Well Service

[wvbandit]

Wondering if anyone knows of a good well water service company? We have had numerous issues with our well and have only been able to get plumbers out to look at it. Last January our pump went out completely, after calling around Powell?s came out (big mistake) and we were quoted $7000.00 for the repair, we ended up with Comstock replacing the pump and control box in the snow, for just under $2000. The previous owners of the house had installed a 1hp pump, way too weak for the depth of the well. We had a 2hp pump installed, and things have been running smoother. We do have one problem though, if we run too many loads of laundry and too many showers in the same day our water stops running. Then it is a belly crawl under the house. I have to kill the power to the pump, drain the pressure tank, and then let the pressure build back up for hours until the water will properly flow. Has anyone else experienced anything like this? We are getting frustrated with this whole setup, and since the gentleman that installed this well originally has passed on, we are struggling to find someone who will work on it. Most of the drillers we have called said they only install, they don?t repair. I find this a little odd.

[Brian]

Yep, thats exactly what I've heard from many well drillers. The deal is, they don't like to work in previously drilled wells for fear of whats down there thats not documented, like broken off bits or other tools or parts. Hitting these is extremely expensive because it will destroy their equipment.

Good luck and please post what you find as I'll need to talk to them too! :)

[Brian]

Yep, thats exactly what I've heard from many well drillers. The deal is, they don't like to work in previously drilled wells for fear of whats down there thats not documented, like broken off bits or other tools or parts. Hitting these is extremely expensive because it will destroy their equipment.

Good luck and please post what you find as I'll need to talk to them too! :)

[Tony Rosati]

From the way you are describing it, it sounds like you don't have a sufficent supply of water flow into the current well, but I am not an expert. We heard about similar problems during the drought, and sometimed when someone drilling not too far away changes the flow through the ground towards your well. You may need to get the well drilled deeper to get both a higher volume flow into the well and also a bigger reserve (amount of water above the pump).

Note that this can especially be true when buying a home that the previous owner had been using on a part time basis or with only a single person and now a family has moved in full time. As an example, the previous owner on my house said that their monthly average balanced billing for electricity was $39. They were rarely here in the winter, didn't use the electric clothes drier, only had one TV, etc. Our bill runs around $95 now but year to year varied based on things like how many of my kids were here full time. Could be the same thing with the water.

[Tony Rosati]

From the way you are describing it, it sounds like you don't have a sufficent supply of water flow into the current well, but I am not an expert. We heard about similar problems during the drought, and sometimed when someone drilling not too far away changes the flow through the ground towards your well. You may need to get the well drilled deeper to get both a higher volume flow into the well and also a bigger reserve (amount of water above the pump).

Note that this can especially be true when buying a home that the previous owner had been using on a part time basis or with only a single person and now a family has moved in full time. As an example, the previous owner on my house said that their monthly average balanced billing for electricity was $39. They were rarely here in the winter, didn't use the electric clothes drier, only had one TV, etc. Our bill runs around $95 now but year to year varied based on things like how many of my kids were here full time. Could be the same thing with the water.

[Tony]

Just out of curiosity, how deep are you?
FYI, here near Weber's our 1hp pump is at 125 ft., with the waterline at 75 ft. last time I checked. We pulled and replaced our pump and wire for about $300 at Lowes last year AFAIR.

[Tony]

Just out of curiosity, how deep are you?
FYI, here near Weber's our 1hp pump is at 125 ft., with the waterline at 75 ft. last time I checked. We pulled and replaced our pump and wire for about $300 at Lowes last year AFAIR.

[Tony Rosati]

Another lead on people with some expertise, would be Jefferson Utilities (725-9140). This is Lee Snyder's company that runs the larger, multihome, private water systems on wells for places like Keyes Ferry Acres.

[Tony Rosati]

Another lead on people with some expertise, would be Jefferson Utilities (725-9140). This is Lee Snyder's company that runs the larger, multihome, private water systems on wells for places like Keyes Ferry Acres.

