Submersible well pump

[Russ from MN]

Has anyone ever bought a well pump from Surplus Center? There prices are quite inviting, even with shipping. I emailed them about where they are made and what the warranty is. Thanks in advance!

 

[Anonymous-0]

A GOOD pump costs GOOD money.

 

[Anonymous-0]

In my opinion cutting cost on a submersible pump is not something to even think about. The cost to pull a pump and work on it is usually more than the cost of a new good quality pump, so it is a no brainer. Take it from an experienced person. Been there, done that. The warranty part is on the pump itself, but the labor cost is what will eat you up, unless your equipped to do it yourself.

 

[JDemaris]

I've got two of them. Great deals. $139.99 , $14 shipping and no tax. The Water Ace brand is made under a USA Myers pump license - i.e. a clone with permission. Only slight complaint is with the 3-wire pumps. They are out of control boxes. I was assured by their tech department that my original Franklin control box would work fine. It did. It is very likely these pumps are exactly the same inside as many selling for twice the price or more. Tractor Supply sells the same Water Ace brand for a lot more money.

 

[JDemaris]

What you say would be true for a very deep well.
Certainly not true if its only 200 feet deep or less. I pulled my 3/4 horse pump by hand last fall in NY and that was 220 feet deep. It's a tough pull at first when the 1" pipe is full of water but gets lighter as it comes up. Easy to put back in when the pipe is dry. I just changed pumps here in Michigan with a 120 foot well. It was easy other then the fact it was 15 degrees F when I did it.

 

[JDemaris]

If a higher price always meant better quality - it would really make shopping easy. That is not the way the world works though. Not the world I've encountered.

Tractor Supply sells the same pumps that Surplus Sales has for $349.99 instead of $149.99 under their "County Line" house-brand. Same exact pump, both brand new but obviously a very different price. Take your pick.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I use to Make DANG good money off of you people that brought cheap pumps then had them fail in a few years or the plast. top break off of them.

 

[Russ from MN]

I have done a fair amount of pump installation, and I will never forget when my wife and I pulled one from 135'! This pump will only be going down about 20' as the well is sometimes an artesian at 50gpm!

 

[Russ from MN]

Update on submersible well pump, Surplus Center emailed back that the pumps are made in china, motors made in US. That along with only a 90 day warranty I will wait until Menards has a sale, theirs has a 3 year warranty. If it was for our home it would be different but this is going in up at the cabin. I have always blown out all the lines in the cabin but left the shallow well pump primed in the heated crawl space. This winter with increased electrical rates, confusing thermostat, and abnormally cold winter it froze bad enough to break the pump. I had a 100w light bulb for back up heat but it burned out. It got cold enough to break some diet pop but the pop with sugar in it was fine, along with the beer! So, by putting in a submersible with the check valve disabled it will be easier to winterize. I may try to repair the broken pump if the internals are OK as it is a 1 hp Aermotor, a real good pump.

 

[Lou from Wi.]

Jde> Pulling ANY PUMP/piping isnt HARD AT ALL for two people. Ever hear of a tractor with loader being used to accomplish the task of recovery of pipe/ pumps? Just wondering. LOU.

 

[JDemaris]

The Surplus Sales well-pump motors are not all made in the USA. Their tech guy told me all their pumps have Franklin motors which I found not to be true. I bought two 1/2 horse pumps and one had a Franklin and the other has a Chinese motor. Looks like a Franklin and is stainless-steel but Chinese just the same. Both work fine but I cannot attest to longevity until 30 years goes by. Just about all the pumps now have thermoplastic impellers and have internal parts made in China. The first place I looked for a pump was Menards. They wanted
$300 for a Simer brand -also made in China.

 

[JDemaris]

Yes. Seen it done and had to do it myself a few times. I pulled my in-law's pump with a rope, tripod and truck. It is 550 feet deep and pretty heavy when full of water. 200 feet I can pull myself, by hand, no problem.

 

[Bobl1958]

Actually, so can a bad one

 

[Anonymous-0]

Yes have had that happen But at lease Goulds paid for the bad pump and My labor charge.