Different Flowers, Different ... Well Pumps?

It’s finally turning into spring again! This time of year, the rain brings a colorful array of flowers of every kind that we can’t help but admire. You may be familiar with a few different types or species of flowers (tulips, roses, orchids, lilies, and on, and on, and on), but did you know that there are about as many different kinds of well pumps?

Alright, so there aren’t really that many types of pumps, but there certainly are a fair few. Before you get carried away with your green thumb this spring, let’s take a look at three kinds of well pumps and help you decide which one may be the best plumbing choice for you.

Shallow Well Jet Pump

The first kind of well pump is ideal if you have a shallow well. Jet pumps are the most popular option for wells that are less than 25 ft.

Mounted on the wall either in your home or in the well house, a jet pump uses suction to draw water up from the well.

Because they rely on atmospheric pressure to create the suction needed to draw up the water, jet pumps can only pull water so far, which is why they are a perfect choice for shallow wells.

Deep Well Jet Pump

What if your well is deeper than 25 ft? Well, you won't believe it, but you may still be able to use a jet pump to draw water up out of your well!

Doing so requires you to separate the jet from the motor and impeller, and move the jet mechanism down into the water. Typically, in this type of deep well jet pump configuration one pipe, mounted in the impeller housing, drives water into the jet body, and a second pipe connects the output side of the jet back out to the pump.

While a deep well jet pump can technically draw water from a well that is a few hundred feet deep, it isn’t necessarily the most efficient way to pump water out of wells that deep.

Deep Well Submersible Pump

Submersible pumps are a more effective solution to the problem of needing water out of a well that is several hundred feet deep because they move the pump right down into the well. That means that rather than using suction to lift the water out of the well, it is actually moving the water itself.

Submersible pumps are an ideal choice because they can last for as long as 20 to 25 years without needing regular servicing. They can also be used in shallow pumps, though that poses a greater risk of silt, algae, sand, and other environmental contaminants that can shorten the pump's lifespan.

During the spring season, we can encounter so many varieties of flowers blooming all over the place- different smells and different colors. Before you pick that rose, make sure you've seen all the other ones around too, to make sure you found the perfect one. The same can be said about installing a well pump!

Now that you know a little bit about some of the different kinds of well pumps that exist call Hall's Plumbing in Woodland, CA at (530) 290-1922 to speak with a professional plumber about what your best option might be.