A: Shallow well pumps are most suitable for water wells or reservoirs that are less than 25 feet deep or a total pumping lift of less than 18’ if the total lift exceeds 18’ feet then a shallow well just pump may not be practical.  Shallow well jet pumps are generally used for pumping water in areas with a high water table.  Shallow well pumps are best suited to warmer climates, if there is a risk of the shallow well pump freezing the pump must be protected with an insulated bag or a pump house, it’s important to protect the water lines with heat tape or wrapping with insulated foam sleeves.

Install a shallow well jet pump with overload protection to avoid overheating the pump motor, shallow well pumps will continue to run when the water level is too low causing the pump motor to overheat and eventually burnout.

Installing a shallow well pump will take less time than a deep drilled well. Shallow well pumps cost less than deep well submersible pumps.

The three main components of the shallow well jet pump are an electric motor, an impeller and a jet assembly. Although a simple centrifugal pump will pump water with a total pumping lift of 18’ including a jet assembly will greatly enhance the discharge pressure and suction.

This combination creates a shallow well jet pump that is suitable for domestic water well and water pumping systems for local farms in the Chilliwack Valley.

Contact Chilliwack Well Pump & Repairs at 778-860-4220 or request a local shallow well pump cost estimate online

A: The most common types of pumps for water pumping systems are:

• Centrifugal Pumps – installed for shallow wells that are not deeper than 25′,  this is the most effective pumping range to generate sufficient suction force to lift the water up to the surface. It has only one pipe that is inserted into the well borehole and into the water column.  Centrifugal pumps typically cost less and require minimal maintenance.
  
  
• Submersible Pumps – are the most common choice for pumping well water, submersible pumps can be installed in either deep well or shallow well applications.  Submersible pumps are typically used for residential apartments, commercial complexes, and municipal and industrial water circulation, irrigation systems and can be installed to depths of 1500 feet or more,  Submersible well pumps do not require priming.  The well pump cost for submersible pumps in Chilliwack will depend on the brand, size, horsepower etc.  Request an online estimate for submersible pumps cost and we can help you decide which submersible pump is best for your Chilliwack water system.

• Velocity type pumps use a spinning impeller to move the water.
• Velocity pumps can run with a closed discharge valve for short periods of time.

A: How do Centrifugal Pumps Operate?

• The major components of the centrifugal pump are the motor, the impeller, and the volute.
• The motor spins the impeller at a high-speed causing water to be drawn into the pump and sped up. (low pressure)
• The volute catches the fast-flowing water and directs it out of the pump while slowing down. (higher pressure)
• Centrifugal pumps require positive pressure (primed) at the inlet and check valve at the outlet to prevent the pump from spinning backwards from water flowing back.
• Centrifugal pumps can operate all day.
• Rotating impeller inside casing. Shaft holds impeller and bearings support shaft.
• Can operate against closed downstream valve – impeller simply spins in liquid.
• Many different types.
• Impeller-water enters at eye, pressure increases through centrifugal spin, leaves through vanes/blades

A: Description of centrifugal pumps

• The major components of the centrifugal pump are the motor, the impeller, and the volute.
• The motor spins the impeller at a high-speed causing water to be drawn into the pump and sped up. (low pressure)
• The volute catches the fast-flowing water and directs it out of the pump while slowing down. (higher pressure)
• Centrifugal pumps require positive pressure (primed) at the inlet and check valve at the outlet to prevent the pump from spinning backwards from water flowing back.
• Centrifugal pumps can operate all day.
• Rotating impeller inside casing. Shaft holds impeller and bearings support shaft.
• Can operate against closed downstream valve – impeller simply spins in liquid.
• Many different types.
• Impeller-water enters at eye, pressure increases through centrifugal spin, leaves through vanes/blades
  
  Request a well pump cost in Chilliwack online or please contact out office.

While few water wells may flow at land surface under artesian pressure, most water wells will require some type of water pumping system to lift the water. Almost all the most common and best water well pumps are centrifugal in design, using spiral impellers to push or pull water up & out of the water well.

One of the most common of these water pumps are the above-ground centrifugal, this is where the pump motor and pump sit at or near the well. Centrifugal pumps are capable of pumping large quantities of water, but generally they cannot lift water from depths more than 25 ft.

Deeper water wells with with relatively low discharge requirements, such as domestic wells, often use submersible well pumps.  There are many different submersible pumps and sizes, it’s important to install a water pumping system designed to work with the specs of the water well.

