I have a pump with pressure tank that I used to use at my house that I am reusing at my cabin to draw water from the lake. It is a 1/2 hp pump with pressure tank. The pump itself has 2 intakes on the end 1 over top of each other. A approx. 1-1/4" and 1". What is the 2nd inlet for? I can't remember from when I took it out of the house because we ended up on city services what the 2nd line run into or was used for. Can it be plugged or capped and just use the bottom larger one to draw water with. Please help my wife will kill me if I don't get some water running around here. :) Thanks in Advance,
Ed

You have a deep well pump, used for when you are pumping from deeper than 25 feet and are running the jet assembly in the well. These sites have a very good discussion of this arrangement.


How It Works: Water Well Pump - Popular Mechanics (http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/how_your_house_works/1275136.html?page=3)

Well Pumps- Keidel Bath and Plumbing - Cincinnati, OH (http://www.keidel.com/mech/pumps-well.htm)

You have a shallow well jet type pump.

Jet well pumps work under the principle of pumping water under high-pressure through an ejector and into a discharge pipe that comes up from the well. When the jet of water under high-pressure is forced through the discharge pipe, a vacuum is created that causes the water to be drawn from the well. At surface level, some of the water is pumped into the tank while some is rerouted back to the ejector for the purpose of raising additional water from the well. Due to the difference in operation procedures, jet well pumps use more electricity than submersible well pumps. Manufacturers of jet well pumps produce three different types, including shallow well jet pumps, deep well jet pumps, and water well jet pumps.

What that is saying is that part of the water from the larger, lower pipe is directed into the tank. Part is directed into the upper smaller pipe and goes back down the well where is passes an orffice (the jet) or opening at the bottom of the well. As it passes the orffice a low pressure is created and more water is drawn into the larger pipe. So you are using part of the water you already have to get more water.

HK, technically this man has a deep well jet pump. That is why there are two openings in the pump housing. A shallow well jet pump has one opening. Now, that is not to mean that this pump is made to pump from 500 feet or something, just that it can pump from deeper than the 25 foot limit of the shallow well pump.

You may be able to convert the pump to a shallow-well pump to draw from the lake. It will not work as is, because it relies on pressurizing the casing with the smaller return pipe as previously discussed. If it is a convertible pump, you can bolt an adapter onto the front of the pump after removing the 2 pipes. Then, you can run one suction line to the lake. As previously mentioned, you cannot draw from over 25 feet. So your pump has to be no higher than 25 feet above the lake water line.

If you can't find an adapter locally, I may even have a used one laying around. I would need the horsepower, model number, and manufacturer of the pump to possibly match one up.
Al

Wow, I didn't even notice the lake reference. I'm glad you saw that. I would agree that there must be some way to convert the pump. I'd call the manufacturer. Surely you would not have to pull more than 25'. Of course, you could always put the jet in the lake and run two pipes.

Most jet pumps are convertible jet pumps. With the make, horsepower, and model number, you will likely be able to find a shallow-well conversion jet. It is just a nose-piece that fits on the pump where the 2 pipes are currently hooked up. Most likely a local pump supply will have it. It should be around $30-50 for everything.
Al

jlisenbe

I stand corrected, didn't know they could be converted either.
It's a good day, I learned something

Thanks.

Hey guys... just for clarification... most horizontal mount jet pumps are convertible. Veritcal mount jet pumps are not convertible to my knowledge. Go to the residential section of Goulds com web-site and you can see the difference.

I was going to post a couple of pics, but am new to the forum. How do you post pics?
Al

Hi albinfla
Click on "Go Advance" below
Click on Manage Attachments
Browse for pic, click open.
Click on upload.

There are size limitations.
Use Paint if necessary to resize.
JPEG best format.

10842

10843

Oh that was easy. Thanks Harold. Now I'll attach the pictures of a Goulds pump. But, Sta-Rite, Myers and others make them. The one standing up is non-convertible. The one laying on its side is a convertible. It doesn't show the shallow-well attachment on the front, but it just bolts on with a couple of bolts and a gasket.

Hope that helps!
Al