Author |
Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Hand pump for a well |
|
FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
|
wooliespinner
True Blue Farmgirl
1311 Posts
Linda
Manchester
Ohio
1311 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2013 : 09:45:27 AM
|
I have not purchased one but a friend of mine bought their's from Lehmans. She said they have really good ones.
Linda
Raspberry Run Farm Nubian Dairy Goats |
|
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Jul 14 2013 : 12:59:56 PM
|
Kristina, do you want the kind that you can install in an existing well, next to the well-pump line that's already there? |
|
|
FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2013 : 06:28:55 AM
|
That's the big choice, isn't it? I'd take care of the well by itself first. That might make your generator choices easier. (I'd love a solar one, myself. But so often, when you most need them the sky is dark.) Anyway, I'm considering the Bison pump. I called the Flojak people and they were so weird. The woman I spoke to just kept saying they were really expensive. Seemed like she was chasing away potential customers. <shrug>
|
|
|
rksmith
True Blue Farmgirl
858 Posts
Rachel
Clayton
GA
USA
858 Posts |
Posted - Jul 29 2013 : 5:26:04 PM
|
We got ours from Agri-supply, I think they also have some at tractor supply in the $30 range.
Rachel Farmgirl Sister #2753
True enlightenment is nothing but the nature of one's own self being fully realised-- His Holiness the Dali Lama
www.madameapothecary.com |
|
|
OKCookee
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
Chris
Oklahoma
OK
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2013 : 10:29:57 AM
|
We purchased a hand pump from Simple Pumps a couple of years ago and I would highly recommend them. We have been very pleased with it. We installed it ourselves and it was not difficult. The worst part was having to bring up the pipe just after installing it because we were too close to the bottom of the well and needed to be up about 20ft off the bottom. We just recently purchased and are awaiting delivery on a 24 volt motor for the pump to run off of solar. Backup for the solar pump is a battery bank. The customer service is amazing for the pump and motor. The solar accessories are from a third party that Simple Pumps recommends and they were most helpful.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". Matthew 11:28
|
|
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2013 : 11:03:20 AM
|
Wow, Chris, sounds like you'll be covered no matter what! This is nosey, but could I ask what all this is costing you?
It's helpful to know your experience with having put the pipe down too far. I'll stash that bit of intel aside for future reference.
Our well head is surrounded by trees (= shade), so the solar power probably wouldn't work for us. Can't you just hand-pump, or it that really a pain? |
|
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2013 : 11:05:19 AM
|
Rachel, $30?!? Cool beans :) we have a TS here. I might stop in and ask about what they have. Thanks for the tip. |
|
|
OKCookee
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
Chris
Oklahoma
OK
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2013 : 1:39:48 PM
|
Rosemary, The hand pump and 165 ft of pipe was around $1,200 dollars. Dh did alot of research and decided this one was the best for us for reliable long term use. Bison pumps are good also but at the time theirs couldn't be motorized. We bought this brand so that we could add on a motor and solar when we were ready. I have hand pumped the water but decided that when we built our house and moved full time to our land, we would motorize it for convenience (we are retiring in a couple of years). Not sure of cost of the motor and solar components (have to ask dh). We found that having the pipe about 20 ft off the bottom of well yielded better water quality. We had a local company in the area of our land drill our well (he is a water witch). Some of the trees that were around the well house have been cut down so we have adequate sunlight most of the time. Hand pumping isn't bad. It took about 17 pumps per gallon of water. We filled up our tiny travel trailer this way (35 gal. tank, I think) for several years.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". Matthew 11:28
|
|
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2013 : 2:21:15 PM
|
Thanks, Chris. Since we already have a well that's operated by an electric pump, we would just need something for the 5 or 6 times when power goes out after a storm or something, so we wouldn't have to hand-pump very day, year-'round -- assuming nothing permanently drastic happens. (Insert prayer here.) I think we might be able to do something cheaper to suit our needs, but I sure do appreciate your comment about not putting the pipe down too deep. Our well is 300 ft. + so that probably wouldn't be a mistake we would mae but even so, good to know. Don't you just love all the good advice here? :) |
|
|
OKCookee
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
Chris
Oklahoma
OK
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2013 : 5:19:16 PM
|
Rosemary, Love the wealth of information available here. We are the last house on our elec. line and didn't want a spike to burn up our well pump so we opted for solar and battery backup. It can be up to 6 weeks without elec. if we have a power out as the densely populated areas get their power back first. So many considerations when moving from urban to rural. It can almost be overwhelming. We have been so blessed with finding the people and products to help us make this move!
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". Matthew 11:28
|
|
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Aug 19 2013 : 5:53:19 PM
|
Chris, you're so right about the additional challenges of country living. About half a dozen times a year, we'll lose power for anywhere form maybe four hours (not too terrible) to well over a week. As you say, it's usually the more heavily populated areas that get their power back first. People are getting smarter about this kind of stuff, though, I think. More self-sufficient. |
|
|
Room To Grow
True Blue Farmgirl
974 Posts
Deborah
Kingston
Georgia
USA
974 Posts |
Posted - Aug 24 2013 : 6:18:43 PM
|
We just found out that we can get a pump on our well that is run by electricity but the bad news is it is going to cost 3,000.00 and if either part of the pump goes out they will have to take apart both parts and it will cost as much as it cost the first time...3,000.00...so we are going to get a generator and have it connected to have a switch to turn off if the power goes off...so we will be doing that...really upsets me...now to the fireplace insert this week...to see if we can have that too
now we are on our forever farm. God has blessed us. |
|
|
cj6
True Blue Farmgirl
196 Posts
cj
USA
196 Posts |
Posted - Sep 15 2013 : 11:44:56 PM
|
May I ask ...if you add a hand pump along side the electric pump so you have a way to get water if and when the power goes out,is it a good idea to also build a well house of some sort so that the hand pump is protected and doesn't freeze or become covered with snow?Right now our well is completely in the ground.Sorry if this sounds dumb but,this farmgirl is still learning. |
|
|
Rosemary
True Blue Farmgirl
1825 Posts
Virginia
USA
1825 Posts |
Posted - Sep 16 2013 : 12:27:18 AM
|
No dumb questions, CJ, only dumb answers! :) Here is mine. The manual pump doesn't go next to the well pump, which is inside the house. It fits right down into the well at the well head. And yes, I have heard that people put a roof over that (I guess so if you have to stand out there pumping in the rain or snow or something, you're protected.) Some people apparently even have a shed around it, to prevent unauthorized access. To me, that would just scream "come and get it" but I guess it works for some folks. It would certainly provide even more shelter in nasty weather, to make manually priming the pump a little easier. |
|
|
OKCookee
Farmgirl in Training
45 Posts
Chris
Oklahoma
OK
USA
45 Posts |
Posted - Sep 16 2013 : 08:05:02 AM
|
We just replaced our hand pump with a solar powered (with battery backup)pump. We built a 12ft x. 12ft x. 9ft. high storage building around it on a concrete pad that we poured around the pump. The roof has a vent that allows us to pull the entire pipe when we need to up through the roof. If the solar pump goes out, we will have to reattach the hand pump, as both us the same apparatus to pump water. I see pump houses (well houses) all over our rural area. I don't know if they attract those with mean intentions, but with the extremes of weather, we just never considered not having something around it. I personally didn't think we needed such a big one, but you know how men like to over-engineer stuff and it is nice to have plenty of room for other stuff. We are still in the building stage so haven't moved out there yet (have inside of house to wall and floor.
"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest". Matthew 11:28
|
|
|
|
Off the Grid/Homesteading Skills: Hand pump for a well |
|