Well question

[scotts90ranger]

I have a well for water where I live, and there's a little tube sticking out the top of the casing with 4 relief holes, water is squirting out of all of these holes pretty good, anyone know why and if I should be worried about anything? The pump doesn't cycle abnormally or anything...

Thanks, if it's something serious I'll get with my landlord... there's a couple other things he should fix anyway.

 

[Mark_88]

Sounds like a blown seal..easy to fix but they can easily fill up your basement if that's where it's located...it should have a manual switch to power it off...but if it's only leaking when it is pumping and shuts itself off and your water pressure isn't affected then it may be ok till the seal is replaced...you can do it yourself in about ten minutes if you have the right parts...pics would help since I haven't looked at one for about 8 years...lol

 

[scotts90ranger]

the pump is outside under a barrel so it's not a big worry there, and it leaks all the time not just when it's pumping and the pressure isn't affected. The thing about it is it's worse when the creek by the house is high (like right now, it's probably 3-4' from the top of the creek to the top of the casing, and about 30' away). It's been doing this since the fall I think, don't remember it doing it before then.

 

[straycat]

Just give somebody a call who can inspect it, Bro. Better off not causing any problems with your system.

 

[Mark_88]

There's not much to inspect...they leak from seals usually...and the seals are no more than rubber gaskets...usually just a matter of shutting the pump off, removing the connectors that are leaking and fishing out the damaged seal...then replacing the seal with a good one and putting the connectors back on...after applying pipe cement or other sealant to the joint...

Not rocket science...anyone who can put together a turbo motor can do it with one leg tied behind his back...

 

[Muscleford]

Since you rent the place call the landlord and request he have it looked at by a qualified well service person.

 

[Mark_88]

Since you rent the place call the landlord and request he have it looked at by a qualified well service person.

Oh, yeah, I overlooked the fact that it isn't your place...landlord's responsible for it so you don't have to get your hands wet...

 

[straycat]

There's not much to inspect...they leak from seals usually...and the seals are no more than rubber gaskets...usually just a matter of shutting the pump off, removing the connectors that are leaking and fishing out the damaged seal...then replacing the seal with a good one and putting the connectors back on...after applying pipe cement or other sealant to the joint...

Not rocket science...anyone who can put together a turbo motor can do it with one leg tied behind his back...

Yea, but if there is something really bad wrong with it it can cost some money to repair it if he messes with it and causes an issue. But for me.... I would rather have somebody look at it. I have two wells on one of our properties and I never had any issues with them, but I do have a company come and check them once in awhile. It does not cost me much to have it done. In a way they are like a swimming pool pump/filter but have more stuff attached to it coming into the house and sprinkler/irrigation system....lol

 

[Mark_88]

I used to live on a farm...the landlord lived right next door...trying to get him to look at something was like pulling teeth...actually asking him to call in someone to look at something was an even bigger deal...

Not all landlords are like that but I had to "make do" more often than not and had to repair things that he didn't have time for...I didn't mind it so much...but I got pretty good at fixing things like water pumps, toilets, and plugged drains...

Water is one of the few things humans can't live without and when a critical piece of equipment such as a water pump goes out, simple things like flushing a toilet become a major issue...especially if you have three toilets and a blind and brain injured room mate who just has to use all three washrooms in the course of a day...it gets pretty stinky pretty fast with that much poop sitting around...lol

I still keep about 60 litres of water on hand just in case...and even with that I sometimes feel I should have at least one more jug of water in the shed...

 

[straycat]

I used to live on a farm...the landlord lived right next door...trying to get him to look at something was like pulling teeth...actually asking him to call in someone to look at something was an even bigger deal...

Not all landlords are like that but I had to "make do" more often than not and had to repair things that he didn't have time for...I didn't mind it so much...but I got pretty good at fixing things like water pumps, toilets, and plugged drains...

Water is one of the few things humans can't live without and when a critical piece of equipment such as a water pump goes out, simple things like flushing a toilet become a major issue...especially if you have three toilets and a blind and brain injured room mate who just has to use all three washrooms in the course of a day...it gets pretty stinky pretty fast with that much poop sitting around...lol

I still keep about 60 litres of water on hand just in case...and even with that I sometimes feel I should have at least one more jug of water in the shed...

You are correct about that. We need water to surive. I can go a long time without food...but water...we need that more. We keep a lot of extra water all the time to flush a toilet, cooking, drinking

 

[thisfords4u]

Ok first off the well casing should not be under pressure. If your pump is above ground thats fine. the pipe going down the well should have a one way valve on the bottom to keep it primed. So I have 1 question, are the holes that you speak of in the pipe or in top of the well "lid" ? I would venture a guess that if the heighth of and closeness thw well to the creek is as you say that probably the water table (or height of water in the ground) in the well vs the creek is pretty close to equal thus possibly causing the water to come out the top. A picture of yor well top would be nice.

 

[scotts90ranger]

yep, the tube that's venting is in the cap, it's obviously dark right now, will get pics when I get home tomorrow. I know it shouldn't be under pressure unless there happens to be a spring there somehow... The water is clear and decent tasting, I know the general principal of what is going on but having pressure there has a WTH factor... and like I said, the pump isn't on constantly or anything either.

I'll call the landlord after my ex moves out (long story) and I can get the garage sorted a bit, that is if it's something that needs addressed.

 

[scotts90ranger]

Here you go:

That's what's happening

 

[gribly]

There is nothing wrong (well, there is a ton wrong with that picture, but nothing that you were asking about), and I cant believe I'm the first one to say it on here. Thought ya'll knew how to work on stuff, and water is pretty basic stuff. Anyways - what is happening is you have a well that acts like an artesian well. It means that the well is under pressure from water coming from up a hill (not necessarily really close to you, either). Your well, some springs along the creek, and a few other places are where it's coming out. The only thing I would concern myself with is where this water is flowing to - as long as it doesn't run in a little stream right into your basement you're good to go. Look at it this way - you have too much well water!! As a matter of fact, a friend of mine has a camp where the well is always flowing, so we ran some hose to a spot in the ground, and bury our beer in the gravel there. Stays cold all the time, and they're right outside where we can ge to 'em without going inside!!

What is the conduit for, and what about the extension cord? That setup is ghetto as hell man. Carpet? Pieces of concrete? That conduit is not listed for underground installations, neither is extension cord. Something about the pump being under a barrel? That's also not code.

 

[85_Ranger4x4]

Looks like it needs more duct tape.

There is nothing wrong (well, there is a ton wrong with that picture, but nothing that you were asking about), and I cant believe I'm the first one to say it on here. Thought ya'll knew how to work on stuff, and water is pretty basic stuff.

The only well I have ever really been around is my grandfather's pumpjack set up, basically it is a gearbox setup to run an old hand pumped well with an electric motor. When it is really cold the gearboxes freeze up and it throws the belt off (really fun to unthaw BTW) and when water comes out the top of the pipe and not up to the house the force leathers are shot. Actually the whole thing is shot, but because of that the force leathers don't last long. Not a fun headstand above the well to change them... one round of that and we make him pay to have someone to do it.

And that, is all I got