Submersible well pumps are attached directly above the motor and the entire submersible well pump is suspended near the bottom on the well. Wells with deep water levels used for large quantities of water often use turbine pumps. Turbine pumps have the motors sitting on top of the well with a long shaft turning the impellers deep below the surface.

The largest submersible well pump that can fit into a 6” diameter well is a 5 HP, 4” diameter well pump capable of pumping up to 100 GPM.

If more than 100 GPM is required for irrigation or commercial purposes, it’s recommended to increase the diameter of the to 8” or greater.

A: The parts of a centrifugal pump are as follows:

• Impeller – takes the water and spins it into the volute and then discharge
• Volute – spiral casing changes flow from velocity to pressure
• Shaft – impeller is installed on
• Sleeves – protect the shaft from wear
• Bearings – allows for rotation of the shaft
• Coupling – join shaft to motor
• Casing (volute) – outside container of impeller and shaft.
• Wear rings prevent internal leakage and are made from metal that will “wear out” before the casing or the shaft.

Stuffing box keeps air out of the centrifugal pump

• Air can cause loss of suction and pumping
• Stuffing box packing and tightening gland or chemical seal. Stagger packing cut ends around the shaft when replacing

A: End suction centrifugal pumps are:

• Horizontal or vertical mounted.
• Water enters the pump suction at the end of the pump and flows into the eye of the impeller. Single and suction pumps have only one impeller that is not adjustable, unlike vertical turbine pumps which can have multiple impellers and can be adjustable.
• There are two sets of ball bearings supporting the pump shaft.
• The packing boxes lubricated by water that is allowed to drip and drain to waste.

A: Horizontal split case pumps are:

• Single suction pump is common type in municipal pump stations.
• water enters on suction side on both sides of impeller.
• Top half of casing easily removed for maintenance.

A: Axle flow centrifugal pumps are:

• Also called propeller pumps (shape of impeller).
• For high volumes of water but limited head.
• Impeller is always submerged

A: Mixed flow centrifugal pumps:

• Part centrifugal and axle style design impeller.
• Still large flow with more head.
• Common for raw water intake pumps that may have some solids.

  Request a well pump cost for your Chilliwack water pumping needs online or please contact out office.

A: Vertical turbine pumps are:

• These are multistage centrifugal pumps that are generally used in a wet well or can assembly they can also be used in deep wells.
• Impellers are added to the shaft to increase the pressure head of the pump. The more stages you have, the higher you can pump the water.

A: Submersible pumps are:

• Submersible pumps are centrifugal pumps with multiple stages that are completely submerged in water.
• These pumps are capable of lifting water great heights.
• Inlets screens are integral to submersible pumps as they are easily damaged by sand or dirt.
• A submersible pump motor is kept cool by the water the unit is submerged in.
• There is normally a moisture detector protecting the motor.
  
  Request a Chilliwack well pump cost online for a submersible water pumping system in the Chilliwack area or contact out office.

A: The most common cause of water hammer  happens with abrupt pump-stops or pump-starts, creating a violent water hammer or pressure surge to move down the water line. This can cause  damage a water system, surge control valves or water pump slow start controls are commonly installed  to prevent an ongoing water hammer situation in a water system.

This sudden change can cause all or some of the water flow in the pipes to undergo an abrupt change. This huge change can produce a huge shock wave to  travel back-and-forth between the barrier that created it and a secondary barrier. If the intensity of the shock wave is high enough, physical damage to the water system can occur. Oddly though, water hammer can be more of a concern in low-pressure applications than high pressure systems.

• All centrifugal type pumps require priming to remove air prior to operating a centrifugal pump.  Foot valves and check valves are required to be used with centrifugal pumps to maintain prime prime one the pump ceases pumping.
• Operating a dry centrifugal pumps will cause damage to the pump components and overheat the pump motor
• If the centrifugal pump is primed it will create a small suction lift to a maximum theory at a coal level of 10.4 m.  In reality, this lift is generally only 5 to 8 m.
  
  Request a local well pump cost online for the Chilliwack Valley area or call our office at 778-860-7220

A: Positive Displacement Pumps:

• Positive displacement pumps utilize pulsing action to draw water into a chamber and then push the water out the other end.

Types of Positive Displacement Pump:

• Solenoid Operated Pumps
• Piston Pumps
• Peristaltic Pumps
• Positive displacement pumps will require check-valves on either end to ensure complete pumping action. This allows this type of pump to create a suction lift.
• Positive displacement pumps are used for chemical metering purposes as they can accurately pump a no-win volume of material