Well pump replacement

So my jet pump started spraying water in my basement... went to Lowes yesterday and picked up their only model for deep well 2-line pump. I never heard of 2 lines before, I helped dad replace his jet pump like 15 years ago and it was single line iirc. But as I am reading instructions there seems to be some pieces that goes down into the well (an ejector). Can I re use what I already have down there and just replace the pump in the basement? I really don't want to mess with the well if what's in there is perfectly fine...

blades said:

That would be a foot valve i believe

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Its the ejector part I'm concerned with, I am assuming the foot valves are universal. But the instructions say the ejector must be matched to the pump, I'm just not sure how critical this is and how much variation between pumps, the original and replacement are both 1/2 HP.

moey said:

Be warned the jet pumps at lowes have some pretty bad reviews.

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Well I admit I did not check reviews as I was in a hurry. But since leaving the pump off a couple days it doesn't seem to be leaking now, so I may have some time. Perhaps all the iron and sediment sealed the leak back up lol.
Is there a good brand I should be looking for?

zrock said:

Where is your current pump leaking? You may just need a new fitting or gasket. Make sure the spec's between both old and new pump match pretty close. a 1/2 horse motor can have different outputs depending on the pump head. Get one with to much flow it will starve for water as it will pump more water than the well pump can deliver, To small and you will build pressure between the 2 pumps and possibly blow a line between them.

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I admit I have no clue on the flow, and Lowes had only one option so that's what I got. But since the leak has temporarily stopped I have some time to do some research. Is the flow usually stated on the label?

Oh and I am a little confused on what you are explaining - I have only the one pump but your advice is mentioning 2 pumps.

The pump appeared to be leaking around the shaft that goes from the motor to the pump. Maybe it's just in my head but the pump sounded much rougher running too. Now I think about it I wonder if just the pump head is replaceable? It's pretty old though I wonder if parts would be available. Not sure if any of this stuff has a universal standard. It's a shame because the motor and pressure switch, etc, are still quite functional would be a waste to just throw out a perfectly good 1/2 hp motor.

Here is a shot of the label best I could get at the time, I don't see a flow rating unless it needs deciphered from some of the info there that isn't obvious, or its blocked by the valve.

zrock said:

U should be able to get a rebuild kit at any plumbing and heating dealer. All the well systems I have ever seen have a lift pump in the bottom of the well. Then the pressure pump up top that u are working on.

Sent from my SM-G903W using Tapatalk

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I'll check for a rebuild kit after I locate a real plumbing place (I've always just used lowes). I'll double check about a pump in the well but I don't believe I have one, and can't see any wiring going to the well. How would a submersible even interface to a 2 line jet pump?

moey said:

You have a jet pump. You would not have a submersible and a jet pump both pumping. Theres nothing to check.

I would suggest getting a new one comparable online same hp rating. Goulds, Myers one of the better brands. Then mess with the old one if your so inclined. If you have a decent one buy the same model. Plumbing stores are going to charge you 2x 3x what you can buy online. When I replaced mine it was about $300 online it was 800+ at a local pluming store. Folks need water so they can mark them up. Your fortunate you bought yourself some time it sounds like.

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Good deal, yeah I was pretty sure I did not have two pumps in the system, I'd never heard of that before but I guess maybe some setups are like that somewhere.

So I checked into the brands you mention, this one is almost as cheap online as what the Lowes pump is, and seem to be rated much better. I'm looking at this Goulds JRD5


Still wondering about the Jet package, do you think I could just hook the pump up to the existing pipes and try and see? Looks like they have several jet packages to match different depths and flows. These 2-line pumps seem like a pain.

http://goulds.com/jet-pumps/convertible-jet-pumps/jrd-convertible-jet-pumps/
I just have small ace hardware store within 30 minutes, lowes is like 40 (one way). 45 to an hour to get to the city which has everything.
It just uses 1" and 1-1/4" NPT to the well, and 1" to the pressure tank, seems pretty normal to me nothing specialty? And looks to be what my current pump has best I can tell without removing yet.

Edited to add:

moey said:

Post a link for the package your referencing.

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Oh I posted link to the pump, if you want the jet packages I hadn't even looked at them. There seem to be several based on min casing size and depth, but I do not know either off hand. I guess if I really need a jet package matched to this new pump I'll have to figure it out.

Oh man, these are expensive wtf! I looked up the first jet package listed (from the pic in my last post) FT3-09 and it cost almost as much as the pump, just for that?!? https://waterpumpspro.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=57_19_29_116&products_id=2572

For some reason I am unable to find any product listing for the jet packages on goulds website.

I can see the teflon tape wrapped around the fitting threads, though the fittings are pretty corroded and I'll likely replace anyhow.

Actually when I was just down there I tried to take a couple pics and realized there was a label on the front behind the pipes... its a Myers HR 50 D. Its filthy down there and hard to get to the front of the pump (mucky floor, cob webs, etc) but when I did, I finally spied that label. Now maybe I can look up the specs or even see if the pump head is replaceable perhaps. Looks like it is still commonly available, and even a bit cheaper than the Goulds I was looking at. Might be easiest just to get this since everything should match up (but I still will likely replace the rusty fittings, etc).



The rust on thjje body of the pump is old, but the rust running down the cinder blocks is all new and from the water that was leaking the other day. I have so much iron in water I suspect when I shut the pump off for a couple days the iron must have clogged the leak - hasn't leaked since but I still want to get a replacement.

I don't see any black pipe anywhere, check out the pic in my last post. I assume you're talking about the iron variety of blackpipe, not the black plastic pipe that can be seen in my pic with the hose clamps on it.

Taking a closer look at my pump now that you mentioned the mounting, it isn't actually mounted just setting on that old wood. But no, I am not really familiar with mounting requirements for pumps, I'll have to figure something out. Perhaps extra vibration from not being bolted down has caused the unit to start leaking.

moey said:

The plastic pipe can be tough to reuse. It takes the shape of the insert and will leak when you reuse that section so you cut it back and its too short now. Its pretty cheap at a plumping store couple bucks a foot just replace it back to the first joint.

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Oh ok yes that's easy enough to replace. I was just working on my furnace with black iron pipe so was thinking of that when you mentioned black pipe.