Well Pumps & Pressure Tanks Repaired & Replaced in Central & Eastern N.C.

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Well Pump Info

 

Water Well Pump & Tank Basics

There are several key elements of a home well water system that are essential no matter what
the situation is. They are:

– Drilling the well.
– Selecting the right pump type and size.
– Installing the pump.
– Trenching
– Installing the water storage (pressure) tank and pressure switch.

 

Well Drilling

 

Drilling a well is difficult and dangerous work. As is always the case, be sure to work with a licensed
well drilling contractor. Just like home building construction and electrical work, well drilling must
conform to standards set by the local NC authorities. If you want to take your chances and drill your
own well, or perhaps hire a “jack leg” well driller, that’s your risk. But it isn’t worth it. Very little
money will be saved in either the short run or long run.

Walter’s Well Pump & Tank service does not pursue well drilling opportunities actively; they tend to
come to us. The company owner is a state licensed contractor (North Carolina), so we can take your
well drilling project and handle it for you, or we will recommend someone for you to contact.

Remember, you and your family depend on water almost every hour of every day. Do it right the
first time. That doesn’t mean you have to call us to get it done right. That’s not the point. The point is
to do a little research and select a contractor with a good reputation.

 

Well Pumps

 

The pump is responsible for drawing (pumping) the water from the well by way of electric motor
and into the pipeline that leads to the water storage tank in the home. There are different types of
well pumps for different situations: submersible, reciprocating, jet, shallow and deep well to name
the most common. Some pumps are designed to work while submersed in the well, and others are
designed for above ground use. Submersible well pump installations are the most common. Some
of the brands of pumps we use: Franklin, Goulds, & Myers to name a few.

The well pump assembly that installs in the well casing includes the drop pipe, which the pump
attaches to and which carries the water out of the well, a torque arrestor, and a wire guard, also
called a cable guard.

Do some research online so you have some familiarity with pump types and sizes before you begin
consulting with your state of NC licensed and approved well contractor. It will make it easier for you
to understand why he’s selecting a certain pump for your particular well. This is another reason why
you need to choose an experienced professional to work with. Walter’s Well Pump & Tank Service in
Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill NC is here to help you.

 

Trenching

 

A pipe is needed to transport the water from the well into the water storage tank which is located in
the house. “Trenching” is the process of digging the trench that will allow the pipe to be buried,
connecting the pipe to the storage tank, and then refilling the trench to cover the pipe. As with all of
the aspects of installing a well, this must be done according to local codes.

 

Pressure Tank  or Water Storage Tank

 

The water tank, bladder tank, pressure tank, supply tank, or well tank, whatever you may call it, is
the reservoir installed in the home for storing the water under pressure so it can be distributed into
the house plumbing when it is called upon. The pressure tank contains a flexible bag, or bladder,
which is what the water is pumped into.

The bladder contracts when water is called upon to be used, and it expands when it is refilled by the
pump. Eventually, this expanding and contracting can cause a tear to develop in the bladder, which
means it can no longer function. This is a common cause of pressure tank failure, which leads to a
service call and new tank installation.

Be sure to work with your well contractor to select the correct tank size. You don’t want to consider
only your immediate needs. Plan for the future. It’s better to have extra capacity in the tank than not
enough. In addition, choosing a tank that is too small for the demand causes the tank to empty itself
more often. This means the pump will have to turn on more often to pump more water into the tank.
The more the pump turns on and off, the more it’s lifespan is reduced.

 

Pressure Switch

 

The water storage tank is sealed under pressure. As water is pumped from the well into the bladder in
the storage tank, pressure builds due to the expanding of the bladder into the pressurized tank. When
the desired, pre-set amount of pressure is reached inside the tank, the pressure switch is triggered. It
turns off power to the pump so it will not continue to push water into the tank. When the pressure
drops below a pre-set point, the switch turns on power to the pump so the tank can be refilled.
Pressure switch failure is a common cause of loss of water service in the home.

Walter’s Well Pump & Tank Service (919) 417-9904

Walter's Well Pump & Tank Service
5217 Penny Rd
Raleigh, NC 27606