Well pumps are necessary to raise water from wells. This water then goes to a storage tank for storage until you need it. Most well designs consist of a well pipe, storage tank and pumping unit. There are different types of water well pumps that include jet and submersible pumps. Likewise, a pump can vary in size and style. A shallow well pump and a deep well pump are the two most common styles.

In the design of a water well pump system, choosing the correct pump style and type is crucial. Before installing a system, you need to consider such factors as the capacity in gallons per minute, water pressure requirements, power supply and the cost of pump and parts. If you are a business owner who needs well pumps, then understanding well pumps basics can help you make the right business decision and provide good service to your customers.

Some options to consider before purchasing well pumps are:

1. Gather essential information on well pump types and sizing requirements.

2. Consider the advantages and limitations of different types of well pumps.

3. Look for distributors that carry good selections of well pumps for sale.

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Get information on well pumps from online resources

Finding good information online can help you understand and expand your knowledge of well pumps, make good product selections and provide better service to your customers. Whether to get a submersible well pump, deep well pump or a shallow well pump will generally depend on the depth of the well. Likewise, sizing is a critical step in water well design. A water well specialist may be required to evaluate the right size and type of pump for a particular system.

I recommend: The Water Systems Council provides information sheets on well basics, well components and well maintenance that cover topic such as sizing pumps and the determination of well depth and yield. Wellowner.org is a website designed by the National Ground Water Association to provide practical information on subjects like water well basics, types of wells and finding a contractor. At GlobalSpec, there is good technical information and you can by specifications like pump type, media and power source. For more information on the fundamentals of pumped water systems, go to National Driller.

Choose the correct type and style of water well pump for your specific requirements

Different applications require different types of pumps. A shallow well jet pump can be for wells roughly 25-30 feet deep, while a deep well jet pump is an option for a deeper well (approximately 100 feet). Generally, jet pump systems may need priming before they can work. For very deep wells, submersible well pumps can be far beneath the water. A submersible pump can be more efficient than a jet pump and requires less servicing.

I recommend: Get submersible borehole pumps for sale at Paragon Pumps. At Myers, there are jet pumps and submersible pumps available in different series and for different applications. Goulds Pumps carries pump products for different application that include residential, industrial and agriculture.

Find good deals on well pumps for your business

By searching online for sellers of well pumps, you can compare and evaluate different products as well as find some good deals.

I recommend: At PumpBiz, you can buy submersible pumps online. Northern Tool offers submersible, deep well and shallow well jet pumps at good prices. Grainger is another vendor of different types of well pump products.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  When well capacity is very low, one water well pump may not be adequate, so a two-pump system may be required.

Well pumps come in a wide range of types and price ranges. As a well pump and drilling business owner, look for dependable and cost-effective products to strengthen the bottom line of your company and provide lasting service for your customers.

Deep well pump needs and shallow well pump needs vary from state to state. A submersible well pump may be more costly, in some cases, than air operated submersible well pumps. A submersible sump pump aids homeowners in draining swimming pools.

1. Look at well pumps for sale by comparing water well pump companies that specialize in residential water well pump needs. Residential type water well pumps are normally not the submersible pump kind. Some of these well pumps set on the outside of the well on a concrete slab with a water reservoir beside them. They have a filter system. Others set inside the well and have an intake line.

2. A deep well pump is normally the type that sets on the outside of the well, unlike the shallow well pump inside the well.

3. Use a submersible water pump in wet areas such as leaky basements. They cut on and off automatically when the water level changes.

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Envision environmentally friendly water well pumps

It's important to purchase well pumps and supplies for water well pump service from a company that cares about the quality of your customers' environment.

I recommend: Environmental Equipment & Supply Company carries a wide range of well pumps. From constant pressure pumps to sump pumps and several water well pump models, you'll find pumps at all price points.

Immerse your customers in American water well pump products

American Tank Company supplies well pump needs such as submersible well pump brands and sump pumps for residential, commercial and industrial needs.

I recommend: Enter your email address and receive a newsletter containing information and news about upcoming sales at WaterTanks.com.

Air out your options on air operated submersible well pumps

Compare prices on sump pumps and different varieties of submersible well pumps available at Myers Pentair Water Company.

I recommend: Fill out a literature request form and get the latest news on makes and models of well pumps (including a type of submersible pump) and their prices at Myers.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  If you're just starting out in the well pump business, ask established well pump companies for advice. There are many types of well pumps on the market. A deep well jet pump and a shallow well jet pump, for example, serve different needs.
• •  Encourage your customers to rely on you for advice in choosing a drilled water well or a bored water well for the property.
• •  Know your water wells. Drilled water wells and bored water wells require different types of well pumps.

Water well systems consist of well pumps, storage tanks and accessories/supplies necessary for the operation of the systems. For a water system, the well pump can be a submersible pump, a shallow well pump or a deep well pump.

There are many well components in a typical water well pump system. Some of these components are check valves, torque arrestors, pitless adapters, well caps and seals, pressure tanks, pressure switches, water meters and pressure gauges. Check valves prevent the water in well pump pipes from going back down into the well. Pressure switches provide even pressure range for systems. In general, the well components on the output side of well pumps are alike.

