Hope this is not a sign of how the year will be.

old · Jan 3, 2010

Went to town today and when I got back the water was not working. Figured the pressure switch had messed up again so go out and check. Well nope it was closed but the pump was not pumping. I checked voltage at the line in and then the wires going to the pump and got the 230-240 I should have. So guess the pump went out and I get the fun of pulling the old pump up tomorrow and installing a new pump. Well at least it is 15 degrees out so it will not be as bad as it could be next week when they are calling for -2 or so.
Oh well could be worse at least I have it set up with a boat winch and a rope so pulling it up isn't to bad. And since it is snowing I can always melt snow to wash my hands LOL

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2010

If I was there, I'd be there with bells on to help you.... But this makes me appreciate the little water and sewage bill I have to pay............

Dave

paul · Jan 3, 2010

I just thought of my pickup, battery will slow-leak juice once in a while. Think I thought of it one day too late.... Oh well, it was all of a year old. Temps are minus 5 or 12 for highs, minus 20 to 30 for lows.

Oh shoot, that just reminded me - the battery in the lawn mower.... Oh shoot.

And, the curculator pump on my furnace (fuel ooil boiler with radiators here) is making a chirping ring that is buzzing on every room today, through the radiators. Will have to call abouut that tomorrow. I don't like to fool around with the heating equipment in this type of weather.... Oiled it, amkes no difference.

--->Paul

Anonymous-0 · Jan 3, 2010

Get ready to replace that pump. You can whack it with a hammer and quiet it for a day or two, but replacement is the fix... Not a hard DIY job, just have to bleed the syatem afterwards.

Dave

BobReeves · Jan 3, 2010

Seems like this stuff never seems to happen when it's 70 deg outside. Our security light wasn't lit lastnight but it can wait for at least a 50 deg day. Good luck with your pump, I feel for you.

JayinNY · Jan 3, 2010

Yep sane thing happened to mine in September, old pump was stuck and drawing 23 amps or so, when it should only draw 2-3. Mine was a Gould, this time I got an A.Y. MacDonald,, I was told they are hand made,,, dunno, Good luck.

Crem · Jan 3, 2010

How deep is your well? That cold water will bite when you take the pipes apart.

) I can remember as a kid when they had to pull the well in the winter. I believe that they put a canvas curtain between the windmill tower legs to cut the wind.

Ed Fulton · Jan 3, 2010

Is it possible that you have a frozen water line between the pump and the pressure tank??

The pump can burn up under these circumstances because it continues to pump against an ice blockage, gets hot because it isn't moving fluid,and ultimately burns the motor out.

A problem that I've encountered is a popped circuit breaker (red pushbutton) on the underside of the pump control box. Normally, it is a failing start capacitor that pops this pushbutton. Give it a push and see if the pump starts.

Ed Fulton · Jan 3, 2010

Is it possible that you have a frozen water line between the pump and the pressure tank??

The pump can burn up under these circumstances because it continues to pump against an ice blockage, gets hot because it isn't moving fluid,and ultimately burns the motor out.

A problem that I've encountered is a popped circuit breaker (red pushbutton) on the underside of the pump control box. Normally, it is a failing start capacitor that pops this pushbutton. Give it a push and see if the pump starts.

Old Ford Mechanic · Jan 3, 2010

Old,Just a glimmer of hope for you. My pump has quit a couple of times over the years and i found that the vibration from the pump starting so many times had broken one of the wires going down to the pump.I sliced the break once and replaced the wiring the next time.

msb · Jan 3, 2010

What style of pump is it? Submersable ? Jet ?Deep well Jet ?

old · Jan 3, 2010

Pipes not froze checked that fist thing or at least they did not seem to be. Plus my system uses plastic pipe so it should rupture before the pump would burn out. No reset on my system but also the breakers in the box where in the on position so they did not trip which they should if the system pulls to much power which a frozen up system should also cause. I just figure the pump has gone bad since it is around 10 plus years old if not older

Jeff B. · Jan 3, 2010

You must have a shallow well. I have to call the pro's to pull mine up cause it's 240 ft deep. I dread the thought of pulling mine up and I know it's gonna happen because I had it pulled about 15 years ago to change a leaky pipe, and the date on the pump was 1970. It's still working, though. A testament to the time when this stuff was still "Made in USA".
I feel for you, though. It's no fun to be without water anytime, especially in the middle of winter.

old · Jan 3, 2010

100 foot so not all that bad. With that winch I have that helps a good bit to. I used the black plastic pipe on my system so as to make it easy to pull the pump and the boat winch and 1/4 nylon rope so again easy to pull at least in theory that is but yes it will be cold and will most likely take a few brakes when doing it. Also check valve is at the top of the system so should have very little water in the pipe. Have the check valve at the top becuase I found by doing so that I never have to air up my tanks it does it on its own if not get to much air in the tanks

rrlund · Jan 3, 2010

Thought mine went a couple of years ago. What really happened was,mama had nicked the burried wire with the tiller in her flowerbed,just enough that it FINALLY got enough moisture in it to burn the wire off.

old · Jan 3, 2010

Wish I could be so lucky but no way it could happen since the breaker box is less then 10 foot from the well its self so no place for the wire to get broken. Shoot I can have my right hand on the pressure switch and my left hand on the breakers

old · Jan 3, 2010

Submersible 100 foot well. All of it in one small building which is also the power house for my place so wires, breakers, and well all with in a few feet of each other. Have power on all 4 terminals on the pressure switch with the breaker turn on but no pumping which if working right you can feel and hear as it kicks on and off

rrlund · Jan 3, 2010

You've got my sympathy.

old · Jan 3, 2010

I can only hope that is it but not likely since the wire pretty much hangs loose all the way down to the pump so almost no way for the vibs to brake it. Plus I can open and close the points on the pressure switch and see a small spark which says the pump is getting power it just isn't spinning up and pumping which I think says the pump motor is burned out

old · Jan 3, 2010

Oh well last time it went out was back in 96 or so, so I figure I am lucky it has lasted this long. I would not be so bad but it is down right cold out and pulling that pump tomorrow will be no fun even if it gets as warm as they say it will. All of 20 by the way. Oh well at least the pipe will not be full of water because the check valve it at the top of the pipe. Plus the wife gets the fun of guiding the pipe out the well house door and out into the yard so I'll be in side the well house and she will be out side and I will have the space heaters going and she will be out in the weather

Anonymous-0 · Jan 4, 2010

That's just scary! Why would a flower bed be over non protected buried wires? Dave

Anonymous-0 · Jan 4, 2010

may want to tape them wires to the drop pipe, keeps them from rubbing on the casing and bedrock, helps prevent bare spots. also if that wire ever falls down the well it will be a bear to get out.we have been drilling wells and doing pump work for 11 years, we always tape them every 2 feet with black tape.

old · Jan 4, 2010

Ya I had it taped on the pipe years ago then the last time I pulled the pump we ran out of tape so I didn't tape it. Been that way for 13 or 14 years now and the wire sits about 3 inches from the well casing so it does not hit any thing or at least it doesn't as far as a person can see which is about 20 down till you see water. Nice thing about this well is that it is 100 foot and water sits at about the 20 foot level and it is cased down to the 100 foot mark give or take just a little bit

Hope this is not a sign of how the year will be.

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