[JOE]

I can suggest a well person. I had a very similar problem last year. My water pressure would drop off to a trickle when showering or doing laundry. So not only did I start running out of hot water (I have a circa 1963 water heater), but the water would become a trickle after a few minutes of showering. Given a long enough rest the water pressure would eventually build back up for another shower or wash load. Right around Christmas, no water at all, and it was above freezing.

Consulted with Cletus, fellow Shannondale resident, friend, and handyman, and we decided to try to save me money and fix it ourselves. We went to Lowes and bought new equipment. Clete and I tried to change the pump ourselves but could not get the pump out of the well shaft.

Called a plumber and he could not get it out either. That was about $4 a minute for 45 minutes, total waste of money. The plumber said to call a well guy.

One of the well drillers I called advised me to call Shirley Well Drilling 540-662-2419. Shirley has a special machine designed to free even stuck (in the well) well pumps. It is supposed to be a less expensive alternative to bringing the big drilling rig out to drill a new shaft. It has a massive cylindrical shaped weight to knock the pump free, and a really heavy winching system to pull it out. Even they could not free my pump. The front wheels of their big truck were lifting off the ground as they pulled. The earth may have shifted over the years, pinching the pump in the ground?

My well was deep enough (about 160 ft) that Shirley was able to install my new pump above the old pump. It has worked fine since. This cost about $1200 for labor, 160ft of roll pipe, electrical wire, clamps, etc. My only disappointment with Shirley is that he did not return to put a new cap/seal on the well as the one he brought did not fit. I should have held back a couple of hundred bucks as an incentive. I still would recommend the outfit. You may want to give them a call.

Good Luck,
Joe

[JOE]

I can suggest a well person. I had a very similar problem last year. My water pressure would drop off to a trickle when showering or doing laundry. So not only did I start running out of hot water (I have a circa 1963 water heater), but the water would become a trickle after a few minutes of showering. Given a long enough rest the water pressure would eventually build back up for another shower or wash load. Right around Christmas, no water at all, and it was above freezing.

Consulted with Cletus, fellow Shannondale resident, friend, and handyman, and we decided to try to save me money and fix it ourselves. We went to Lowes and bought new equipment. Clete and I tried to change the pump ourselves but could not get the pump out of the well shaft.

Called a plumber and he could not get it out either. That was about $4 a minute for 45 minutes, total waste of money. The plumber said to call a well guy.

One of the well drillers I called advised me to call Shirley Well Drilling 540-662-2419. Shirley has a special machine designed to free even stuck (in the well) well pumps. It is supposed to be a less expensive alternative to bringing the big drilling rig out to drill a new shaft. It has a massive cylindrical shaped weight to knock the pump free, and a really heavy winching system to pull it out. Even they could not free my pump. The front wheels of their big truck were lifting off the ground as they pulled. The earth may have shifted over the years, pinching the pump in the ground?

My well was deep enough (about 160 ft) that Shirley was able to install my new pump above the old pump. It has worked fine since. This cost about $1200 for labor, 160ft of roll pipe, electrical wire, clamps, etc. My only disappointment with Shirley is that he did not return to put a new cap/seal on the well as the one he brought did not fit. I should have held back a couple of hundred bucks as an incentive. I still would recommend the outfit. You may want to give them a call.

Good Luck,
Joe

[Brian]

First, I'll restate, I have no experience whatsoever with wells. That said . . .

Our well had been worked on sometime in the past ten years. My uncle had the work done and I don't know what was done but what I see now is the steel pipe coming out of the ground (which I assume to be the casing) But more disturbing is the piece of rope the comes up and out from under the cover and then wrapped around the pipe a few times and then ties off. Is this what is supporting the pump? Or is this just what would be used to retrieve it? Either way, I can't believe that this is the way its supposed to be.

Next, if I had to pull the pump, how is this done? What happens to the pipe? Is this a flexible tube the can be layed over as the pump is lifted?

Thanks,

Brian

[Brian]

First, I'll restate, I have no experience whatsoever with wells. That said . . .

Our well had been worked on sometime in the past ten years. My uncle had the work done and I don't know what was done but what I see now is the steel pipe coming out of the ground (which I assume to be the casing) But more disturbing is the piece of rope the comes up and out from under the cover and then wrapped around the pipe a few times and then ties off. Is this what is supporting the pump? Or is this just what would be used to retrieve it? Either way, I can't believe that this is the way its supposed to be.