When looking for supplies for well pumps, some options you should review are:

1. Choose assembly kits for well jet pumps and accessories for a submersible water pump.

2. Buy supplies from distributors that have a good inventory of different products for water well pumps.

3. Find pressure tanks, fittings, pressure gauges and switches for a water well pump.

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Purchase the right supplies for different types of water well pumps

Deep well jet pumps or shallow well jets pumps may require assembly packages. For a shallow well, the package may contain a diffuser, adapter and a nozzle. A deep well assembly package can include a nozzle and a foot valve. A foot valve is necessary to prevent the backflow of water in a pump. Submersible water pumps may require different supplies such as submersible cables or torque arrestors. A submersible sump pump may also need accessories like a platform.

I recommend: Water Systems & Pump Service carries shallow well and deep well jet assembly packages. Liberty Pumps offers submersible sump pump products and accessories like sump pump platforms. At American Tank, there are well pumps for sale and submersible pump accessories that include torque arrestors and cable guards.

Select supplies for well pumps from vendors that carry a good selection of products

There are a variety of well pump components, supplies and accessories available on the market. You can find different types of supplies that subdivided into groups. In the valves group, there are check, foot, flow control, pressure reducing and relief valves. There are also adapters, pump protection devices and air volume controls. When you require different supplies for water well pumps, you should shop from vendors that are one-stop sources and can provide all your business needs.

I recommend: Grand Canyon Pump and Supply carries many brands of well supplies and accessories. Some products available are foot valves, pitless adapters, well caps and seals. King Pumps is another supplier with a good selection of water pump accessories.

Get necessary components for well pumps

Pressure tanks, tank fittings, pressure gauges and switches are important components of any water well system. Pressure gauges are useful devices that measure water pressure. Pressure tanks store water under pressure and can prolong the life of a pump. Before buying pressure tanks, some important factors to consider are system demand, well and pump capacity.

I recommend: Dean Bennett Supply offers a full selection of water well pump supplies and accessories that include pressure tanks, tank fitting kits and pressure switches. At Merrill Manufacturing, you can browse through the product catalog and see the different tank accessories, pressure switches and gauges that are available.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

• •  In the installation of a submersible well pump, torque arrestors are utilized to keep the pump aligned in the well and to avoid damage to pump motor or wire due to pump starting torque.

Dealing with a water well may be new to you, if you have always lived in a municipality that supplied water to your home. It can also be a new thing if you've decided to install a well for your garden or lawn irrigation needs. Whatever the situation, you will want to be familiar with well pumps key terms to deal effectively with your water supply needs.

Well pumps come in many forms and sizes. Knowing the key terms of well pumps will help you understand your options for bringing water to the surface, providing pressure and conveying water to the desired fixtures and outlets.

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The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Jet pumps

Jet pumps primarily serve shallow wells, although there are ways to adapt jet pumps to pump water from wells up to 80-feet. Jet pumps use an impeller to create a vacuum, thus relying on atmospheric pressure to lift water from the well.

I recommend: The Government of Alberta presents a non-technical explanation of how jet pumps work, how to adapt them to deep well use and advantages and disadvantages of using jet pumps. For pictures and diagrams of a typical jet pump installation, check out Siskiyou Pump Service.

Deep well

The usual demarcation separating a deep well from a shallow well is 25 feet. Pump manufacturers consider anything beyond the 25-foot depth as being a deep well.

I recommend: Aubuchon Hardware displays a typical shallow well pump for a well depth of 25 feet or less. Dean Bennett Supply advertises a pump for both shallow and deep well applications with charts showing flow rate for depths and horizontal distances pumped.

Submersible pumps

As the name suggests, submersible pumps operate while submersed in the well water. Submersible pumps serve deep wells without the need for priming and without relying on atmospheric pressure to operate.

I recommend: Popular Mechanics discusses both jet and submersible pumps and illustrates typical applications for both. Northern Tool + Equipment pictures a typical submersible pump and includes specifications.

Control box

Whatever pump you use, you will need controls to turn the pump on and off as you use the water. The control box houses start capacitors and a relay switch that actually turns the pump on and off.

I recommend: Drill Spot sells six typical control boxes with specifications.

Pressure switch

The pressure switch signals the relay in the control box by sensing the pressure in the water storage tank. When the pressure falls to a certain level, the pressure switch activates the relay, and the pump runs. When the pressure rises to the selected level, the pressure switch deactivates the relay, and the pump stops.

I recommend: Mamco shows a typical pressure switch and gives specifications. The Tauton Press shows how to adjust a pressure switch to raise or lower based on pressure, as well as providing other information on well water systems.

Pressure tank

Most well pumps connect to a pressure tank. This serves as a storage tank and also as a way of saving wear and tear on the well pump. Without a pressure tank, the pump would 'short cycle,' which means it would turn on and off continuously.

I recommend: For a detailed account of pressure tanks, go to HammerZone.com.