I have just bought a pump. When I took it to the mine, my team said it needs a foot valve. The cperson that sold me the pump insist its not necessary. Now I am confused. The Person who sold me the pump can only be available next week and I can't wait as it is affecting production. So which is which and can I prime without the foot valve? How do I do it

Depends on whether it is a submersible pump (will be at the bottom with pipe going above it) or a jet pump (will be above ground with pipe going into the well/mine). If it is submersible, it does not need to be primed or need a footvalve. If it is a jetpump, then it will need, so far as I am aware, a foot valve.The footvalve is basically a checkvalve. Once you prime a jet pump, the footvalve prevents water from simply running down the pipe when the pump cuts off.

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The cperson that sold me the pump insist a check valve is not necessary

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Which is why big box guys are selling instead of doing. All pumps, both submersible and surface need check/foot valves,
Surface pumps install a foot valve at the well point or a check valve on then suction line next to the pump. And here's the skinny on submersible check valves. Listen to your team. I'd stack them up against a big box salesman any day of the year! Good luck, TGom

Consider this: If your submersible pump is not pumping into a pressure tank, you could (maybe even should) operate it with no check valve. This allows the water to drain out of the wellpipe when the pump shuts off, allowing the pump to cut on with no head pressure, which is an advantage. In a situation in which you are draining water (a mine?), it seems to me that would work well.

At any rate, it really sounds like this guy has purchased a jet pump anyway.

In agree with jlisenbe,
The surface pumps must have check valves.

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Consider this: If your submersible pump is not pumping into a pressure tank,

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But don't most pumps discharge into a bladder or pressure tank? And even if 5they were controlling ground water in a mine when the pump shuts down would they want all the water bin the discharge line draining back into the mine shaft?
Regards, Tom

Excellent point. I am thinking of a pump used for sprinklers, irrigation, or other uses where a tank is not absolutely essential. Not real sure how these mine pumps are set up or used.

Thanks everyone for the responses. I have since realised I definitely need a foot valve. It was a Salesman who had pushed a product he wasn't familiar with. It turns out all the things he had told me the pump can do it cannot do.

Hey Maps,
Thanks for the update. You have just put your finger on why big box guys are selling instead of doing. Good luck, Tom