Check out some similar questions!

djthurston · Sep 3, 2009, 04:24 PM

My well pump is about 150 yards from my home where I want to install a bladder tank and pressure switch in my basement. I have been told that I can not do this because of the distance to my pump. I have a submersible well pump and the only place I have to put the bladder tank is in my basement. Any help or advise is appreciated.

Don

speedball1 · Sep 3, 2009, 04:52 PM

Hey Don,
I'm no pump man but it seems to me that it should make no difference if the bladder tank's one yard or 150 yards away from the pump. Let's wait until the other experts chime in. I could be wrong but pressure's pressure no matter if you're right next to it or 150 yards away. What say you guys?? Tom

jlisenbe · Sep 3, 2009, 05:06 PM

I agree. BTW, where is the pressure tank now?

djthurston · Sep 3, 2009, 05:32 PM

The tank and switch is currently in a Mobile Home that is next to where the pump is. The Mobile Home is going away. Thank you for your responses. Don

hkstroud · Sep 3, 2009, 05:47 PM

How deep is the well? What is the size of the pump? What volume and pressure do you get now. Who told you you couldn't have the tank in the house and why not. Be a long run for the electric. Probably have to put the switch on the piping at well head.

djthurston · Sep 3, 2009, 06:27 PM

The well is approx 30 feet deep. I am not sure what size my pump is. Currently I get good pressure in the Mobile Home. It is the switch itself that I am told can not be that far from the pump. The tank and switch do not need to be located together I guess - that is just the way it is currently. The problem as I understand it is that the pump will run - stop - run - stop continuously because the pressure in the tank is unstable being so far from the pump. If the switch is closer to the pump will that solve the problem?

hkstroud · Sep 3, 2009, 08:03 PM

I don't know about the tank pressure being unstable at that distance. If it were, it seems to me that a check valve where the pump line enters the tank would take care of that. I can see where a pressure switch on a line 450' from tank might be subject to pressure fluctuation. With the pressure switch on the tank, a 450 run of electric cable might give you unacceptable voltage drop. With a 30' well you probably don't have a very big pump. If pump motor is 7.5 amp 240V, 10 gauge wire might over come the voltage drop. Be expensive wiring. Another way might be to let the pressure switch at the tank control a relay at the well, which turns the pump on and off. Wiring between the two would be sized for the draw of the relay only, which would be very small.

If the mobile home is going away are you going to keep the pole and electric service?

After having said all that, if you have water at 30' you would probably be better off sinking a new well than running 450' of pipe and electric cable.

jlisenbe · Sep 4, 2009, 05:17 AM

DJ, typically the switch and tank are SUPPOSED to be located together, so that is not a problem. As HK said, the 450' run of wire might be a problem. I'd call your pump manufacturer and ask them. They will probably have an answer for that one. In Mississippi we look with envy at you folks who can get water at only thirty feet down. Wow!

djthurston · Sep 8, 2009, 05:44 PM

Thank you everyone for your help!

mygirlsdad77 · Sep 8, 2009, 07:12 PM

There will be no problem having pressure tank and switch that far from pump. As Tom said, it doesn't matter if its 1 yard or 150 yards. I would even find it hard to believe that electrical would be an issue as long as it were wired per code with the correct gage wire and correct amp breaker, and correct pump control box.

retiredmanvan · Sep 8, 2009, 08:45 PM

The farther away the bladder tank is from the pressure switch the longer it takes for the system to pressurize and the pump to cut off, which in turn will cost more electricity to keep the system pressurized and the likely hood that the bladder tank will not be able to maintain the correct amount of water to keep the system full and it will decrease your over all pressure.

Good luck,

Van

hkstroud · Sep 8, 2009, 09:06 PM

I think I disagree with Van. I think the pipe would just be an extension of the tank. However, there may be pressure fluctuation due to resistance pushing the water down the pipe and might cause problems. This is probably what the plumber was referring to. Now if you have the pressure switch at the tank, as well as the power source, you are going to have 8/2 wire 450 feet to the well. Assuming you have something like 7.5 amp/240V motor. Now if you have the power at the well and the pressure switch on the tank and let the pressure switch control a double throw relay at the well, which turns the pump on and off, you might have a workable system. Wiring for the relay would only need to be 14/2.

jlisenbe · Sep 9, 2009, 06:08 AM

I think HK is right on this one. I might be concerned if the distance was 1000' or something, but I don't see it as a problem in this case. Even if the distance caused a one or two pound difference in pressure, that would not be a problem.