Next, if I had to pull the pump, how is this done? What happens to the pipe? Is this a flexible tube the can be layed over as the pump is lifted?

Thanks,

Brian

[Steveo]

Brian with all the pumps I ever pulled (frederick cty,montgomery cty) We used a piece of threaded pipe 1" rigid to unseat the collar in the casing about 4-5 feet down and then pulled all the pipe up , changed the well pump and lowered back down, we found a rope on one of our friends pump and that did indeed hold the pump for retrieval. No big deal to change it but of course the deepest we ever did was 180, whereas mine up on the mtn is much deeper and I will pay someone to pull that one.

[Steveo]

Brian with all the pumps I ever pulled (frederick cty,montgomery cty) We used a piece of threaded pipe 1" rigid to unseat the collar in the casing about 4-5 feet down and then pulled all the pipe up , changed the well pump and lowered back down, we found a rope on one of our friends pump and that did indeed hold the pump for retrieval. No big deal to change it but of course the deepest we ever did was 180, whereas mine up on the mtn is much deeper and I will pay someone to pull that one.

[Tony]

We put a new rope on our new pump. It's really just a backup in case the plastic pipe comes off; at least we'd be able to pull the pump out and reattach it.

[Tony]

We put a new rope on our new pump. It's really just a backup in case the plastic pipe comes off; at least we'd be able to pull the pump out and reattach it.

[Willis]

The pipe to the pump is now almost all pvc plastic(it used to be galvanized and had to be diconnected as it was pulled). The weight of the pump, motor, electrical wiring and the pipe is considerable, hence the "back-up" nylon roping. A gadget known surprisingly as a pump puller and consisting of three rubber wheels and an electic motor can be used to extract all that piping, etc. The pipe etc. is strung out across the yard, down the street, over the hill, and in some cases with deep wells, out of the neighborhood(LOL). A caveat: when reintroducing the pipe into the well it's a good idea to pour several gallons of household bleach down the inside of the casing to disinfect anything that may have adhered to the pipe in its travels.

[Willis]

The pipe to the pump is now almost all pvc plastic(it used to be galvanized and had to be diconnected as it was pulled). The weight of the pump, motor, electrical wiring and the pipe is considerable, hence the "back-up" nylon roping. A gadget known surprisingly as a pump puller and consisting of three rubber wheels and an electic motor can be used to extract all that piping, etc. The pipe etc. is strung out across the yard, down the street, over the hill, and in some cases with deep wells, out of the neighborhood(LOL). A caveat: when reintroducing the pipe into the well it's a good idea to pour several gallons of household bleach down the inside of the casing to disinfect anything that may have adhered to the pipe in its travels.

[wvbandit]

Tony,
Our well is over 600? deep; I remember the piping running around our house and down the yard in to the neighbors. The house is only a little over 5 years old, and the previous owners who had it built made a lot on mistakes (buyer beware). The pump we had should have lasted at least ten years, but they decided to go cheap rather than right. When it is all said and done, we will have a completely new well system. We have an Uncle in the well business down in Roanoke, and he suggests finding a well expert, not a plumber with well training. Problem is they seem to be hard to find in this area.

[wvbandit]

Tony,
Our well is over 600? deep; I remember the piping running around our house and down the yard in to the neighbors. The house is only a little over 5 years old, and the previous owners who had it built made a lot on mistakes (buyer beware). The pump we had should have lasted at least ten years, but they decided to go cheap rather than right. When it is all said and done, we will have a completely new well system. We have an Uncle in the well business down in Roanoke, and he suggests finding a well expert, not a plumber with well training. Problem is they seem to be hard to find in this area.

[Brian]

Wow! Thats alot! I think the one we have up on High View is about 300'. Here in Virginia Beach, you can get good water at 30'. A well here costs between $100 and $150.

[Brian]

Wow! Thats alot! I think the one we have up on High View is about 300'. Here in Virginia Beach, you can get good water at 30'. A well here costs between $100 and $150.