Well sand

[Al Smith]

I don't know where to put this so I stuck it here .

Some time ago the subject of well sand came up with a few members and I recently acquired the problem myself .

It seems for some reason the ground water flow can lessen it some of the aquafers feeding a well because of drought conditions,shifting of the substrata and other causes .

In doing so the water can pick up sand or other fine particulates that can cause no end of problems with the well pump in addition to other parts of the water system .

I found a gizmo which is supposed to be able to seperate particals clear down to 5 micron size which is small .To put this in restrospect I think a red blood cell is 8 microns if I'm not mistaken . http://www.lakos.com/products/Sub-K.html

 

[stehansen]

I need me one of those.

 

[Al Smith]

I'm going to call around and try and find a dealer locally .They aren't cheap but then neither is a pump or the rest of the plumbing .

In my case it's a geo-thermal unit which I would prefer not to replace .

Six-seven hundred or more from what I gather .Evidently that Lakos company must be the only one that makes them because they are the only one with that design which of course is patented .

 

[SkwerI]

A filter that fine would most likely tend to clog up relatively quickly, wouldn't it?

 

[stehansen]

The only way it wouldn't is if it flushed it self everytime the pump shut off. As near as I can figure anyway.

 

[Al Smith]

According to the website it reverses the water flow and collects the sand in the filter which sits below the pump and it self dumps when the pump quits running .In other words the sand goes down the water goes up .

You have to jump to about a half a dozen sites to find the theory of operation for some reason . That is of course unless you nail the right one first which I can never seem to do .

 

[Al Smith]

I have to crawl under the freakin house again ,don't ask .

Afterwards I'll sniff out the right site and link it.I'll also put it in my favorites this time .

 

[SkwerI]

You need to roll out some carpet and shove a little mini fridge under your house, Al.

 

[darkstar]

Al you should see my home brewed filters.
I can produce clear water from thick mud after floods and such but so far so good.

 

[olyman]

700 smacks, and it wont work for me. i have one of the old 3 7/8 wells. yup. got a grundfoss in there now--works great--

 

[darkstar]

What is grundfoss ?

 

[olyman]

What is grundfoss ?

its the brand of a submersible pump--that fits in a small dia well casing. there arent a lot of small casings left, as most of them have rotted--but theres still a few out there, mine being one. as the water is almost perfect(had it tested) the casing is still good the pump is german, very good quality--

 

[Al Smith]

This is a better link showing how the separator works http://www.deanbennett.com/lakos-submersible-pump-sand-separators.htm

 

[Al Smith]

Grundfoss makes all types of pumps .They are well known for recirc pumps used for hydronic heating as well as circulation pumps for ground water loop types of geo-thermal heat pumps . BTW I believe Gould still makes a skinny submersable pump for skinny casing also .

 

[olyman]

Grundfoss makes all types of pumps .They are well known for recirc pumps used for hydronic heating as well as circulation pumps for ground water loop types of geo-thermal heat pumps . BTW I believe Gould still makes a skinny submersable pump for skinny casing also .

ya, and theres another brand that at the moment scapes me!!!! which is what was in the well before---and it was-------1200 clams!! the grundfoss was 345.00!!! and all stainless!!

 

[darkstar]

I well never forget this.

 

[olyman]

just thought of it AL. the old sub was a slim jim. plumb shop next town over has had a new one there for over 20 yrs--and cant sell it!!!!!!!! stilll thinks its worth at least 800.00!!!

 

[Al Smith]

Out last him .Wait until he dies or goes out of business then buy it at the auction for 10 bucks .

 

[olyman]

Out last him .Wait until he dies or goes out of business then buy it at the auction for 10 bucks .

well, he is about dead--except the sons are taking over the business. %^$%^

 

[Al Smith]

Sometimes that does not work out very well .

 

[Al Smith]

More info

I spoke with a buddy of mine who has been in the plumbing business since 1962.Fact is I worked for him when I was in High school .

He said those Lakos filters work very well .He also said that before spending the money I might try to purge the sand/grit using a large air compresser with a pipe on the end of the hose . Some times it works,some times not .

 

[Reddog]

He also said that before spending the money I might try to purge the sand/grit using a large air compressor with a pipe on the end of the hose . Some times it works,some times not .

Most times it clears it out.
But it is a wet job. First is pulling the pump. Its always fun getting the Pitles adapter undone.
In order to do it right you need to get the air pipe all the way to the bottom of the well. And you need a large compressor, like 100cfm or more to run a 1" or a 3/4" air line.
Turn it on and let it blow. usually shoots water 50' in the air.

 

[Al Smith]

I've done them before and it is a mess. Water everywhere not to mention the sand .

I have a tee handle and have pulled the pump twice which isn't that big of a deal .The pump is now at 80 because I raised it 10 feet,The well is 180 because they get paid by the foot .However my other well is at 117 so that tells me a lot . Water level is 21 foot down from ground and doesn't draw down more that 6 inchs pumping 12-14 gal per minute for half an hour .

Weekend after the upcomming I'll give a blow to the well and see how that goes .Probabley look like Old Spindle top in Titusville Pa .

If that doesn't work I'll pony up the cash and buy the sand seperator .What the blow is,is nothing but a poker hand .100 bucks for the compresser verses 6-700 for the seperater .

 

[Al Smith]

Well it's a hoot .Old Al the tunnel rat changed hats today and took up water wells .

The stuff just flew,rocks,sand shale and pea gravel . I 've put the air to it about a dozen times so fa rand it gets more clear every time so maybe I'm making head way .

 

[MasterBlaster]

Kinda makes ya feel like Jed Clampett, eh!