obvious at that point. Low flow is like a death rattle.

I was quoted around 6k to replace mine. I bought a rig and did it myself. Hopefully you guys are priced more reasonable.

[vonsmog]

When we sold our house a few years ago, the well was 32 years old and still running fine. I had to pull it twice, once for a bad foot valve, and once for a broken wire. Pump sat at 110' in a 130' deep well. Could pump 11gal. a minute and I would let a garden hose run for a week to fill our ice rink. I guess they don't make them like they used to.

[SpyderMike]

Just changed our 31 year old pump because it seemed like a long time...it still worked. It was positioned above the 190 foot well depth. Falling debris probably wouldn't have affected it.

[cabmandone]

My take is it's completely coincidental. Typically a pump is set several feet off the bottom to prevent picking up sediment.

Installing a new pump isn't hard. I've done it several times on new wells for homes that I built and on my own home. Main thing is, once the new pump is installed, sanitize the well.

Upon further review.... Take a look at the pressure tank. With the tank completely drained, the bladder pressure should be around 2 lbs below the pump cut in pressure. It's also possible that you have a two check valve system where there's one at the tank T and one in the pump itself. The check valve could have debris preventing it from working properly.

[drew1]

I would guess foot valve as Von had. Plastic pipe can also degrade and will cause a pump to lose its prime on a pump on top..

With a submersible pump, as you have your water could be recirculating in the well with a degraded discharge line.

Get a buddy to help pull it out. You may find a split where the water level is in discharge line.

Worst case is well going dry, but that is July or August instead of December and the amount of water with the Hurricane the auquifiers ought to be up.

[CA_WhaleTail]

1. see if you can find the well drillers' report to know how it was built.

2. when you pull the pump get a downhole camera inspection done. old steel well can be damaged/rusted out by now.

could be a simple as a wad of dirt, but does emphasize the need for better wellhead protection. small critter in the hole and you'll be dealing with bacteria for a while

if you're concerned about drought impacts it'll be good to add a sounding tube to be able to take water level measurements. rarely done for domestic wells but helpful info to track.

[BK911]

Pros are here.
Pump pumping a trickle.
Amps good. Voltage good.
While pulling it up lots of clay in the pipe.
Thinking the pumps sitting in the mud at the bottom.
20 years of sediment!
Going to replace the pump.
2 or 3 wire?
Would love to get rid of control box but 3 wire more reliable?
What say you?

[cabmandone]

I've only ever had the pump with no control box. Only reason I'm not still on my original Goulds is the built in check valve went.

[BK911]

2400 new bigger pump installed.
First shower in 3 days.
Ahhhhh

[Baz]

Congrats, BK....good investment!

The 2,400...is that what it cost you?

[oldE]

I think that was the time.
I hope.

Glad it got sorted.
Best
Les