Well pump prime

[jampg]

Within the last year we have had issues with losing the prime in the pump. We have a underground cement well pit with a Burk pump. We have a drain and waste valve just up stream of the pump to drain the main line in the winter when we leave. We have been leaving the pump electricity on so it will maintain pressure but we really don't want to do that all the time. Fritz the owner at the Hale Do it said to put a check valve just before the pump. What do you guys think? Do I just keep the pump on all the time or is that not a good idea. I don't like it.:confused:

[trailwart]

imm not sure what you have for a set up, but what we did was just unplug our well pump and drain it for winter. in the spring we took about 20 gallons of water with us and pulled the guage off the tank, put a funnel on and started filling, it would fill tank and then backfeed down, usually took 15-20 gallons and then plug it in and it would take a minute to build pressure yup and then we were good, we would never loose prime after that thou and we always unplugged when we were gone for the week. this probly didnt help ya any

[Steve]

Put a check valve in between the pump and the well head. This should allow you to keep the pump off and still maintain prime.

[jim84]

follow steves advice and your good to go. shouldn't take more than a gallon or two to prime with the value in place. tsc, hd should have them.

[Burksee]

Put a check valve in between the pump and the well head. This should allow you to keep the pump off and still maintain prime.Or if you already have one it may be leaking, or stuck. In any case a check valve between the pump and the well is a must! :)

[Backwoods-Savage]

I agree with the check valve. Also I agree that it should not take but a gallon of water to prime that pump.

However, one time I had a problem getting a pump primed and the way I ended up doing was to disconnect from the tank. Prime the pump and before turning the pump on, held my hand against the pipe (where disconnected).

You have to put some big time pressure on it and you'll get some spray because you can't hold it all in. It took twice doing this before the pump primed and then all was well. I reconnected the tank and we had water.

[jampg]

Thank you guys. I am going to see if Graves or Webb will install one for us before it get too cold. Our cabin is in the Hale area.