Help with replacing my well pump please

[MK20]

I have a shallow well jet pump for my house. Unfortunately, it has been showing signs of going out and I need a new one. It has been getting a LOT of air in it and has basically stopped pumping effectively. It is a craftsman, which is a bummer because I can't go out and buy a direct replacement. Have any of you done this before and I'd so, is there any rocket surgery involved or is it pretty straightforward?

Thanks

 

[mi223]

Replacing the pump is pretty straight forward. The few of them I have done were all a direct replacement or required very little fitting. Be sure to draw a bucket of water before starting the project to prime the new pump.

The fact that you are getting air scares me a little bit and makes me think the well is drying up or the point is plugged. But I am a plumber not a well driller. I dont know shit until the water is in the house. Lol

Eta. I just reread your post and didn't catch that it was a jet pump. I have never messed with a jet pump so everything I said above may be bullshit. Good luck with your project

 

[jhunter]

We have a lot of shallow water jet pumps along the gulf coast that we use for irrigation. The air is concerning and could be something simple like a check valve that needs to be tightened. Check out the SN series of pumps StaRite or Pentair offers. I think SNF, SNE, or SNL could be a good fit for your application

 

[Maxduty]

Pump replacement is pretty straight forward. Have a hand or two, it makes it go way easier., but I've done 120 feet myself with no real problems.

 

[davsco]

BIL and I replaced our well pump a few years back, it's amazing how much a couple hundred feet of water weigh. but we had zero experience, watched a youtube or two, and got it done. not familiar with your system but then again wasn't familiar with mine.

 

[Aftermath]

You realize this is a gun forum?
Try these places:

Pumps and Tanks Well Forum & Blog. Water is life.

Advice and instruction on Pumps, Tanks and Well Water systems, installation, repair and replacement. Post your questions with experts.

terrylove.com

Pumps & Wells

Forum dedicated to the discussion of pumps and wells.

www.plumbingforums.com

Well & Water Pump Troubleshooting Forum : Locke Well & Pump Company

Well & Water Pump Troubleshooting - Support forum for troubleshooting well pumps, water pumps and their applications.

www.lockewell.com

Well Pump ???? Water Pulsing

Well yesterday morning, I noticed a pulsing in my kitchen sink faucet, water would come on strong, and taper off a little, and then come back strong. Didnt think much about it then, and then my wife took a shower and really noticed it. Is my well pump going bad? Or is there some other issue?

forum.gon.com

Literally the first few hits from a rudimentary internet search

 

[MK20]

Thanks to all except aftermath.

I think I have a bad seal in the pump. I recently bought the place and the pump body is horribly corroded. I think that has compromised a seal.

 

[MK20]

The reason I asked on here is that I have searched the internet and read, but surprisingly what is on the internet doesn't always match real life and I would prefer to talk to folks who have done it before I go out in 5 ft of snow and ice on the ground and dig down to my well house cover and climb down 6 ft into the ground to start a project only to have something go wrong.

 

[mahlv]

I've put in a few of these lately and they are pretty bad ass. Yeah, it's pretty spendy but it's a variable speed setup which in principle will far outlast a conventional setup

Berkeley Intelliboost Multi-Stage VFD Boosting Pump - We Got Pumps

All-In-One Unit: Includes pump, variable speed drive and tank for quick and easy install. Click Here For Pump Curve And More Information

www.wegotpumps.com

 

[oneshot86]

Thanks to all except aftermath.

I think I have a bad seal in the pump. I recently bought the place and the pump body is horribly corroded. I think that has compromised a seal.

Don't worry about aftermath, you have a great question.
While we are all shooters, we all are something else also and your question, I'm sure is going to be answered by a pro.
Give enough time for the right guys to see your thread. I wish I could help.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

The reason I asked on here is that I have searched the internet and read, but surprisingly what is on the internet doesn't always match real life and I would prefer to talk to folks who have done it before I go out in 5 ft of snow and ice on the ground and dig down to my well house cover and climb down 6 ft into the ground to start a project only to have something go wrong.

You own no one an apology for asking here.... I'll leave it at that.

Possibly the water table level has dropped occasionally and all you would need to do is to extend the pick up tube / jet down a bit farther.

 

[MK20]

Found out it is the pump going bad.

 

[blessyourheart]

Terrylove.com (the first site aftermath linked) will give you all the expertise you want. It's what many of them do for a living, and they generally go out of their way to be helpful. They were a tremendous help to me with a bunch of well/water issues I had.

 

[isofahunter]

Straight forward, if you have nearby fittings with gaskets I would replace the gasket while you have it all apart.

 

[Threadcutter308]

Found out it is the pump going bad.

Sears/Craftsman never made their own pumps as far as I am aware. In all likelihood, one of the major manufacturers made it and brand labelled it for Craftsman. With some internet sleuthing you ought to be able to find the OEM's (not Craftsman) equivalent, or present day equivalent. Then, do a deeper dive into the specs. This is all in advance of you pulling the existing one.

Once you've got a good replacement candidate identified, buy it and start preparing for the changeout. In generally similar cases like this, I've bought off of Amazon due to their liberal return policy, in case I did end up buying the wrong thing.

I just went through this with a 36" tall freestanding sump pump. Granted, my situation was a lot easier than a downhole pump. I did a bunch of upfront homework and with a little luck, ended up getting a brand new pump that was the spitting image of the old one. Also, once replaced, don't toss the old pump for a while. Get the new one installed and run it for a month or so. Once you are satisfied there are no issues, off to the dump the old one goes. Save all documentation and take pictures of both the old and the new pump to refer back to in the future, if needed. I've done that and it makes it Sooooo much easier if any issues come up.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

Straight forward, if you have nearby fittings with gaskets I would replace the gasket while you have it all apart.

Good advice... If there is a pressure switch mounted on the pump, it's a good time to install a new one, new power cord, etc... If you have a foot valve on a shallow well, that could be replaced as well.... Plain old preventative maintenance while you are at it.

 

[salks]

Had one replaced. My pipe had holes in it. Got a professional he did a great job. I listened to him paid him , been great ever since.

 

[Hobo Hilton]

Sears/Craftsman never made their own pumps as far as I am aware. In all likelihood, one of the major manufacturers made it and brand labelled it for Craftsman. With some internet sleuthing you ought to be able to find the OEM's (not Craftsman) equivalent, or present day equivalent. Then, do a deeper dive into the specs. This is all in advance of you pulling the existing one.

Once you've got a good replacement candidate identified, buy it and start preparing for the changeout. In generally similar cases like this, I've bought off of Amazon due to their liberal return policy, in case I did end up buying the wrong thing.

I just went through this with a 36" tall freestanding sump pump. Granted, my situation was a lot easier than a downhole pump. I did a bunch of upfront homework and with a little luck, ended up getting a brand new pump that was the spitting image of the old one. Also, once replaced, don't toss the old pump for a while. Get the new one installed and run it for a month or so. Once you are satisfied there are no issues, off to the dump the old one goes. Save all documentation and take pictures of both the old and the new pump to refer back to in the future, if needed. I've done that and it makes it Sooooo much easier if any issues come up.

Great advice. I try to replace my irrigation pumps with "like for like". I keep the old ones. A pump might freeze and bust the housing but the electric motor is still good. Next season a motor may burn up and the one I held on to will replace the burned out motor. Supply chains are getting worse and inflation is pricing a lot of manufacturer's out of business.