shallow well piping

[tomturkey]

I am installing a shallow well pump on the top of a well we have here. Its going to be used for garden and tree watering as well as vehice washing or house washing. My question is can I use sch. 40/80 pvc as my suction line? Depth of the well and height of the pump makes me have a glued joint in the well below the concrete cap. Will the glued joint hold? There would actually be two joints below the cap as there would be the joint at the foot valve/check valve also. Yes I know the limits of shallow well pumps. Would the weight of the water in the one inch suction line push the glued joints apart. I hope I've given you all a clear picture of what I am asking. thanks in advance for your help. gobble

 

[Keith True]

If properly cleaned and glued it will be fine.Clean plastic,fresh primer,and FRESH glue.It does lose it's pooch when stored,even in a refrigerator.It actually melts,or welds the plastic together,and if done right the whole thing becomes one.I have two lengths of 1-1/2 hanging under a pitcher pump.I take the pump off in the fall,and slide the 18 foot pipe under the porch for the winter.There is an adapter at the bottom for the foot valve,a coupling in the middle for the two lengths,and an adapter at the top to screw into the pump.No problem yet for 25?30?? years or so.

 

[SkipperII]

My dad had a 96 ft. well, with a jet foot on the pipe, he used the black poly pipe that comes on rolls. Sure beat the submersible on the end of 1 galvanized that we had to pull a few times.

 

[tomturkey]

thanks Skipper, I was trying to stay away from the black pvc as it has such a tendency to curl, thought ot woud cause be other issues. thank for your reply. gobble

 

[tomturkey]

thanks Kieth, I thought it would work, but wanted an experienced opinion. Thanks for your reply. gobble

 

[Richard G.]

I have 2 pumps on my shallow well.
One has schd 40 and the other schd 80.
No problems with either one.

 

[tomturkey]

thanks

 

[Mule Meat]

About the biggest problems with using PVC will come if and when the foot valve would need to be pulled. Trying to pull solid pipe, it will have to be cut or broken in sections.

Be sure to tie a good poly rope to the foot valve in case the pipe breaks or comes apart while installing it. Also helps with pulling the pipe. Won't have to worry about the foot valve ending up at the bottom of the well.

Myself. I would never use PVC or iron pipe as a suction line. To many possibilities of of leaks at the joints.

I would use PEX or Black ploy tubing. It can be bent without damage should a pump or foot valve needs to be pulled. And will only have a connection at the top and bottom to lessen the potential for leaks.

 

[Richard G.]

I understand your concern, but...
I glued my pipe together on the ground and 2 of us picked it up and put it in the well.
Even the schd 80 bends enough to do that.

 

[Caryc]

The last time they put in a new pump in my 120 foot well, they used white plastic pipe. Don't know exactly what it was but the pipe sections were actually threaded. I think it was 1 1/2" or maybe 2" pipe with a pump hanging off the end of it.

 

[caterpillar guy]

I have a submersible pump hanging on the bottom of about 100 feet of black plastic well pipe been there for over 20 years with no problem of the pipe. Hd to pull the pump to replace once and this winter had to pull it for a broke wire just a bit above the pump. Pretty common to use the black plastic for wells here. I think My brother has a pump hanging on about 400 foot of it. Not sure just his pump guy told me it was that deep.

 

[chuckthin]

I used pvc one time and it worked ok till I pulled pump out then the heavy cold water in pipe made it break in several places.

 

[Russ from MN]

Because you said shallow well I assume your only going to have the pipe down about 30 feet, and probably not have over 50 psi pressure, it will work just fine.

 

[Destroked 450]

No experience with shallow wells as everything here is 150 or deeper
I have two wells, one is 400 ft with the pump hanging at 360, the other is 520 with the pump hanging at 480
Both pumps are hanging on 1 1/4 inch schedule 120 threaded pvc, they use to be on 1 inch iron pipe but were switched to pvc when the pumps were replaced 5-6 years ago
The 400 ft well was drilled in 98 and supplies water to 6 houses
The 500 ft well was drilled in 07 suppling water to our poultry barns and cattle waterers, it has pumped over 14 million gallons in 16 years with one pump motor replacement

 

[sotxbill]

pvc should work but I am concerned about how far your pump can lift. I would check that carefully.