-How do I get the water out of the well?
You will need to use a pump to remove water from your well. There are many different sizes and types of pumping systems but there are two common types and both use what we refer to as submersible pumps. A submersible pump is lowered into your well on a line of pipe. Along the pipe we run an electrical wire designed to work under water. The pump sits, submerged in your well, and lifts water up and out.
Pump tank systems use a device called a pressure switch to turn the pump on and off. As you use water the pressure in your line begins to drop, this pressure switch sense that pressure drop and turns the pump on. When the pump reaches a preset pressure it will turn off and wait for the system pressure to fall again. Typically a pump/tank system comes on at 40 PSI and cuts off at 60 PSI. This type of system has to pair the submersible pump with a ‘bladder tank’. The ‘bladder tank’ is about the size of a water heater and has a ‘bladder’ or rubber material similar to an inner tube that separates the upper and lower halves of the tank. The upper half is filled with pressurized air and the lower half is fills with water as it is pumped from your well. The tank in this sort of system doesn’t actually store very much water; instead it is used as a buffer. The pressurized air in the tank helps to absorb fluctuations in line pressure so that your pump does come on and off too quickly. This is a very common type of system but has some serious short comings. First, many people are bothered by the fluctuation in pressure as they use their system. Secondly, the bladder in the tank can rupture over time and cause the system to come on and off too much – this on/off action will cause the pump motor to over heat and fail. And finally, these systems have no way of protecting your well or your pump from over usage.
The second type of set up is called a constant pressure pumping system (CPS). Like a standard pump/tank system a CPS use a submersible pump, but unlike a standard pump/tank system there is no fluctuation in pressure and no bladder tank. The CPS uses a computer to monitor the pressure in your lines and the motor of a CPS pump is variable speed, meaning that instead of only going on and off, it can speed up or slow down to match your water usage. If you use one sink the pump will run just enough to keep you a set pressure, if you turn on the shower as well the pump will speed up to match your usage. These pumping systems also come with important safety features like surge protection and dry run cut off that will help prevent damage to your pumping system. The last major benefit is that they are more energy efficient. The systems do cost more up front but if you are willing to invest in this upgrade we are sure you will find that the benefits far out way the cost.
Whether you choose a pump/tank system or a CPS, we will size and install quality material and make sure you have a system that will meet all your needs. Either of these system will be able to provide you with years of dependable service.
-How do I determine my pump and tank size?
The size of your pumping system will be determined by your needs, your wells yield, and your wells depth. The pumps we use are submersible and are set inside the well. The deeper a pump is set the large its horse power has to be in order to lift the water from the ground. Common pumps range in size from ½ HP to 25 HP, but the average pump is a ¾ HP. When we quote you a pumping system with your well we will use our experience and expectations of well depth/yield to recommend a pump that will supply all your needs.
-What are my responsibilities before/during the well installation?
Once we have reached an agreement we would like you to help us with a few small things to ensure that your job goes smoothly. First, we will need you to provide us with a well permit or with the documents we need to assist you in acquiring the permit. We will also need a signed contract – this is important because not only does it protect us, but it also ensures that we have a clear understanding of the job to be preformed and holds us accountable to the expectations outlined. The contract protects the consumer as much as it does the contractor and we believe it is a vital part of a healthy business relationship. Third, Graham and Currie is a small business and in order to schedule a job we require a 25% down payment on our contracts. Lastly, we would like to be able to contact you through out the drilling so that you can make decisions during this important process. Drilling a well and establishing a source of water for yourself is very important and we encourage all our customers to ask questions and participate during the project.
Graham and Currie offers a wide assortment of filtration options to assist you with any water quality issues you may encounter. We offer a 100% free water evaluation to any perspective filtration client and will be happy to walk you through all of your choices. Unlike franchised filter companies we are able to pull from many different manufactures and because of that freedom can provide you with personalized solutions to your water problems. Each filter manufacture has specialties and weaknesses, because of our independence we can pick and choose the best from each brand and address your problem individually. Please feel free to call or email with any questions you may have regarding filter service.
-What kind of filtration systems do you offer?
-How can I protect my private water supply?
The link below provides good information on this topic.
http://www.epa.gov/safewater/privatewells/faq.html#q2
Have a question you dont see here? Need more detail? Please call or email your questions or comments and we will gladly assist you.
